I have a small annoying problem????

Question

Ok, my telescope was dust cuz I havent used it for a while so I put vinegar on the front part of the lens's Then I was stupid and put vinegar down the telescope thinking there was a scope on the front to. But of course there wasn't so now I had vinegar down the telescope, so I used water to take out the vinega now I had water down I let it dry in the sun so now I got like the calcium stuff down the lens from the water what could I do?

Answer 1

What kind of telescope?

If a refractor (one lens at each end) and you have water (and vinegar) spots on the inside surfaces of the lenses (and if your tube is not made of cardboard), you could rinse it with pure, distilled water.  The stuff can be bought in drug stores if you can't get it anywhere else.

The problem with wiping or scrubbing is that you could remove special coatings that are sometimes applied to the glass surfaces.

If it is a mirror, the distilled water trick should help.  You should never try to wipe it (the layer of aluminum is barely 3 molecules thick -- even blowing on it is risky as it could lift the aluminum "skin" from the glass).

If you know of an amateur astronomy club near you, go see them and explain the problem.  There are usually a few amateurs who get similar problems every once in a while.

I got rain on my mirror once and the drops left circles when they dried.  I used the distilled water rinse trick -- no wiping, no blowing, no shaking.  Gently, always.

If you have to take it apart (and you've never done this), take notes at each step (better: take pictures) so that you'll remember where everything goes.

Answer 2

Assuming you have not damaged the lens-- remove it clean out the tube anyway you like-- then clean both sides of the lens using these instructions:

http://www.analyticalsci.com/Astronomy/T...

Replace the lens in the EXACT position as it was before you cleaned it.

Answer 3

You buy a new telescope.

Answer 4

3M makes these microfiber cloths that are meant for cleaning delicate, easily scratched surfaces.

http://www.telescopes.com/sunglass-acces...

If you can disassemble your telescope, that will make cleaning easier.  If not, you'll have to securely attach one of the cloths to a long, flexible rod (nothing stiff that could accidentally break the mirror) and perform some delicate surgery.  I should warn you: if you try this, you do so at your own risk.

I hope that helps.  Good luck!

EDIT:  Well, the two answers below mine show how much *I* know.  I suggest following their advice and not mine, lest you damage your telescope.

Answer 5

From what you are describing you have a reflector telescope.  The only way to truly clean the "lens" is to remove the lens (actually a mirror) that has the "calcium stuff" on it.  (using only a dry cloth will scratch the surface of the mirror and likely ruin it forever.) Usually this involves removing a few screws from the back of the telescope. You can then follow the steps found at...

http://www.astro-tom.com/tips_and_advice...

I have done this before on my 10 year old refractor telescope and while it is time consuming the results are worth it.