Telescope Cleaning Tutorial - SCT and RASA

Your telescope is filthy! Take some time to clean it and keep it in tip-top shape for observing or astrophotography!
Does the corrector plate on your Schmidt-Cassegrain or RASA telescope need a good cleaning? This beginner tutorial helps you assess whether it needs cleaning, what products to use, and the safest cleaning method to protect the optics.
00:00 Intro
03:19 Supplies
04:33 Cleaning
My Equipment:
Telescope: Celestron RASA 8
Imaging Camera: ZWO ASI1600MM Pro
Mount: iOptron CEM40
Filters: 2" Baader RGB and f/2 3.5/4nm Narrowband SHO
Guide Camera: ZWO ASI290MM Mini
Guide Scope: Orion 60mm Guide Scope with Helical Focuser
ZWO ASIAir Plus
ZWO EAF (Electronic Automatic Focuser)
Twitter: / nickjlake
Insta: / nickjlake
Astrobin: www.astrobin.com/users/bortle9/
Photographs of the universe, with galaxies, stars, nebulae, supernovas, comets, planets, Moon, Sun. Inspiring wonder about the night sky, even from the light pollution of Chicago.

[@perry3928]

Thanks Nick.Great info. Clear optics, clear skies

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Thanks very much!

[@LogansAstro]

Nice instructions on cleaning the corrector plate. Certainly feels scary the first time you do it but once you get the first one under your belt you realise, as you said, no need to be afraid of it.

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Thanks very much!

[@DSOImager]

Great video Nick! It's validating to see that I pretty much use the same procedure. CS!

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Thanks!

[@Brians_Astro-Adventures]

Thanks for the video

[@josephluciani5531]

Thank you once again Nick for anticipating all my astro needs and questions. I have a relatively new refractor and after some subzero weather and careless re-acclimatizing I have what I think are dew spots. Really not bad, but my OCD is kicking in and I would like to see a clean objective plate looking back at me 😊 Why is it not okay to clean more often? You, and others, say to wait-years if necessary-but why? Will more frequent cleaning degrade the surface? After all, a bit of alcohol and distilled water…how much degrading can happen?

[@scottwilliams895]

Thanks for the tips!!

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

You're welcome!

[@Nottsboy24]

Since owning my Celestron Nexstar Evolution 9.25" i've only used the dry cloth the telescope came with. Reason being it doesn't need cleaning is because once I use the telescope i immediately wipe the corrector plate, put the dust cap on then i place my telescope in the same plastic bag it came in and stored away 🔭

[@leeguilfoyle9481]

I've been cleaning optics on camera lenses and some scopes for some time now, the one rule for when any material is applied to the glass is to use short strokes in an outward pattern from the middle out (a bit like spokes on a wheel). The one rule of thumb I have picked up from every pro clean shop and even the manufacturers is to never moving the cleaning wipe in a circular motion. Maybe I've been doing wrong?

[@astralbody]

Great video on cleaning something that is scary to do so. Now I don't have a RASA yet but good to know. I have never gone crazy on my Z73. I treat it like my camera lenses....just not as often. 😊 Cleaning filters on the other hand...not fun. Haha Thanks Nick

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Thanks very much! Yeah filters are a special thing for sure!

[@Lord_Whiteley]

Hi Nick, you find you get any dust on the other side of the corrector plate ie inside the tube? I must admit the stuff I use to clean just about anything optical including filters is Baader Wonder Fluid as you just don’t get any residue :)

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

No dust (or at least not much) on the inside of the plate. Very nervous to remove with an f/2 scope, but at some point if it builds up I'll send it back to Celestron for servicing. Yes, I wanted to use Baader Wonder Fluid way back when but there was either a backorder or import issue I think. I'll have to look into it again because I've heard nothing but good things!

[@Lord_Whiteley]

@@WindyCityAstrophotography it’s really good stuff !! I actually took my corrector plate out as, I removed all the screws to fit a ring dew heater - it’s actually pretty easy but I forgot to mark the position of the correct plate wrt tube and as a result Collimation was very slightly out but I have a Ocal PC Collimator and it is really easy :) So I don’t use a Cheshire or my Howie laser collimator anymore :)

[@petelopez5826]

Has anyone tried 50/50 mix of white vinegar since a natural solution try and clean these. I’ve only had my new scope for a week and it shows signs of needing to be cleaned

[@michaelfrazier9537]

I have been scared to clean a smug I have on my outer plate. I didn't know you use alcohol 70% to clean it. I am still a little scared to try it. I've had my Celestron Nexstar 8se since August of this year. So, I am still new to this stuff...

[@WindyCityAstrophotography]

Is the smudge really bad? Unless it's pretty major, you can probably get away with leaving it, and wait to clean until it really needs it in a few years. Yes, it's unsightly to look at, but most likely it isn't interfering noticeably with the scope's performance.

[@michaelfrazier9537]

@@WindyCityAstrophotography I can't load my picture for some reason to show you.

[@bored9260]

Yeah no i didnt spam i just wanted to show you

[@SpookyTooth303]

This video needs to be cut in half.