Orion XT4.5 Instruction Manual page 16

Before cleaning with fluid and tissue, blow any loose particles off the
lens with a blower bulb or compressed air. Then apply some clean-
ing fluid to a tissue, never directly on the optics. Wipe the lens gently
in a circular motion, then remove any excess fuild with a fresh lens
tissue. Oily finerprints 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 tis-
sue on each area. Never reuse tissues.
Cleaning Mirrors
You should not have to clean the telescope's mirror very often;
normally once every year or so. Covering the telescope with the
dust cap when it is not in use will help prevent dust from accumu-
lating on the mirrors. Improper cleaning can scratch mirror
coatings, so the fewer times you have to clean the mirrors, the bet-
ter. 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 overcoated with hard
silicon dioxide, which prevents the aluminum from oxidizing. These
coatings normally last through many years of use before requiring
re-coating, which is easily done.
To clean the secondary mirror, it must be removed from the tele-
scope. Do this by holding the secondary mirror holder stationary
with your fingers (don't touch the mirror itself) while unthreading
the Phillips head cap screw in the center hub of the 4-vaned spi-
der. Completely unthread the screw from the holder, and the
holder will come loose in your fingers. Be careful not to lose the
spring on the Phillips head cap screw.
This Orion SkyQuest XT Dobsonian Reflecting Telescope is warranted against defects in materials or workmanship for
a period of one year from the date of purchase. This warranty is for the benefit of the original retail purchaser only. During
this warranty period Orion Telescopes & Binoculars will repair or replace, at Orion's option, any warranted instrument
that proves to be defective, provided it is returned postage paid to: Orion Warranty Repair, 89 Hangar Way, Watsonville,
CA 95076. If the product is not registered, proof of purchase (such as a copy of the original invoice) is required.
This warranty does not apply if, in Orion's judgment, the instrument has been abused, mishandled, or modified, nor
does it apply to normal wear and tear. This warranty gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights,
which vary from state to state. For further warranty service information, contact: Customer Service Department, Orion
Telescopes & Binoculars, P. O. Box 1815, Santa Cruz, CA 95061; (800) 676-1343.
Customer Support Help Line (800) 676-1343 • Day or Evening
16
One-Year Limited Warranty
Orion Telescopes & Binoculars
Post Office Box 1815, Santa Cruz, CA 95061
Handle the mirror and its holder carefully. You do not need to
remove the secondary mirror from its holder for cleaning. To clean
the secondary mirror, follow the procedure described below for
cleaning the primary mirror.
To clean the primary mirror, carefully remove the mirror cell from
the telescope. To do this, you must remove the three screws that
connect the entire mirror cell to the steel tube. These screws are
located on the outer edge of the mirror cell casing.
Now, remove the mirror from the mirror cell by removing the three
mirror clips that secure the mirror in its cell. Use a Phillips head
screwdriver to unthread the mirror clip anchor screws. Next, hold
the mirror by its edge, and remove it from the mirror cell. Be care-
ful not to touch the aluminized surface of the mirror with your
fingers. Set the mirror on a clean, soft towel. Fill a clean sink, free
of abrasive cleanser, with room-temperature water, a few drops of
liquid dishwashing detergent, and if possible, a cap-full of rubbing
alcohol. Submerge the mirror (aluminized face up) in the water and
let it soak for several minutes (or hours if it is a very dirty mirror).
Wipe the mirror underwater with clean cotton balls, using extreme-
ly 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 bottom
and the edges (not the mirror surface!) with a towel. Cover the mir-
ror surface with Kleenex, and leave the entire assembly in a warm
area until it is completely dry before reassembling the telescope.