Keeping your telescopes safe from the elements is a constant challenge. Not only do we need to keep dust, debris, and moisture out, but we also need to make sure our telescopes are protected from direct sunlight, extreme cold and intense heat. Keeping your telescope secure in inclement weather is even more important. An unprotected telescope might look nice on the outside, but if it’s not kept clean or dry it can lead to expensive damage. Here are some tips to help you keep your telescopes safe this winter:

Protect Your Telescope From Dust

Dust is one of the biggest threats to telescopes because it is a common indoor air pollutant. It can also cause condensation and damage that’s difficult to repair. And keeping a clean telescope helps prevent the build up of this contaminant. Many telescopes are equipped with built-in dust covers, which are great. However, if yours aren’t, you can easily keep the inside of your telescope clean with a soft cloth and a few drops of water. Simply wipe down the inside of the telescope’s objective lens and eyepiece to keep it dust-free. Additionally, you can keep the inside of the telescope dust-free by using a soft cloth to wipe down the inside of the telescope’s eyepiece each week. This keeps the reflections of fingers, dust, and other particles away from the lenses, which helps to keep the optics clean. And, if your telescope has an electronic control panel, you can wipe it down with a damp cloth as well.

Protect Your Telescope From Debris

While dust is the primary culprit that causes damage to your telescopes, other objects pose a significant threat as well. These include rain droplets and leaves, which can condense and cause damage to the telescope’s lenses. Even other space objects can damage your telescope, such as screws and other metal objects that are left in the field of the telescope’s optics. Protect your telescope from debris by closing the doors and windows around your telescope, keeping the area clean, and storing your telescope in a spot where it won’t collect debris. If you are in a stormy area, consider using a space-age umbrella to keep water and other unwanted elements off of your telescope.

Keep Your Telescope Dry And Clean

Clean your telescope frequently, especially if it’s used in a rain-soaked area. If you aren’t cleaning your telescope, the lenses can accumulate a layer of dust, which can damage the telescope’s lenses. To clean your telescope, use a soft, damp cloth to remove any dust or debris and then use a dry cloth to polish the surface of your telescopes. When cleaning the inside of the telescope’s lenses, be careful not to scratch them with the polishing cloth. Additionally, you can clean your telescope’s outside lenses with a garden hose. The outside lenses of a telescope are the most vulnerable and are likely to get smudged if they aren’t clean. Wipe them down with a damp cloth to remove any dust, dirt, and fingerprints. Be sure to use a non-abrasive, soft cloth to keep the lenses from getting scratched.

Protect Your Telescopes From Extreme Heat

Extreme heat can damage your telescope, causing the lenses to become foggy or even shatter. The inside of your telescope should never be left in an area that is extremely hot, either inside or out. Extreme heat can damage your telescope, causing the lenses to become foggy or even shatter. Extreme heat can cause your telescope to overheat, causing it to malfunction. To prevent this from happening, keep your telescope out of direct sunlight, away from hot surfaces (such as a barbecue), and out of the heat while it’s not in use. To further protect your telescope from extreme heat, you can keep your telescope in an air-conditioned area during the summer.

Conclusion

Keeping your telescopes safe during the cold winter months requires a little extra effort, but it’s well worth it. You don’t want to risk damaging your valuable investments, so follow these tips to keep your telescopes safe and sound this season. The best way to keep your telescopes safe during the winter is to properly store them. If you have an outdoor telescope, make sure to store it in a climate-controlled environment. If you don’t have an outdoor telescope, make sure to keep it in a climate-controlled environment when not in use. Another tip to keep your telescopes safe during the winter is to regularly clean your telescope. If you don’t clean your telescope, dust and debris will build up on the lenses, which could potentially damage your telescope. Protect your telescope from dust, debris, and extreme heat by keeping the area around your telescope clean, closing the doors and windows, and storing your telescope in a cool, climate-controlled environment.