Dirty optics

Hi;
I just purchased a Meade etx-125ec and am very happy with the views.
I got to looking at the mirrors and discovered quite a lot of contaminates
sprinkled on the mirrors, both pri. and sec. It looks like someone used the
mirror
to do their hair. Lots of what looks like lint and shavings!?! and maybe,
what I would call
a stray booger on the sec. mirror. As you might have guessed, I'm a newbie,
so my terminology is probably way off base and I might be wrong on the
location of this stuff. I need to clean this scope, so is there somewhere I
can find a construction diag. that shows how to dismantle the thing?
I've looked for ways to start dismantling the scope but am afraid to do
anything for fear of damaging delicate parts. Also is there a need to
collimate this particular scope? I don't find anything in the manual about
it.
TIA folks,
D.B.

If you are happy with views, why bother until you want to take it further
later on.

Even then, i would suggest being sly and join a club and get some expert to
do it 8-)


"Dale Brown" wrote in message
...
Hi;
I just purchased a Meade etx-125ec and am very happy with the views.
I got to looking at the mirrors and discovered quite a lot of contaminates
sprinkled on the mirrors, both pri. and sec. It looks like someone used
the
mirror
to do their hair. Lots of what looks like lint and shavings!?! and maybe,
what I would call
a stray booger on the sec. mirror. As you might have guessed, I'm a
newbie,
so my terminology is probably way off base and I might be wrong on the
location of this stuff. I need to clean this scope, so is there somewhere
I
can find a construction diag. that shows how to dismantle the thing?
I've looked for ways to start dismantling the scope but am afraid to do
anything for fear of damaging delicate parts. Also is there a need to
collimate this particular scope? I don't find anything in the manual about
it.
TIA folks,
D.B.

Never shine a bright light down your scope to look at the optics as they
will always look horribly dirty. You can find a local club at:
http://skyandtelescope.com/resources/organizations/ and take your scope to a
public night. Go early and have someone look at it if you are worried about
it.

Optics should be cleaned as infrequently as possible as the cleaning will do
more damage than the dust. Tree sap or something else that might attack the
coatings are different of course.

Clear Skies

Chuck Taylor
Do you observe the moon?
Try http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lunar-observing/
And the Lunar Picture of the Day http://www.lpod.org/
************************************

"Dale Brown" wrote in message
...
Hi;
I just purchased a Meade etx-125ec and am very happy with the views.
I got to looking at the mirrors and discovered quite a lot of contaminates
sprinkled on the mirrors, both pri. and sec. It looks like someone used
the
mirror
to do their hair. Lots of what looks like lint and shavings!?! and maybe,
what I would call
a stray booger on the sec. mirror. As you might have guessed, I'm a
newbie,
so my terminology is probably way off base and I might be wrong on the
location of this stuff. I need to clean this scope, so is there somewhere
I
can find a construction diag. that shows how to dismantle the thing?
I've looked for ways to start dismantling the scope but am afraid to do
anything for fear of damaging delicate parts. Also is there a need to
collimate this particular scope? I don't find anything in the manual about
it.
TIA folks,
D.B.