CHAPTER 8: CARE AND CLEANING OF YOUR TELESCOPE
The golden rule of optical cleaning is:
DO NOT CLEAN YOUR OPTICS TOO OFTEN!
Some dust, a few resin droplets or a small fingerprint will NOT affect the telescope performance.
Even giant professional optics usually look "horribly dirty". It is much more risky to clean the optics
too often or in an improper way than to use a "reasonably dirty" optics.
8.1) Care of the structure
If used properly, your
Officina Stellare
telescope will last decades. To clean any part (excluding the
optics, i.e. mirrors and lens), simply use a soft piece of tissue that leaves no hairs. If needed, a
mild detergent, in very diluted form (i.e. 100:1 with water) may be used. Dry all surfaces after
cleaning, and power down the electronics before to clean the scope. Avoid the use of aggressive
detergents or solvents. They could damage the finish of the metallic parts, or even damage the
carbon fiber parts.
8.2) Clean the lenses
Lenses are present in your telescope only in
the corrector group (if present) or as the front
meniscus in RH ("Veloce") models. Usually the
only dirt you find on them is simply dust. To
remove dust, use a camel’s-hair brush,
available in any camera shops. Don't buy the
cheapest you find. More expensive models will
be the ones with the softer hair. Use the brush
very gently. Remember to keep the brush
clean! Store it its box or (better) a small
reclosable plastic bag. If the the brush has an
embedded "pump", like the one in the photo at
right, "blow" many times for any stroke of the
brush. Be as gentle as possible. Move the brush radially, from the center of the lens to the border.
A can of compressed air is also ok. Choose one with no liquid propellant. Liquid propellant cans
may "spit" on the lens, and this would made the situation worst! The absence of liquid propellant is
usually clearly marked on the can itself. Also an air compressor WITH A GOOD FILTER is ok. You
can "filter" the air flow also with some layers of medical gauze.
For tougher dirt or stains, use a lens-cleaning solution and lens-cleaning pads or tissue, all
available in camera shops. The best detergent is pure isopropyl alcohol, usually available in
pharmacies. Avoid “lens pens” with a soft, retractable, solvent-impregnated tip. They are designed
for small lenses (i.e. eyepieces, glasses, microscopes…).
When cleaning lenses, apply fluid to your cleaning pad, not to the lens itself. Rub as gently as you
can an take your time. Move slowly. Use short, radially oriented shots (from the center of the lens
to the border). Change the pad frequently. Use latex gloves and ventilate the room (isopropyl
alcohol is a mild irritant and almost all cleaning lens solutions include it).
Remember: FIRST remove the dust, with camel-hair brush and/or air can, THEN (only if really
needed) rub the lens with detergent.
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