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Meade LX200 Instruction Manuals

7" Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope 8", 10", and 12" Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes

APPENDIX E: MAINTAINING YOUR LX200 [ toc ] 1. Keeping Your Telescope Clean

Prevention is the best recommendation that a telescope owner can follow in keeping astronomical equipment in top working order. Proper measures taken during observations and when storing the equipment between observation runs can add many years of trouble free use.

IMPORTANT NOTICE! Never use a telescope or spotting scope to look at the Sun!

Observing the Sun, even for the shortest fraction of a

second, will cause irreversible damage to your eye as well as physical damage to the telescope or spotting scope itself.

Dust and moisture are the two main enemies to your instrument. When observing it is advisable to always use a proper fitting Dew Shield (such as the Meade #710, or #712). The Dew Shield not only prevents dew from forming, and dust from settling on the corrector plate lens, it prevents stray light from reducing image contrast.

Although dew shields go a long way to prevent moisture build-up, there can be times when the telescope optics will have a uniform coating of moist dew. This is not particularly harmful, as long as the instrument is allowed to let the dew evaporate. This can be done with a hair dryer, or just setting up the telescope indoors with the dust covers removed. It is also advisable that you let the optional foam lined case for the LX200 dry out indoors for a day if the night was moist. Packing your telescope away in a moist case can result in giving it a steam bath later. Anytime the LX200 is being stored or transported, be sure to release the R.A. and Dec. Locks, to prevent serious damage to the drive gears.

Never attempt to wipe down optics that are covered with dew. Dust and dirt may be trapped with the collected dew, and upon wiping the optics you may scratch them. After the dew has evaporated you will most likely find them in fine condition for the next observing session.

If you live in a very moist climate, you may find it necessary to use silica dessicant stored with the telescope to ward off moisture and the possibility of fungus growing on and within the coatings of the optics. Replace the silica dessicant as often as necessary.

Those living in coastal areas or tropic zones should also cover the electronic ports on the Power Panel and the Keypad with gaffers tape to reduce corrosion on the metal contacts. Apply a dab of a water displacement solution (such as WD-40) with a small brush on all of the interior metal contacts and the input cord metal contacts. The Keypad and all separate accessories should be kept in sealable plastic bags with silica dessicant.

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