To avoid the risk of your scope becoming a petri dish, be sure all of its parts are dry before you store it. Not only will a case add a second seal against dust, it also will protect the instrument against accidental bumps.Ī dark, damp telescope tube is the perfect breeding ground for mold and mildew. If your telescope or binoculars came with a case, use it. If the telescope did not come with a dust cap, or if it has been lost over time, a plastic shower cap often makes a great substitute. Usually, this is simply a matter of putting a dust cap over the front of the tube and plugging the focuser or covering it with a small plastic bag. Regardless of where you store your scope, always cover the optics. If a basement is your only option, invest in a dehumidifier. While these considerations weigh in their favor, most basements fail when it comes to being dry and free of dust. They also provide easy access if a door leads directly to the outside. How about an unheated basement? Basements certainly are secure and large enough to qualify. Metal, vinyl, or plastic sheds are not as good because such materials trap heat more than wooden enclosures. Of course, not everyone can build an observatory, nor is one always warranted or desired.Ĭlosets in unheated garages and wooden toolsheds share many of the advantages of an observatory, although you may have to vent them to the outside so air can circulate. Without a doubt, the best place to keep a telescope is in an observatory, which offers a controlled environment and easy access to the night sky. We’re excited to announce Astronomy magazine’s new Space and Beyond subscription box – a quarterly adventure, curated with an astronomy-themed collection in every box. Doing so reduces the cooling (or warming) time required when you set up at night.īringing the universe to your door. Ideally, you should keep your telescope at or near the temperature outside. A good storage place should be dry, dust-free, secure, and large enough to get the telescope in and out easily. Nothing affects a telescope’s life span more than how and where you store it when you’re not using it. But if neglected or abused, your telescope may not make it to the next New Moon. With a little common sense on your part, a telescope will return a lifetime of fascination. They require little care and attention and cost nothing to keep. Unlike so many products in our throwaway society, where built-in obsolescence seems the rule, telescopes often outlast their owners.
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