Care & Field Gear

What You Will Find

• Cases and covers: Waterproof hard cases with custom foam, padded bags for tubes and mounts, and Telegizmos covers for telescopes left outside.
• Collimation tools: Lasers, Cheshires, autocollimators and Barlowed laser attachments for Newtonians and SCTs.
• Cleaning supplies: Blowers, brushes, coating-safe fluids and tissues.
• Red lights and observing gear: Lights that protect night vision, observing chairs and small field tools.
• Books and charts: Star atlases and planispheres that work when batteries die in the cold.
• Spare parts: Screws, knobs, springs and small parts, including for older models.

Practical Advice

• Clean less: A little dust has almost no effect on the image. Cleaning too often does more harm than good. Send us a photo if you are unsure.
• Collimate often: A quick check before each session with a Newtonian or SCT pays off far more than cleaning.
• Case fit: We check the internal dimensions of a case against your exact tube, mount head or eyepiece set.

Care and Field Gear: Frequently Asked Questions

When should I clean my telescope optics?

Only when dust or film visibly reduces contrast, or after pollen or salt exposure. Blow off loose dust first and never rub dry glass.

Which collimation tool should I buy?

A Cheshire is simple and never needs adjustment. A good laser is fast in the dark. For fast Newtonians, a Barlowed laser or autocollimator gives the best accuracy.

Protecting your equipment?

Tell us what you need to transport or store. We will recommend a case or cover that fits.