How to Clean your Telescope Mirror

Demonstration of Parabolic Mirror Cleaning

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Telescope
• Mirror

[redshift40]

I am a little more anal with my mirror cleaning. I never touch it with my hands and I always use a soap that has no perfume and use distilled water. If it is really dirty, I use pure cotton and acetone and wipe the mirror with no pressure. This has worked great for me.

[OpticWaveLabs]

The problem with using cotton or a cloth is that it will trap the dirt particles and act like sandpaper. Your skin just rolls the dirt off the surface. I've cleaned hundreds of mirrors this way with no damage.

[Jules7892]

@Achilleas7 I realize that Opticians are supposed to use"DISTILLED Water" for Telescope Lenses & Mirrors but that they might NOT. In that case, Use Photographic Lens Tissues and Lens Sprays read instructions on the applications of Each.Use a Compressed Air-Blowers Can ALL items are available for Purchase at your Local "Photographic Retail Stores"!!I will try at a later time,"describe how to properly clean Lenses and Mirror Optics at a later comment",Thank You from Astro-Photographer, Jules7892!!

[Jules7892]

@GeorgeChar95 Friend,your way is the BEST way with Expert Opticians for cleaning. Those dust particles,if you are patient enough,you can be blow-off with a Photographic Compressed-Air Can(bought at your Photographic Retail Supplier)plus you can purchase a "Camels Sterile Hair Brush kept always in sealed sterile Lens bag".Always use Optician Photographic Experts to clean your Optics,its worth the money because your Multi-Coated Lenses&Mirrors Telescopes&MicroScopes,StereoS­copes deserve the BEST!!

[Jules7892]

@GeorgeChar95 Friend, do it your way with Specialized Professional Opticians. I know it Costs Money but it is worth every penny because you don't want any hairline scratches on your Multi-Coated Delicate Optical Telescopes or MicroScopes,StereoScopes and Expensive Eyepieces,Photographic Lenses and Mirror Lenses. Yes, if you don't have the Patience than take it to your Opticians for Cleanings!!!!

[Jules7892]

Sorry,but I always clean my Mirror Optics & Lenses with proper"Photographic Lens Sprays&Lens Tissues-Photographic on all my Telescopes &Microscopes,using Lens Tissues only after the Lens Mirrors&Lenses have been Air-blowed with a Clean Air-Compressed-Can or WatchMakers Air-Blowers with the Lens or Mirror Assembly still in place using Lens Tissue &Lens Sprays attached to a wooden soft rod to Clean Newtonian Parabolic Reflectors.Also,Opticians told me to clean as little as possible,use Lens Caps!!

[Achilleas7]

@GeorgeChar95 and then the trained professionals treat your mirror the exact same way and you think they cleaned it in a distilled environment while they actually did it in their sink :-)

[GeorgeChar95]

@deeproot01 i prefer going to specialized professionals. I might pay some money but i know there is nothing to worry about.

Believe it or no i have a telescope 8 inch that i bought 2 years ago and the mirror is like new it was never cleaned it only has 4 tiny particles that don't affect it's performance at all. The less you wash it the better it is..... that's what i think but if it's really dirty, of course clean it!

[deeproot01]

I just cleaned a mirror on a new to me telescope(used). This method worked perfect. I did final rinse with ultra pure water that I use for my saltwater tanks. The mirror is as clean as new and has no scratches. I don't know about the users reporting that their mirrors get scratched maybe they didn't wash their hands first or pressed to hard.

Thanks for the guide.

[albangirard]

Yep, NEVER TOUCH THE MIRROR!. I tried your method this afternoon. Result: a scratched mirror. My hand was clean and I did not apply any force on the surface but it was enough to scratch it. I guess my skin doesn't roll the dirt off the surface... I finished cleaning it up using cotton balls without problem.

[gregohks]

Never -NEVER touch your mirror.You cannot see if it is damaged,but by touching it you damage its coatings.

[davidmiami10]

can you please shut off the water.