iOptron 70AZ instruction manual Maintenance, Observation Tips, Cleaning Lenses

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2.3. Observation Tips

When selecting a location for observing, get as far away as possible from direct artificial light such as street lights, porch lights, and automobile headlights. The glare from these lights will greatly impair your dark-adapted night vision. Set up on a grass or dirt surface, not asphalt, because asphalt radiates more heat, which disturbs the surrounding air and degrades the images seen through the telescope. Avoid viewing over rooftops and chimneys, as they often have warm air currents rising from them. Avoid observing from indoors through an open (or closed) window, because the temperature difference between the indoor and outdoor air will cause image blurring and distortion. Furthermore, it is preferable to let your telescope reach outside ambient (surrounding) temperature before starting an observation cycle.

Wait a few minutes to allow your eyes to become used to the darkness before attempting any serious observations. Use a flashlight with a red filter to preserve your night vision when looking at star maps or checking telescope parts.

Avoid touching the eyepiece during observation. Vibration generated by this contact may cause the view to move. Also avoid observing from locations where terrestrial vibrations are significant. Observing from the upper floors of buildings may also cause the images vibrating.

Warning! Never attempt to observe the sun through your telescope without a proper solar filter. Observing the sun, even for a fraction of a second, may cause immediate and irreversible harm to your eye as well as physical damage to the telescope.

Some atmospheres may deform the image that you are observing. Planets in particular, when observed low on the horizon, often present a fuzziness – the same object when observed at a higher altitude in the sky may benefit from far better definition and a far higher degree of contrast. Furthermore, air turbulence in the upper layers of the atmosphere may cause "trembling" to affect the view observed through the eyepiece. In this case, reduce the magnification factor until the picture stabilizes. Keep in mind that even a small sized but bright and well defined image will reveal far more interesting details than a larger, but less bright and slightly fuzzy, view.

3. Maintenance

If you give your telescope reasonable care, it will last a lifetime. Store it in a clean, dry, dust free place, safe from rapid changes in temperature and humidity. Do not store the telescope outdoors. Small components like eyepieces and other accessories should be kept in a protective box or storage case. Keep the caps on the front of the telescope and on the focuser drawtube when not in use.

Your iExplore telescope requires very little mechanical maintenance. The optical tube is aluminum and has a smooth painted finish that is fairly scratch resistant. If a scratch does appear, it will not harm the telescope.

Cleaning Lenses

Any quality optical lens cleaning tissue and optical lens cleaning fluid specifically designed for multi-coated optics can be used to clean the objective lens and the exposed lenses of your eyepieces. Never use regular glass cleaner or cleaning fluid designed for eyeglasses.

Before cleaning with fluid and tissue, blow any loose particles off the lens with a blower bulb or compressed air. Then apply some cleaning fluid to a tissue, never directly on the optics. Wipe the lens gently in a circular motion, then remove any excess fluid with a fresh lens tissue. Oily fingerprints and smudges may be removed using this method. Use caution— rubbing too hard may scratch the lens. For the larger surface of the objective lens, clean only a small area at a time, using a fresh lens tissue on each area. Never reuse tissues.

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