Meade LX70 R5 5 inch Instruction Manual - Page 15

Maintenance Inspecting the Optics General Maintenance LX70-Series telescopes are precision optical instruments designed to yield a lifetime of rewarding views. Given the care and respect due any precision instrument, your LX70 will rarely, if ever, require factory servicing. Maintenance guidelines include: a. Avoid cleaning the telescope's optics: A little dust on the mirrors or the front surface of the telescope's lens causes virtually no degradation of image quality and should not be considered reason to clean the lens. b. When absolutely necessary, dust on the mirrors or front lens should be removed with gentle strokes of a camel hair brush or blown off with an ear syringe (available at any pharmacy). DO NOT use a commercial photographic lens cleaner. A Note about the Flashlight Test: If a flashlight or other high-intensity light source is pointed down the main telescope tube, the view (depending upon the observer's line of sight and the angle of the light) may reveal what appears to be scratches, dark or bright spots, or just generally uneven coatings, giving the appearance of poor quality optics. These items are only seen when a high intensity light is transmitted through lenses or reflected off the mirrors, and can be seen on any high quality optical system, including giant research telescopes. The optical quality of a telescope cannot be judged by the "flashlight test;" the true test of optical quality can only be conducted through careful star testing. c. Organic materials (e.g., fingerprints) on the front lens may be removed with a solution of 3 parts distilled water to 1 part isopropyl alcohol. You may also add 1 drop of biodegradable dishwashing soap per pint of solution. Use soft, white facial tissues and make short, gentle strokes. Change tissues often. Caution: Do not use scented or lotion tissues or damage could result to the optics. 1 2 Figure 33: Correct (1) and incorrect (2) collimation as viewed during a star test d. If the LX70 is used outdoors on a humid night, water condensation on the telescope surfaces will probably result. While such condensation does not normally cause any damage to the telescope, it is recommended that the entire telescope be wiped down with a dry cloth before the telescope is packed away. Do not, however, wipe any of the optical surfaces. Rather, simply allow the telescope to sit for some time in the warm indoor air, so that the wet optical surfaces can dry unattended. 15