How To Clean and Maintain a Telescope

Did you know that some of the dust that’s collecting on every available surface in your home is actually space debris? Makes you not want to clean your house, doesn’t it? While no one will judge you if you refrain from dusting for the rest of your life (well, someone might), one item you should make sure you tend to is your telescope. It might not see constant use, and you might not think it needs much care, but your valuable piece of stargazing equipment does require some TLC to ensure it stays in top condition. Here’s what you need to do to make sure yours is always ready to go:

1. Think about where you’re storing it.
Prevention is the first step. If you store your telescope in the right way, you won’t have to worry about cleaning as often. Try to avoid places that are damp and/or tend to accumulate a lot of dust and don’t get much foot traffic, like an attic or basement. The less you see your telescope, the longer it’ll sit without use. Keep it in the main part of the house, and keep a thin, breathable dust cloth or similar piece of fabric over it.

2. Opt for compressed air rather than cloth or other fibers.
Telescopes have nooks and crannies everywhere. Rather than trying to rub a cloth over every part, start with compressed air, the same kind that’s used to clean computer keyboards. This is an effective way to give your telescope a good once-over.

3. When you need to deep clean, stick to cotton and an alcohol solution.
If you’re noticing visibility issues due to smudges or other grime on your telescope’s eyepiece or mirror, you’ll need to be very careful about your cleaning method. Dilute some alcohol with water and use either a cotton swab or a cotton ball to gently swipe away the dirt. Try not to wet the optics all over and instead focus on spot cleaning. A dilution percentage of 50-70 should work for these purposes.

4. If you have a more significant cleaning issue, turn to the pros.
When your optics require more than a spot clean or you have problems like mold, mildew, or other difficult and stubborn grime, locate a telescope cleaning service. Your telescope’s manufacturer can more than likely provide recommendation. This might be expensive, but that’s why prevention is the first step. The better you tend to your telescope, the less you’ll have to shell out to get and keep it in working order.