Mirror Cleaned

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KingNothing13 United States of America
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Mirror Cleaned

#1

Post by KingNothing13 »


As posted elsewhere, there was some schmutz on my mirror, so I decided it was time to clean it.

The cleaning happened tonight.

Turns out the schmutz was a piece of leaf or similar, that I assume blew on to the mirror at some point during an observation session.

After several rinses, and cotton balls, I decided it was "good enough" the schmutz and major spots are gone - it is not perfect - but it doesn't need to be, right? It looks a lot better.

Of course, it is going to rain tomorrow, and Sunday - and I am away Monday - Friday, so I will not get a chance to give it a test until at least next Friday night - more than likely later Saturday at the earliest.

I expect my first few sessions will just be checking out some old familiar faces, as it has been TOO long.

Here's to hoping that I didn't destroy my mirror - or that not perfect is indeed NOT the way to go.....

:D

{I did start taking some pictures, but then got wrapped up in the process, and stopped - had it assembled before I realized I had stopped taking pictures!}

I did get one of the schmutz though:

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-- Brett

Scope: Apertura AD10 with Nexus II with 8192/716000 Step Encoders
EPs: ES 82* 18mm, 11mm, 6.7mm; GSO 30mm
Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Binoculars
List Counts: Messier: 75; Herschel 400: 30; Caldwell: 12; AL Carbon Star List: 16
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Re: Mirror Cleaned

#2

Post by The Happy Parrot »


Brett, I would think it’ll be OK if you were careful and gentle removing the leaf. Did much pollen and dust come off?
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Re: Mirror Cleaned

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Post by KingNothing13 »


The Happy Parrot wrote: Sat Jun 29, 2019 3:15 am Brett, I would think it’ll be OK if you were careful and gentle removing the leaf. Did much pollen and dust come off?
Yep. I suspect it's okay - but there's always a worry.
-- Brett

Scope: Apertura AD10 with Nexus II with 8192/716000 Step Encoders
EPs: ES 82* 18mm, 11mm, 6.7mm; GSO 30mm
Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Binoculars
List Counts: Messier: 75; Herschel 400: 30; Caldwell: 12; AL Carbon Star List: 16
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Re: Mirror Cleaned

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Post by The Happy Parrot »


I’ve not cleaned a mirror yet but I’m curious to know how much dust would need to be removed to notice improvement in contrast or clarity. Just curious.
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Re: Mirror Cleaned

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Post by KingNothing13 »


The Happy Parrot wrote: Sat Jun 29, 2019 3:23 am I’ve not cleaned a mirror yet but I’m curious to know how much dust would need to be removed to notice improvement in contrast or clarity. Just curious.
This is the first time for me. From what I gather, it is a A LOT of dust. More than what was on my mirror - but I wanted to get the (now identified) leaf off.
-- Brett

Scope: Apertura AD10 with Nexus II with 8192/716000 Step Encoders
EPs: ES 82* 18mm, 11mm, 6.7mm; GSO 30mm
Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Binoculars
List Counts: Messier: 75; Herschel 400: 30; Caldwell: 12; AL Carbon Star List: 16
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Re: Mirror Cleaned

#6

Post by The Happy Parrot »


KingNothing13 wrote: Sat Jun 29, 2019 3:25 am
The Happy Parrot wrote: Sat Jun 29, 2019 3:23 am I’ve not cleaned a mirror yet but I’m curious to know how much dust would need to be removed to notice improvement in contrast or clarity. Just curious.
This is the first time for me. From what I gather, it is a A LOT of dust. More than what was on my mirror - but I wanted to get the (now identified) leaf off.
I agree Brett, that leaf, even if it had no visible effect, would have driven me crazy just knowing it was stuck on the primary!
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Re: Mirror Cleaned

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Post by KingNothing13 »


The Happy Parrot wrote: Sat Jun 29, 2019 1:19 pm
KingNothing13 wrote: Sat Jun 29, 2019 3:25 am
The Happy Parrot wrote: Sat Jun 29, 2019 3:23 am I’ve not cleaned a mirror yet but I’m curious to know how much dust would need to be removed to notice improvement in contrast or clarity. Just curious.
This is the first time for me. From what I gather, it is a A LOT of dust. More than what was on my mirror - but I wanted to get the (now identified) leaf off.
I agree Brett, that leaf, even if it had no visible effect, would have driven me crazy just knowing it was stuck on the primary!
Not knowing what it was was the worst - I was afraid that it was something that was damaging the mirror - I am sure it would have, eventually.
-- Brett

Scope: Apertura AD10 with Nexus II with 8192/716000 Step Encoders
EPs: ES 82* 18mm, 11mm, 6.7mm; GSO 30mm
Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Binoculars
List Counts: Messier: 75; Herschel 400: 30; Caldwell: 12; AL Carbon Star List: 16
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Re: Mirror Cleaned

#8

Post by helicon »


Glad that you were able to get it cleaned up. I'm ever watchful for spider webs hanging around the mirrors of my Dobs. It happened once (spider must have come in during a session out there). The material in the spider web is "toxic" to mirrors.
-Michael
Refractors: ES AR152 f/6.5 Achromat on Twilight II, Celestron 102mm XLT f/9.8 on Celestron Heavy Duty Alt Az mount, KOWA 90mm spotting scope
Binoculars: Celestron SkyMaster 15x70, Bushnell 10x50
Eyepieces: Various, GSO Superview, 9mm Plossl, Celestron 25mm Plossl
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Re: Mirror Cleaned

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Post by KingNothing13 »


helicon wrote: Sat Jun 29, 2019 2:05 pm Glad that you were able to get it cleaned up. I'm ever watchful for spider webs hanging around the mirrors of my Dobs. It happened once (spider must have come in during a session out there). The material in the spider web is "toxic" to mirrors.
I did not know that - now I have another reason to avoid those little beasties.
-- Brett

Scope: Apertura AD10 with Nexus II with 8192/716000 Step Encoders
EPs: ES 82* 18mm, 11mm, 6.7mm; GSO 30mm
Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Binoculars
List Counts: Messier: 75; Herschel 400: 30; Caldwell: 12; AL Carbon Star List: 16
Brett's Carbon Star Hunt

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Re: Mirror Cleaned

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Post by bladekeeper »


Good job!

I really need to do mine again. Too many dewings and undewings have left "tree rings" on the mirror. :lol:

I need to do the secondary also. Looks like someone sneezed on it.
Bryan
Scopes: Apertura AD12 f/5; Celestron C6-R f/8; ES AR127 f/6.4; Stellarvue SV102T f/7; iOptron MC90 f/13.3; Orion ST80A f/5; ES ED80 f/6; Celestron Premium 80 f/11.4; Celestron C80 f/11.4; Unitron Model 142 f/16; Meade NG60 f/10
Mounts: Celestron AVX; Bresser EXOS-2; ES Twilight I; ES Twilight II; iOptron Cube-G; AZ3/wood tripod; Vixen Polaris
Binoculars: Pentax PCF WP II 10×50, Bresser Corvette 10×50, Bresser Hunter 16×50 and 8×40, Garrett Gemini 12×60 LW, Gordon 10×50, Apogee 20×100

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Re: Mirror Cleaned

#11

Post by KingNothing13 »


bladekeeper wrote: Sat Jun 29, 2019 6:57 pm I need to do the secondary also. Looks like someone sneezed on it.
....did someone sneeze on it? :Think:
-- Brett

Scope: Apertura AD10 with Nexus II with 8192/716000 Step Encoders
EPs: ES 82* 18mm, 11mm, 6.7mm; GSO 30mm
Celestron SkyMaster 15x70 Binoculars
List Counts: Messier: 75; Herschel 400: 30; Caldwell: 12; AL Carbon Star List: 16
Brett's Carbon Star Hunt

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Re: Mirror Cleaned

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Post by bladekeeper »


KingNothing13 wrote: Sat Jun 29, 2019 7:00 pm
bladekeeper wrote: Sat Jun 29, 2019 6:57 pm I need to do the secondary also. Looks like someone sneezed on it.
....did someone sneeze on it? :Think:
Hahaha! Mother Nature did!

I've sneezed on an eyepiece a time or two. Usually just prior to going in for a galaxy sighting. Then you gotta take it inside to clean it. :lol:
Bryan
Scopes: Apertura AD12 f/5; Celestron C6-R f/8; ES AR127 f/6.4; Stellarvue SV102T f/7; iOptron MC90 f/13.3; Orion ST80A f/5; ES ED80 f/6; Celestron Premium 80 f/11.4; Celestron C80 f/11.4; Unitron Model 142 f/16; Meade NG60 f/10
Mounts: Celestron AVX; Bresser EXOS-2; ES Twilight I; ES Twilight II; iOptron Cube-G; AZ3/wood tripod; Vixen Polaris
Binoculars: Pentax PCF WP II 10×50, Bresser Corvette 10×50, Bresser Hunter 16×50 and 8×40, Garrett Gemini 12×60 LW, Gordon 10×50, Apogee 20×100

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Re: Mirror Cleaned

#13

Post by Gulf Coast Guy »


]I've always used Doc Clay's system for my SCT corrector plate and he has a prcedure for mirrors, too. I've never had the stones to open the tube and even check. Inspections never reveal qnything there.

[url]http://arksky.org/asoclean.htm[/url
OTA's: 203mm f10 Meade SCT (LXD75); Antares 80mm Refractor w/William Optics APOGrade f6.9 objective; Orion Starseeker 80 f11.2 Refractor
Mount/tripod's: Meade LXD-75 EQ; Orion Starseeker IV ALT/AZ; Celestron Heavy Duty ALT/AZ Farpoint UBM (Universal Binocular Mount)
Eyepieces:Meade - 26mm plossl, 12mm Astrometric; GSO (OPT badge) 2" Superview 50mm & 30mm 1.25" 15mm; TMB Planetary Series 9mm, 6mm, & 4mm: 10mm & 23mm 60° that came with the 80mm f11.2
Barlows: Orion 2x Shorty; Meade 4000 Series 3x
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Re: Mirror Cleaned

#14

Post by John Baars »


helicon wrote: Sat Jun 29, 2019 2:05 pm Glad that you were able to get it cleaned up. I'm ever watchful for spider webs hanging around the mirrors of my Dobs. It happened once (spider must have come in during a session out there). The material in the spider web is "toxic" to mirrors.
Thanks for mentioning. In fact all decomposing insects can affect the coatings on a mirror.
Refractors in frequency of use : *SW Evostar 120ED F/7.5 (all round ), * Vixen 102ED F/9 (vintage), both on Vixen GPDX.
GrabnGo on Alt/AZ : *SW Startravel 102 F/5 refractor( widefield, Sun, push-to), *OMC140 Maksutov F/14.3 ( planets).
Most used Eyepieces: *Panoptic 24, *Morpheus 14, *Leica ASPH zoom, *Zeiss barlow, *Pentax XO5.
Commonly used bino's : *Jena 10X50 , * Canon 10X30 IS, *Swarovski Habicht 7X42, * Celestron 15X70, *Kasai 2.3X40
Rijswijk Public Observatory: * Astro-Physics Starfire 130 f/8, * 6 inch Newton, * C9.25, * Meade 14 inch LX600 ACF, *Lunt.
Amateur astronomer since 1970.
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