EN
Care and cleaning of Optics:
WARNING: Improper cleaning of optical components may void the warranty!
Optical components of a telescope will over time get dirty. The amount of dirt and or dust collected onto a
lens or mirror should only be removed with the utmost care and this is at times best left to people with
experience in this procedure. A considerable amount of dirt or dust must be present on the optical surface
before one will notice the effect visually.
1. Keeping the dust caps during storage of the telescope will reduce the amount of dust collected.
2. After using the telescope there might be dew condensation on the optical surfaces. When the telesecope
is brought inside remove the dust caps und allow the moisture to evaporate naturally. Point the telescope
downwards so as to minimize the collection of airborne dust.
3. Once the moisture is gone then replace the dust caps.
4. If you wish to remove dust from the lenses or mirrors you first should try using a can of filtered
compressed air. Remove the dust cap and the dew shield in the case of the refractor style of telescope, or
take the mirror cell out of the reflecting type. Once you are able to freely blow across the surface of the
optics then begin by first pointing the can away from the piece and gently expel some air. This will remove
any condensate in the air can lines and clear off dust that may have accumulated on the discharge tube.
Next using short quick bursts of air carefully remove the dust particles.
DO NOT HOLD THE TRIGGER OF THE COMPRESSED AIR FOR TOO LONG AS CONDENSATE MIGHT
BE BLOWN OUT ACROSS THE OPTICAL SURFACE.
The optics of your telescope should last a long time before they generally require major cleaning. By keeping
the dust caps on and avoiding the temptation to handel the lenses or mirrors you will find that very little is
need in the way of optical maintenance.
Common problems with telescopes
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Did you remove the lid and put an ocular in? Did you not only remove the small, but also the big lid
completely? With the lid on and without the ocular, too little light gets into the telescope and all you
see is black. Remove the lid and put the ocular in.
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Did you adjust the finder in parallel to the telescope? If this isn’t the case, then you might target an
object with the finder, but you won’t see it through the telescope. Adjust the finder.
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Did you start with a magnification that is too high? This can be the reason for a black image. It’s best
to start with a small magnification, adjust the image so that it’s sharp and then slowly increase the
magnification. You’re making the image sharp by moving the focuser in or out through the wheels on
the side.
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Didn’t you make the object sharp enough through the focuser? You’re making the image sharp by
moving the focuser in or out through the wheels on the side.
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Is the telescope adjusted? The mirrors can move, because of the transport. If they’re too much out of
alignment, then the telescope will show a worse image on higher magnifications. A laser collimator
can help in this case to adjust the telescope.
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Did you let the telescope cool down enough outside? Otherwise the instrument can’t display an
image properly.
