What to do?

Hi.

Taking telescope out for first time next weekend, so just in case:

How do you deal with any moisture due to it heating up?
What is the best thing to do if my telescope gets caught in a sudden
shower? How do you dry off the mirrors/eyepieces etc without damaging
them?
And

What's best to clean the eyepieces and finder scope with? cotton buds?

The telescope is an orion 8" europa reflector.

Thanks

"kevj" wrote in message
om...
Hi.

Taking telescope out for first time next weekend, so just in case:

How do you deal with any moisture due to it heating up?

With that (solid-tube) reflector, you will not ususally have too much
trouble with dew on the primary.

What is the best thing to do if my telescope gets caught in a sudden
shower? How do you dry off the mirrors/eyepieces etc without damaging
them?

If your primary gets a bunch of rainwater on it, tilt and let the water run
off. You can remove water by touching just the tip of any drops (not the
mirror itself) with the corner of a clean towel. Just let it wick up into
the towel. But unless the rainwater has a lot of crud in it, just tip to let
water run off and let it air dry.

What's best to clean the eyepieces and finder scope with? cotton buds?

You might look at the lens pen. The best rule of cleaning optics is to not
clean the optics unless you have to. Cleaning will do more damage than
having some dust around. If you use cotton, get surgical grade.

The telescope is an orion 8" europa reflector.

Enjoy it and let us know what you see with it!

Clear Skies

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try the Lunar Observing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/

Thanks

In message , kevj
writes
How do you deal with any moisture due to it heating up?

Leave everything open to evaporate.

What is the best thing to do if my telescope gets caught in a sudden
shower?

Crucially DON'T PANIC. It happens from time to time.

Unplug the mains power, put your lights / torch on and shift *all* the
leads and cables out of the way.

I got caught out badly once and in the confusion of a sudden rainstorm
sneaking up on me forgot to remove the dew heater from the front
corrector plate. I very nearly went flying on trailing leads.

Then take it apart and stow it quickly. A bit of clean rain water won't
do it much harm as long as it dries again fairly soon. And if you point
it out of the wind and horizontal you may be able to just put a plastic
sheet (decorating from B&Q) over it and wait for the rain to pass.

How do you dry off the mirrors/eyepieces etc without damaging
them?

Unless the rain is very dirty they will air dry without taking any harm.
If they get really wet then tip the excess off first.

What's best to clean the eyepieces and finder scope with? cotton buds?

Any lens tissue will do to wick up the droplets of water as long as you
don't rub. Obviously you don't want to use any fancy facial tissues with
added oils, smells or gunges.

The telescope is an orion 8" europa reflector.

Should be plenty robust enough to tolerate a bit of wet.

Regards,
--
Martin Brown

"Chuck Taylor" wrote in message ...
"kevj" wrote in message
om...
Hi.

Taking telescope out for first time next weekend, so just in case:

How do you deal with any moisture due to it heating up?

With that (solid-tube) reflector, you will not ususally have too much
trouble with dew on the primary.

What is the best thing to do if my telescope gets caught in a sudden
shower? How do you dry off the mirrors/eyepieces etc without damaging
them?

If your primary gets a bunch of rainwater on it, tilt and let the water run
off. You can remove water by touching just the tip of any drops (not the
mirror itself) with the corner of a clean towel. Just let it wick up into
the towel. But unless the rainwater has a lot of crud in it, just tip to let
water run off and let it air dry.

What's best to clean the eyepieces and finder scope with? cotton buds?

You might look at the lens pen. The best rule of cleaning optics is to not
clean the optics unless you have to. Cleaning will do more damage than
having some dust around. If you use cotton, get surgical grade.

The telescope is an orion 8" europa reflector.

Enjoy it and let us know what you see with it!

Clear Skies

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try the Lunar Observing Group
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/

Thanks

Thanks alot, i'll let you know how it goes.