Very Very Important & Technical Question

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lostone United States of America
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Very Very Important & Technical Question

#1

Post by lostone »


Ok, You ready for this Very Extremely Important question???????

What are you using to clean your filters and optics with ? ? ? ?
Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most! :tease:

Scope: Explorer Scientific 127CF, Askar FR600, Planewave CDK 14""
Guide Scope & Camera: ASI 174, ZWO OAG-L
Camera: QHY 268 Mono, QHY 600 Mono
Mount: Planewave L-350, Skywatcher EQ8-Rh Pro, Losmandy G11
Accessories: Moonlite Nitecrawler WR30, WR35, Eagle 3&4 Pro, QHY CFW3/7 Filterwheel, QHY Polemaster,
Software: N.I.N.A., CdC, Planewave 3, Pixinsight
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STEVE333 United States of America
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Re: Very Very Important & Technical Question

#2

Post by STEVE333 »


I use isopropyl alcohol and cotton balls. I pour a little alcohol onto a cotton ball (you don't want it too wet, just slightly damp) and then use very soft pressure when wiping.

I cleaned all the filters before installing them in the filter wheel. I haven't opened the filter wheel to check them, but, I don't see any significant dust bunnies on the flats, so, I think they are staying clean.

Hope this helps.

Steve
Steve King: Light Pollution (Bortle 5)
Telescope + Mount + Guiding: W.O. Star71-ii + iOptron CEM40 EC + Orion Magnificent Mini AutoGuider
Camera: ASI 1600MM Pro + EFW Filter Wheel + Chroma 3nm Siii, Ha, Oiii + ZWO LRGB Filters
Software: PHD2; APT; PixInsight ***** My AP website: www.steveking.pictures
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Juno16 United States of America
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Re: Very Very Important & Technical Question

#3

Post by Juno16 »


+1 for alcohol and cotton balls. I asked that question of Explore Scientific after I purchased the scope several years ago.

Sometimes I touch up with a dry cotton swab and always blow any loose cotton fragments off with a sqeeze bulb.
Jim

Scopes: Explore Scientific ED102 APO, Sharpstar 61 EDPH II APO, Samyang 135 F2 (still on the Nikon).
Mount: Skywatcher HEQ5 Pro with Rowan Belt Mod
Stuff: ASI EAF Focus Motor (x2), Orion 50mm Guide Scope, ZWO 30 mm Guide Scope, ASI 220mm min, ASI 120mm mini, Stellarview 0.8 FR/FF, Sharpstar 0.8 FR/FF, Mele Overloock 3C.
Camera/Filters/Software: ASI 533 mc pro, ASI 120mm mini, Orion SSAG, IDAS LPS D-1, Optolong L-Enhance, ZWO UV/IR Cut, N.I.N.A., Green Swamp Server, PHD2, Adobe Photoshop CC, Pixinsight.
Dog and best bud: Jack
Sky: Bortle 6-7
My Astrobin: https://www.astrobin.com/users/Juno16/
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sdbodin United States of America
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Re: Very Very Important & Technical Question

#4

Post by sdbodin »


Ditto for the alcohol and also a photographers camel hair brush.

Steve
Scopes; Meade 16 LX200, AT80LE, plus bunch just sitting around gathering dust
Cameras; Atik 460ex mono, Zwo ASI1600MC-cool, QHY5L-II color and mono
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Lady Fraktor Slovakia
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Re: Very Very Important & Technical Question

#5

Post by Lady Fraktor »


A dust blower for loose crud (rocket blower) and Zeiss Lens Wipes most of the time.
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
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prowler75
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Re: Very Very Important & Technical Question

#6

Post by prowler75 »


+1 on the Zeiss lens wipes if my eyepieces need it. If there is just loose dust or occasional eyelash I just use a lens brush.
Craig
Telescopes: Zhumell Z12, Orion XT8, Explore Scientific FL-AR127/1200, Celestron Omni XLT AZ 102, Tasco 8v
Eyepieces: GSO 30mm, Explore Scientific 70° 25mm, 82° 18mm, 11mm, 8.8mm, 6.5mm. KK Orthos 12mm and 9mm
Binoculars: Oberwerk 15x70
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