General Maintenance

 Instructions  

STEP 1: Buy or make a hood to protect the telescope when not in use.  

STEP 2: Keep the lens cap on when not in use. Make a lens cap for youreyepiece out of the top of a plastic film canister.  

STEP 3: Store your telescope facing down to keep dust from collecting on the lenses.

STEP 4: Store extra eyepieces and lenses in sealed plastic bags or food containers.  

STEP 5: Avoid touching the lens or mirrors with your fingers at all times. The dirt and oils from your skin can damage them. 

STEP 6: Clean the touched surface as soon as possible if you did touch it.  

STEP 7: Know that, unless done with extreme care and gentleness, cleaning lenses or mirrors often causes tiny scratches called sleeks.  

Tips & Warnings  Dirty telescope optics can always be cleaned, but scratched optics can only be replaced. Don't shine a light down the telescope tube and then clean it on thebasis of what you see. It will always appear dirty when viewed thisway. Often you will do more damage cleaning your telescope than leaving it alone.