PeterAnderson
17-08-2016, 09:19 PM
Observing lunar occultations the other night with the Moon nearly overhead, some light cloud scudded over and I thoughtI felt a few light drops on my face. Checking out the corrector plate there was a thumbnail size wet splotch, which when carefully wiped left a shiny spot the same size. We live in the bush and bats fly over quite often. Well a cotton bud wet with water and then a dry cotton bud removed the shiny spot with no damage, but I was worried. Sprinkled with bat urine no less!
Anyway the corrector plate needs cleaning anyway and I just bought some Iso Propyl Alcohol and cotton balls from the chemist and will work up the will to do the job.
That same night I investigated a slighter firmness in the declination motion of the CGEM DX mount on this telescope. Swinging it back and forth in the horizontal position, at certain attitudes, the whole telescope gave a shudder...not good. Okay, close the roof and turn the lights on.
Nothing obvious but then I saw the Allen bolts tightening the dec shaft. Upon checking out, one was loose - 3/4 turn to tighten and the others say about 1/8 turn. Wow! I could have had the tube on the floor ...shudder.
I thought I would share this with you.
Anyway the corrector plate needs cleaning anyway and I just bought some Iso Propyl Alcohol and cotton balls from the chemist and will work up the will to do the job.
That same night I investigated a slighter firmness in the declination motion of the CGEM DX mount on this telescope. Swinging it back and forth in the horizontal position, at certain attitudes, the whole telescope gave a shudder...not good. Okay, close the roof and turn the lights on.
Nothing obvious but then I saw the Allen bolts tightening the dec shaft. Upon checking out, one was loose - 3/4 turn to tighten and the others say about 1/8 turn. Wow! I could have had the tube on the floor ...shudder.
I thought I would share this with you.