From: Dominic-Luc Webb 
To: peter cmaChen 
cc: atm{at}shore.net
Reply-To: Dominic-Luc Webb 



>                I came across this interesting article on the problem of
> moths in telescopes and how the people there tried to deal with it
>
> http://www.apo.nmsu.edu/Telescopes/SDSS/eng.papers/19970220_Moth/19970220.ht
> ml
>
>    It got me wondering.  Surely many ATMs have come across the same or
> similar problem in their telescopes and enclosures.  Does anyone know of
> other environmentally friendly way - high tech, low tech, or folk remedies -
> to keep insects away from people and scopes?


Thanks for that most amazing link. ;=] It is truly the stuff scientists are
made of.... choke, choke...

I consider mosquetos attacking me directly to be a bigger problem. There
are repellents for mosquetos and these sometimes act as irritants for a
host of other insects. Lights might be possible, but you should check with
an entomologist if there are wavelengths that could be used (UV or IR) that
won't interfere with most telescope applications. The web page shows some
rather primitive attemps using common lamps. Many insects have very
specific colors and patterns they are attracted or repelled to.

Dominic-Luc Webb

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