Maintenance (Both Lx100 Models); Cleaning The Optics; Alignment (Collimation) Of The Optical System - Meade 8" LX100 Series Instruction Manual

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F. MAINTENANCE
(Both LXl00 Models)
1.
Cleaning the Optics
Perhaps the most common telescope maintenance error
is
cleaning the optics too
often.
A little
dust on the
surface
of the
correcting plate causes negligible degradation
of optical
performance:
don't clean the outside
surface
of
this lens unless really necessary.
To remove small particles on the corrector lens
surface,
use
a
camel's hair brush (gently!) or blow off with an ear syringe
(available
from
a local pharmacy). lf
further
cleaning
is
required, a photographic lens cleaner may
be used.
ln any case,
Do Nor
clean the correcting
plate
by
taking strong circular wipes with
a
piece
of
cloth
or other
material:
use
a
white "Kleenex"-type tissue
and
make
short, gentle,
radialwipes
(from the
center
outward).
Change tissues
severaltimes
when cleaning
the
entire plate.
lf
grease
or other organic materials (e.g. fingerprints)
are in evidence
on the outer surface of the corrector
lens,
the
following homemade cleansing solution works
well:
2 parts distilled water,
1
part isopropyl alcohol,
and
1
drop of biodegradable liquid dishwashing detergent per pint of
solution.
Use only a small amount
of
solution and taken
gentle,
radial swipes, changing tissues several times
to
clean the corrector
lens. When
using this proceedure. take special care
in cleaning to avoid scratches.
The aluminized surfaces
of
the
Meade
8"
and
10"
telescopes
willprobably never need re-aluminizing,
if you
are careful
to
replace
the dust caps
at
the eye-end
and
corrector-end when
the
telescope
is not
in
use.
These
dust caps also serve
the important purpose
of keeping dust and other contaminants off the surfaces
of
the
corrector
lens.
WARNING:
Do not.
in any
case,
remove the correcting plate
from its machined housing
for cleaning
or
other
PurPoses. You will
almost
certainly
not be able to
replace the corrector in
its
proper
rotational orientation
and serious degradation of optical performance may
result.
2.
Alignment (Collimation)
Of The Optical System
The optical collimation
of any astronomical telescope
used for serious purposes
is
important,
but
in
the cases
of
the Schmidt-Cassegrain design telescope, such collimation
is
absolutely essential
for good performance.
Take special care to read and
understand this
section well so that your telescope will
perform
fully to
its
capabilities.
Fig.27:.
Collimation of the Opticat System
(1), (2),
(3)
Set screws for
adjusting coilimation.
All
Meade Schmidt-Cassegrains are precisely collimated at the factory before packing and shipment and
it
is probable that you
will
not need to make any optical adjustments before making
observations.
However,
if
the telescope sustained rough handling
in
shipment, you may
need to recollimate
the opticai system.
Such
recollimation is not
a
difficult procedure, in any
case.