Can You Use a Telescope Through a Window?

Beginner astronomers frequently inquire if they may use telescopes through a window. They don’t always have the opportunity to locate the optimal spot, or there aren’t many places in their region where they can watch the stars without being disturbed.

As a result, the majority of them consider their home as an alternative for when they choose to pursue astronomy. Setting a telescope in the backyard, or on the roof, is one of the options, despite the fact that it is not as wide and open as a playground (or a hill).

Indoor viewing may appear appealing, particularly since it avoids the hassle of transporting the telescope from home to an open region. And that is without considering how appealing it appears to be to simply set it on the window and call it a day.

The most expert amateur astronomers, on the other hand, advise against it since window glasses are not designed for optical gazing. They have the ability to severely distort photographs and degrade their quality. As a result, using an optical instrument via a window is never suggested.

Why Do You Need To Use Telescope Through A Window?

If you are passionate about astronomy, you may like to have your telescope always with you. Even you may wish to enjoy the moon and stars at night as well as the sunset. For having a better experience with the telescope, you can set it right in front of your bedroom windows.

Why You Are Unable to Use Telescope Through a Window?

There are a number of causes behind this. But there are two that stick out the most. The following are the primary reasons why a telescope cannot be used via a window:

Reason #1

The glass used in telescopes and windows are not quite the same. In terms of quality, there are significant disparities. Optical glasses are far superior to window glasses in terms of quality (used in telescopes, binoculars, Finderscopes, etc.).

As a result, window glass can significantly corrupt the light passing through it, resulting in a poor-quality image. As an outcome, no matter how costly or great your telescope is, the image quality will always be mediocre.

Reason #2

There is now a cause why the image is distorted. Although it may appear obvious, the glass used for the windows and telescopes is entirely different. As a result, the former damages the light that otherwise would have been received by the latter. There are a few factors to bear in mind while talking about light being warped.

To begin with, the mirror within the lens has been cleaned to detect 1/4 of the wavelength of light, indicating that they may serve as good receptacles. Unfortunately, this is not the case with windows, owing to the fact that glass tends to lose roughly 8% to 9% of the light it receives, causing it to become distorted.

Reason #3

There has always been a temperature differential across your room and the outside world, no regardless of where you reside. We already know that air moves from a hotter to a colder environment.

As a result, if you place your telescope near a window, you may be subjected to a noxious air current from outside your room. The image in your telescope may be severely distorted as a result of this airstream.

Tips To Use Telescope Through Window

As I previously stated, using a telescope via a window is not suggested at all. You can, though, if necessary. However, the visual quality will suffer. That is the price you will have to pay.

• For a decent result, use a 40mm finder-scope. At 20X to 40X, a 70mm +/-refractor may offer superior performance. To prevent reflections, remember to switch off the light.
• You can utilize a binocular if you are lying in your bed. You’ll need to place a binocular close to the window, but you’ll be able to feel the city from your bed.
• Using the newspaper, rub it clean. It leaves a little quantity of ink on the glass that functions as an anti-reflective coating. Since the greatest way to make windows look more transparent is to clean them with newspaper.
• For a good vision, keep the magnifier at its lowest setting. Also, try to keep your window as clean as possible.
• A tripod can be used to mount a pair of binoculars. With the binos, you may also utilize an 80mm ST. A white light solar filter will improve your sunset viewing experience.
• Use the smallest refractor you can. Images will not be as excellent as they would be outside, but even with a wind chill of 30 or -40 degrees Fahrenheit, you can get nice vistas. We like wide-angle EPs with a focal length of 10mm, 15mm, or 25mm.

This is how a telescope may be used via a window. Nevertheless, we always advocate setting your telescope in an open area where you can appreciate the night sky. If you don’t have any, though, the windows are the next best thing.

Final Thoughts

Using a telescope via a window is not wholly difficult, despite the fact that it is not advised. If the observer is unconcerned with the quality loss, they can still do it.

Setting up the equipment next to it, as well as orienting it towards the thing the individual intends to see, is also required. One factor to bear in mind is that the shut window will now operate as a lens, that is why it is impossible to overstate how much it will alter the quality.

Although it’s necessary to hunt for the best location to put up a telescope, individuals who want to participate in this fascinating activity may find their options restricted.

To put a different spin on the barriers that may occur, a little ingenuity is required, which applies not just to astrophysics, but to anything in general. Now it’s time to go explore the universe!