I may have just made my first somewhat costly mistake in my foray into astronomy! I just purchased a used Celestron NexStar 5, which appears to be in great shape, but quite dirty. Included with the scope was an Orion lens cleaning kit, and a Celestron 2x Barlow lens.
I was proudly cleaning the exterior of the scope and lenses, and I noticed that the glass surface of the barlow was somewhat smudged. I got the cleaning kit, which had a can of compressed air, and read the instructions.
I was blowing off the dirt with the compressed air, when I accidentally shot a blast of moisture right at the lens. It looks like water vapor got inside the lens, and then dried, leaving a smudge of residue about 1/4th inch in diameter. I guess I wasn't holding the can straight upright, which caused the propellant or some liquid to spray out.
Anyway, is there any way to clean inside the barlow?
How bad will a smudge like this be?
Is the barlow ruined?
I was proudly cleaning the exterior of the scope and lenses, and I noticed that the glass surface of the barlow was somewhat smudged. I got the cleaning kit, which had a can of compressed air, and read the instructions.
I was blowing off the dirt with the compressed air, when I accidentally shot a blast of moisture right at the lens. It looks like water vapor got inside the lens, and then dried, leaving a smudge of residue about 1/4th inch in diameter. I guess I wasn't holding the can straight upright, which caused the propellant or some liquid to spray out.
Anyway, is there any way to clean inside the barlow?
How bad will a smudge like this be?
Is the barlow ruined?