9
ing skills get sharper, you will be able to discern more subtle
details.
Remember that the higher the magnification you use, the dim-
mer the image will appear. So stick with low power when
observing deep-sky objects, because they’re already very faint.
Consult a star atlas or observing guide for information on find-
ing and identifying deep-sky objects. Some good sources to
start with are the Orion DeepMap 600 (Orion #4150),
Edmund Mag 6 Star Atlas (Orion #6142), Turn Left at Orion
(Orion #51315), and The Universe From Your Backyard
(Orion #51530).
8. care and Maintenance
If you give your telescope reasonable care, it will last a life-
time. Store it in a clean, dry, dust-free place, safe from rapid
changes in temperature and humidity. Do not store the tele-
scope outdoors, although storage in a garage or shed is OK.
Small components like eyepieces and other accessories
should be kept in a protective box or storage case. Keep the
cap on the front of the telescope when it is not in use.
Your ShortTube 4.5" EQ requires very little mechanical main-
tenance. The optical tube has a smooth painted finish that is
fairly scratch-resistant. If a scratch does appear on the tube,
it will not harm the telescope. If you wish, you may apply
some auto touch-up paint to the scratch. Smudges on the
tube can be wiped off with a soft cloth and a household
cleaner such as Windex or Formula 409.
cleaning lenses
Any quality optical lens cleaning tissue and optical lens clean-
ing fluid specifically designed for multi-coated optics can be
used to clean the exposed lenses of your eyepieces or finder
scope. Never use regular glass cleaner or cleaning fluid
designed for eyeglasses. Before cleaning with fluid and tissue,
however, blow any loose particles off the lens with a blower
bulb or compressed air. Then apply some cleaning fluid to a
tissue, never directly on the optics. Wipe the lens gently in a
circular motion, then remove any excess fluid with a fresh lens
tissue. Oily fingerprints and smudges may be removed using
this method. Use caution; rubbing too hard may scratch the
lens. On larger lenses, clean only a small area at a time, using
a fresh lens tissue on each area. Never reuse tissues.
cleaning Mirrors
You should not have to clean your telescope’s mirrors very
often; normally once every year or so. Covering your tele-
scope when it is not in use will prevent dust from accumulating
on the mirrors. Improper cleaning can scratch mirror coatings,
so the fewer times you have to clean the mirrors, the better.
Small specks of dust or flecks of paint have virtually no effect
on the visual performance of the telescope.
The large primary mirror and the elliptical secondary mirror of
your telescope are front-surface aluminized and over-coated
with hard silicon monoxide, which prevents the aluminum from
oxidizing. These coatings normally last through many, many
years of use before requiring recoating (which is easily done).
To clean the secondary mirror, remove it from the secondary
mirror holder. Do this by holding the secondary mirror station-
ary while turning the central, Phillips head bolt on the
secondary mirror holder counterclockwise. Handle it carefully
by the edges only; do not touch the mirror surface. Then follow
the same procedure described below for cleaning the primary
mirror.
To clean the primary mirror, carefully remove the mirror cell
from the telescope. This is done by removing the three small
Phillips head screws on the outer edge of the mirror cell.
Remove the mirror from the cell by loosening the two Phillips
head screws on each of the three mirror clips. Be careful not
to touch the front surface of the mirror with your fingers! Set
the mirror on a clean, soft towel. Fill a clean sink, free of abra-
sive cleanser, with room-temperature water, a few drops of
liquid dishwashing detergent, and if possible, a capful of rub-
bing alcohol. Submerge the mirror (aluminized face up) in the
water and let it soak for several minutes (or hours if it’s a very
dirty mirror). Wipe the mirror under water with clean cotton
balls, using extremely light pressure and stroking in straight
lines across the surface. Use one ball for each wipe across
the mirror. Then rinse the mirror under a stream of lukewarm
water. Any particles on the surface can be swabbed gently
with a series of clean cotton balls, each used just one time.
Dry the mirror in a stream of air (a “blower bulb” works great),
or remove any stray drops of water with the corner of a paper
towel. Water will run off a clean surface. Dry the cell and
exposed surfaces with a towel (not the mirror surface!). Cover
the mirror surface with Kleenex, and leave the entire assem-
bly in a warm area until it is completely dry before reassembling
the telescope.
9. specifications
Optical tube: Aluminum
Primary mirror diameter: 4.5" (114mm)
Focal length: 1000mm
Focal ratio: f/8.8
Eyepieces: 25mm and 10mm Kellners, fully coated, 1.25"
Magnification: 40x (with 25mm), 100x (with 10mm)
Focuser: Rack and pinion
Finder scope: 5x magnification, 24mm aperture, crosshairs
Mount: German-type equatorial
Tripod: Hardwood
