I live in Central North Carolina on the east coast of the USA at 35°N latitude. In my portion of this world there's lots of trees! LOTS of 🌳🌲🌲them! Every year since I got my scope in 2006 and I've noticed it, but it wasn't until 2009-2014 (I can't find the original photo seen below) that I noticed how much collects on the tube and optics for even a few hours long session. It's kept me indoor for 6+ weeks around this time of year.
Basically one year around the time I got my CGE in the background, I had the Orange C8 out for a while and it wasn't until the next day did I realize it was ALL over the tube and sadly the corrector plate as well!!!! I was horrified and I'm so gun shy about it happening again!
Here's a good discussion about this topic on my FB from years later - https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10208538664082341&set=pb.1180477400.-2207520000..&type=3
Also I had a bit of fun this year!
via - https://www.instagram.com/p/CNTFMOHJN4i/
So how to beat it? I keep track of forecasts and keep my own tables.
Here's some other resources I found interesting and useful:
https://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/article250526719.html
When is pollen the worst?
The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality measures pollen at the Nature Research Center in Downtown Raleigh. Typically, the highest counts are recorded between the last week of March and the second week of April, Zaynab Nasif, a DEQ spokeswoman, wrote in an email.
Predictions
https://www.accuweather.com/en/us/raleigh/27601/allergies-weather/329823?name=tree-pollen
3-5 showing in VISIBLY worst portions!
https://www.pollen.com/forecast/current/pollen/27604
I've also been keeping a chart that's mostly ambiguous but some form of a guide to go back out when it's safe again!
Year |
Light Start |
Heavy Start |
Heavy End |
Light End |
|
2021 |
20210303 |
20210325 |
|
|
|
2020 |
20200302 |
20200309-16 |
|
|
|
2019 |
20190316 |
20190330 |
|
|
|
2018 |
20180329 |
|
|
20190519 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hope you have clear and steady skies!
Mike
