There are bags and hard cases that can arguably protect the telescope even better. There are a few different methods to store your telescope besides just covers. Safety equipment does matter and is going to save you money long-term by increasing the longevity of your device. There are so many specialty accessories in the astronomy space that are completely unnecessary (I’m looking at you, “telescope gloves”) and we generally tell you to save your money and spend it on gear that is truly going to make a difference on your viewing experience, but that’s not the case here. It is true there’s nothing too special about telescope covers and an old sheet can still cover it from dust, but all the other features do make a difference long term, especially if you plan to keep it in a room with questionable conditions like a shed or the garage. If you have already invested hundreds or even thousands of dollars into a telescope, spending a small fraction of that to keep it safe is worth the money. You don’t want your telescope exposed to too much heat because this weakens the optics glue, messing up the mirror/lens alignment, and it makes it so you have to wait longer for the telescope to acclimate to the weather every time you use it to get proper views. It reflects UV rays to keep them away from the mirrors, and is thermally stable, meaning it prevents the interior and the telescope from heating up. The silver coating you will see in high-quality covers serves two purposes. Even if you will keep the telescope indoors, there are always the occasional drops flying through the window or worse, unidentified moisture or leaks. The only special case here is Dobsonians that due to their shape require a cover with a different design than the rest, but there are covers specially made to fit them.Ī good cover must be waterproof and impermeable. The specifications should tell you the maximum length the cover fits and then you only need to match it to the length of the tube of your telescope.įor refractor telescopes, the length is going to be very close to the telescope’s focal length so just knowing that will tell you if the cover will fit.įor Newtonians it gets a bit trickier because the focal length does not equal the length of the tube so you will need to use a good old measuring tape just to make sure you have the correct size.Ĭassegrains are very compact and should fit on the smaller covers. The most important thing when looking for a cover is making sure it is going to fit your telescope comfortably.

Telescope covers are relatively easy to shop for, there are only a few things to consider so you can pick the right one:

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