Chipped Objective

[ray]

Hi Guys, I have a telescope with a chip on the edge of the objective and was wondering if there is a way of masking it without replacing the lens that will eliminate the scattering of light across any images taken?

[mental4astro (Alexander)]

G'day Ray,

Good news is if the lens is large enough, masking out the chip will improve the image, though you may still get some ghostly reflections on the brighter objects.

Masking is as simple as cutting a hole in black cardboard so its diameter is slightly smaller than the inner most reach of the chip, and placing it over the lens. If there is a lens shade over the objective, the cardboard can be secured with tape to the lens shade.

Keep in mind that this will keep the scope to a purely visual instrument.

Mental.

[rmcpb (Rob)]

Chips on newtonian mirrors can be simply painted matt black.

Question to those more familiar with refractors. Would painting the chip and its edges do the same and not cause too much difference to the image if the chip is small?

[dannat (Daniel)]

how badly is the chip affecting the view