Astronomy - February 2014

18 ASTRONOMY t FEBRUARY 2014

W

here does the

amateur

astronomer go

to purchase

astronomy

gear? If not online, most of us

would probably head for a

nearby optical goods shop. But

did you know you can find items

that enhance your enjoyment of

the hobby in unlikely places?

Let’s take some of the cash we

saved from last month’s column

when we garnered astronomical

freebies from the Internet and

use it for a backyard astronomer’s

shopping trip. First stop: the cos-

metics section at the local

department store.

Lipstick and nail polish may

not do much to improve a tele-

scopic view of the Orion Nebula,

but a rechargeable hair dryer

might. If used gently and set at

the lowest air volume, this device

will help combat the dew that

shrouds telescope optics and fogs

up the image. The fix is tempo-

rary — we’ll need to repeat the

process several times in an eve-

ning — but that’s better than

having to return indoors.

Once optics are rid of dew, the

serious astronomy hobbyist will

keep a logbook to organize the

notes and sketches that docu-

ment each night’s observing.

We’ll stop by an office supply

store and pick up a three-ring

binder and some unlined note-

book paper. For basic eyepiece

sketching and note taking, let’s

add a clipboard and some #

pencils. What about something

to illuminate the clipboard in the

dark? For that, let’s head to the

local sporting goods store.

Visit the camping section in

search of a hiker’s headlamp —

OBSERVINGBASICS

BY GLENN CHAPLE

Everyday

accessories

an LED flashlight that straps

around the head, keeping hands

free to operate the telescope and

take notes. To preserve night

vision, we’ll select one with a

red-light option. While here, let’s

pick up a folding canvas chair to

relax in during breaks or while

scanning the sky with binoculars.

With luck, we’ll also find a light-

weight folding table to keep

accessories and charts within

reach and off the damp ground.

From the camping area, let’s

move on to fishing tackle. Here

we’ll find two useful items — a

fishing vest and a tackle box. The

vest pockets, in which anglers

stow lures and hooks, also can

keep eyepieces and accessories

near. The tackle box will hold

these items more securely,

whether in storage or in the field.

Need quality binoculars?

Hunters do. The size (10x50)

recommended for backyard

astronomy is a mainstay for

hunters who want to spot game

under low-light conditions. Need

a finder for a telescope? We’re in

luck! In the hunting department,

we’ll also come across red-dot BB

gun finders — essentially identi-

cal to the red-dot finders found

on telescopes.

You might be tempted to get a

BB gun as well and go after the

irritating lights that invade your

backyard. Not so fast, my friend!

Rambo tactics aren’t necessary

when we can visit the hardware

store and purchase the materials

to construct a simple light shield.

With PVC pipe, adhesive, con-

nector joints, a few plastic tarps,

and bungee cords, we’ll construct

a box-like enclosure to keep our

telescopes in the dark and main-

tain neighborhood peace.

Have you ever had a loose bolt

or screw tumble from your scope

and disappear in the grass? Let’s

be proactive and pick up any

hardware odds and ends (nuts

and bolts, thumbscrews, rubber

washers, etc.) that might get lost

or worn. To take care of on-the-

spot repair needs, we’ll pick up a

compact all-in-one tool (screw-

driver, pliers, scissors, etc.). For

quick temporary repairs, let’s also

grab a roll of duct tape — the

universal “fix-it” material.

At a hardware store, we’ll also

come across a single-drawer tool

caddy — a workable alternative

to the tackle box as a carryall for

eyepieces and accessories. It’s my

preference. Having two tackle

boxes, one for fishing and one

for astronomy, creates the real

possibility that I might absent-

mindedly take the wrong one

on my next fishing trip. A Plössl

eyepiece is not the best bait for a

largemouth bass! The tool caddy

lets me see what I’m bringing, so

the Plössl arrives at the observing

area, not the lake.

Tired of torturing your knees

on the hard, cold ground? A foam

gardener’s kneeling pad will be a

blessing! Need something to

protect a telescope from dust

and dirt? Pick up a box of large-

capacity (approximately 50 gal-

lons), industrial-strength barrel

liners, and slip one over your

scope when it’s not in use.

Finally, get a can of WD-40 to

keep your telescope mount

working smoothly.

Remember, the telescope and

eyepieces are only part of what

we need to enjoy a starry night.

We can find most of the auxil-

iary items in places not normally

associated with astronomy. Now

if you’ll excuse me, I’m moving

on to the local supermarket for

my final astronomy purchases

— chips, cookies, and a few cans

of soda. Can’t enjoy an evening

under the stars without a mid-

night snack!

A quick shout-out to “Bar-

low” Bob Godfrey for the idea

behind this article. Questions,

comments, or suggestions?

Email me at gchaple@hotmail.

com. Next month: An asteroid

takes out a 1st-magnitude star.

Clear skies!

BROWSE THE “OBSERVING BASICS” ARCHIVE AT http://www.Astronomy.com/Chaple.

A fishing tackle box is a great observing kit for a night under the stars. To learn some

basic items to put in this kit, visit http://www.Astronomy.com/observingkit. MICHAEL E. BAKICH

A trip to the

local hardware or

sporting goods

store is a must

for a backyard

observer.