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Last updated: 20 March 2010
Last updated: 20 March 2010 |
Sent: Thursday, March 18, 2010 10:47:27 From: P. Clay Sherrod (drclay@tcworks.net) From the progress of this winter's weather patterns, and the trend of the past couple of years, this year may be a record-breaker for pollen from both evergreen and hardwood trees in the northern hemisphere.....already here in Arkansas, we have very thick pollen developing and I am getting reports of early-season pollen throughout the south and some of the more northern states as well. In the northern latitudes, juniper and pine pollen is very high as it is in southern locations; here in the south and to the west, both tree and grass pollen are developing very fast. If last year is any indication, the pollen will be very bad throughout spring into late May throughout the northern hemisphere. You need to really take extra precautions to protect your telescope(s), even if they are located in an observatory of any type; most pollen accumulations occur from blowing wind, picking up the particles on the ground as well as tree limbs and leaves and transferring this onto your optics. You cannot simply "wipe away" pollen....it contains sap which will smear onto your optics and it also contains acids that, if left in place, can actually eat through the coatings of optics and into the polished surface of lenses and mirrors. I have posted my annual "Pollen Advisory" on the Arkansas Sky Observatory website: http://www.arksky.org/ which addresses how to minimize the deposition of this, as well as how to properly clean and maintain your optical surfaces once they have pollen on them. Look for the "Pollen Guide" in the links "Important Guides".... This is one area where a small bit of protective maintenance can save a great deal of frustration in the future. Clear spring skies.... Dr. Clay _____ Arkansas Sky Observatories MPC H45 - Petit Jean Mountain South MPC H41 - Petit Jean Mountain MPC H43 - Conway West http://www.arksky.org/
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