Atmospheric Seeing & Cooldown

Why does the moon look like it's boiling or shimmering underwater? That’s called "Seeing"—the visual distortion caused by turbulent air in Earth's atmosphere.

Also, never observe through a window (open or closed). The temperature difference between your warm room and the cold air outside creates massive thermal currents that will completely ruin the image.

<Mentor's Pro Tip: Let It Chill > Telescopes need to acclimatize. When you bring your Koolpte outside, let it sit for 20-30 minutes so the temperature inside the tube matches the outside air. Your patience will be rewarded with significantly sharper, crisper views.