Page 78 - All About Space 68 - 2017 UK

STARGAZER

How to…

How to…

Prepare your

telescope for a new

season of observing

If you haven't used your instrument much over the summer,
now's the time to get it ready for the autumn and winter

ones, so while we may keep the optics components; each scope is different, so together a moving part; use your best
You’ll need: generally clean and in good order, it there are no rules here, just use what judgement and common sense.
is often easy to forget that the mount works. If you are not sure what you are Finally, make sure your optics
✔ Soft clean cloth
and drive system, if there is one, is doing, seek advice from an astronomer are clean and properly aligned. Be
✔ Lithium grease just as important. With a new season or an astronomical society, especially aware that telescope optics are easily
✔ Screwdriver set of observing upon us, what should if you have a reflector telescope that scratched and damaged, and so great
we do to make sure that everything needs re-collimating. care is needed. Take advice or research
is in good order so that our telescopes Cleaning and greasing moving parts, on the internet to find out how to
As our main instrument that we use keep working like they did the day such a gears, is always a good idea properly clean lenses and mirrors,
to connect us with the night sky, our we bought them? Some things might – you will need to use good-quality and remove and reinstall them if
telescopes are, without a doubt, very seem obvious, such as blowing the lithium grease as it is able to work well necessary. Seek professional help if
important; but do we lavish the care dust off, but there are things to help at low temperatures, unlike silicone you need it, as a single scratch on
on them that they need and deserve make the operation of the mount and grease, which can become 'sticky'. the optics can ruin a perfectly usable
to keep giving us those breathtaking the optical system smooth, and keep Tightening screws and bolts is also telescope. Once you've got your scope
views and images of the heavens? delivering the images that we would important, as they can work loose over running smoothly, you'll be ready to
Telescopes are comprised of both hope for. You will probably need a few time, but make sure you don't wind enjoy all that the autumn and winter
optical components and mechanical tools to tighten things up and realign them too tight if they are holding skies have to offer.

Tips & tricks

Make sure your Look after your Clean the gears Look out for Ensure your optics Spruce up your
optics are clean screws and bolts Get rid of old grease backlash are aligned instrument
Always use a soft clean If you are removing from gears before adding Make sure that gears are Clean and align optics, To keep your telescope
cloth to remove dirt screws and bolts from new ones. This will keep meshing correctly, not making sure you are very clean and running
and marks from your covers or housings, keep everything running too slack or too tight, and careful, and seek advice smoothly, it's always a
telescope tube, dampen them on a tray to prevent smoothly and will limit make slight adjustments if you are not sure about good idea to give it an
it slightly if necessary. them from going missing. layers of oil. if necessary. how to do it. annual service.

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