Meade Instruments LX850 - Manual (Page 46)

Storage and Transport
When the telescope is not in use, store it in a cool,
dry place. Do not expose the instrument to excessive
heat or moisture. It is best to store the telescope in its
original box with the RA and DEC locks
(Page 14, Fig.
10) in the unlocked positions. If shipping the telescope,
use the original box and packing material to protect the
telescope during shipment.
When transporting the telescope, take care not to
bump or drop the instrument; this type of abuse can
damage the optical tube and/or the objective lens and
knock the optics out of alignment.
Inspecting the Optics
A few words about the so-called “Flashlight Test:” If a
flashlight or other high-intensity light source is pointed
down the main telescope tube, the view (depending
upon the observer’s line of sight and the angle of
the light) may reveal what appear to be scratches,
dark or bright spots or uneven coatings, giving the
appearance of poor quality optics. These effects are
only seen when a high intensity light is transmitted
through lenses or reflected off the mirrors and can
be seen on any high-quality optical system, including
giant research telescopes.
The optical quality of a telescope cannot be judged by
the “flashlight” test; the true test of optical quality can
only be conducted through careful star testing.
CUSTOMER
SERVICE
If you have a question concerning your LX850
telescope, call the Meade Instruments Customer
Service Department at (800) 626-3233. Customer
Service hours are 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Pacific
Time, Monday through Friday. In the unlikely event
that the LX850 requires factory servicing or repairs,
before returning the telescope to the factory, write
or call the Meade Customer Service Department to
provide an explanation of the problem, as well as your
name, address and daytime telephone number. The
great majority of servicing issues can be resolved
by telephone, avoiding return of the telescope to
the factory.
MAINTENANCE
Your LX850 model telescope is a precision optical
instrument designed to yield a lifetime of rewarding
observations. Given the care and respect due
any precision instrument, the telescope will rarely
require factory servicing or maintenance. Use the
following guidelines:
1. Avoid cleaning the telescope’s optics: a little dust
on the front surface of the telescope’s correcting
lens causes virtually no degradation of image
quality and should not be considered reason to
clean the lens.
2. When absolutely necessary, remove dust from the
front lens with gentle strokes of a camel-hair brush
or blow it off with an ear syringe (available at any
pharmacy). Do not use a commercial photographic
lens cleaner.
3. You may remove organic materials (e.g.,
fingerprints) from the front lens with a solution of
3 parts distilled water to 1 part isopropyl alcohol.
A single drop of biodegradable dishwashing soap
may be added per pint of solution. Use soft, white
facial tissues and make short, gentle strokes.
Change tissues often.
Caution: Do not use scented, colored or lotioned
tissues or damage could result to the optics.
4. If your LX850 model is used outdoors on a humid
night, telescope surfaces may accumulate water
condensation. While such condensation does not
normally cause any damage to the telescope, it is
recommended that the entire telescope be wiped
down with a dry cloth before being packed away.
Do not, however, wipe any of the optical surfaces.
Rather, simply allow the telescope to sit for some
time in warm indoor air, so that the wet optical
surfaces can dry unattended. In addition, the dust
cap should not be placed back on to the optical
tube until the telescope is thoroughly dry.
5. Do not leave your LX850 model outdoors on a
warm day or inside a sealed car for an extended
period of time; excessive ambient temperatures
can damage the telescope’s internal lubrication
and electronic circuitry.
AutoStar #497 HANDBOX
Maintenance/Customer Ser
vice
46