Most telescopes are designed for longevity. The functions of telescopes rely on mirrors and lenses, these things last a long time if cared for properly.
Reflector telescopes use mirrors that collect and focus light, these mirrors have special coatings that wear out over time. Modern telescope mirror coatings can last as long as twenty years before needing to be replaced. Refractor telescopes which use lenses rather than mirrors can remain functional for hundreds of years.
There are many examples of telescopes that still exist today that are about as functional as they were when they were manufactured in the 16th to 19th century.
The Swift telescopes, popular in the sixties, are still often used today and prized by collectors, these refracting telescopes have not worn out in sixty years. People still enjoy stargazing with these vintage telescopes.
Of course, there are much older telescopes that still function well and are collected by astronomers who want to see what the sky looked like to people like Isaac Newton, Galileo Galilei, or Johannes Kepler.
Modern Telescopes
When we are talking about telescopes you might buy today, there are a few things to consider when thinking about how long your telescope will last:
Telescope and Mount
Some types of telescopes or mounts are made of lower quality material and are prone to break down with use.
My first telescope, a 10” Apetura Dobsonian Reflector, came apart in many places. The mount was still very much usable, but I had to tape down some of the plastic covering the particle board, and I had to replace some of the padding with felt.
You can see how it came apart in this picture.
Technology
Some telescopes use GoTo computers and motors to locate objects in the night sky. These computers were developed in the late 1980s, and they are still very popular. You can read about the development of telescope technology in this Celestron article.
As with any technology, these can become obsolete very quickly.
Telescopes with electronics are still usable as telescopes even if their computer components become useless.
If you use a computerized telescope it is possible to keep the software updated to most recent versions, but there may come a day when the hardware is no longer operational.
Mirror Coatings
The mirrors in telescopes are different from household mirrors as the reflective coating is on top of the glass rather than behind the glass.
These reflective coatings are most often made of aluminum, and they degrade over time.
Telescope mirror coatings can be reapplied, and it is often recommended that it be done every 5-10 years.
Your observing conditions, care and cleaning routines and environmental factors determine the lifespan of your mirror.
There is quite a bit of debate in the astronomy community about how often and even if you should clean these delicate mirrors.
I clean mine regularly and I do not think I am doing any damage.
Moisture from the air can carry pollutants, dirt and dust onto the mirror surface and can cause it to become less reflective.
It is not too expensive to get mirrors resurfaced, you can check out the price charts on OWL Labs website to get an idea of what you can expect.
Resale Value
You may be wondering if you can get your money back from a telescope. Most telescopes hold their value fairly well.
A high quality telescope will often sell for 50-75% of its retail value in most cases. Some more desirable or hard to find telescopes will sell for their retail value or more.
You can read more about buying and selling used telescopes in this post.
Storage
Even though most telescopes are designed to be used outside, the storage conditions can shorten or lengthen the life of modern telescopes.
Telescopes are manufactured to be very sturdy, they are intended to be used outside in a wide range of conditions.
However, it is possible to shorten the lifespan of your telescope by leaving it outside unprotected.
Be sure to store your telescope in a weatherproof location like a shed or garage. Temperature fluxuations are fine and telescopes are manufactured to function in a very large range of temperatures, but moisture and dust can shorten the life of the telescope mounts, eyepieces, mirrors and other components.
You can build just a solid plywood box to cover your telescope when it is stored in the backyard. Dan, from Dan’s Pier Top Plates, calls this a telescope motel, and you can purchase plans on his site.
I have seen these types of storage solutions be very handy and allow the observer more time at the eyepiece and less time setting up and tearing down.
I store my telescope inside in the custom cases I bought from the manufacturer. I do not have a garage, basement or shed or I would store it there.
If I will be observing several days in a row, sometimes I leave my telescope in my car so that it will acclimate more quickly. There are many storage solutions in the linked post if you need more information.
Telescope eyepieces should be stored with caps on in a protective case. I keep mine in an apache 4800 case that I purchased from Harbor Freight. Pelican cases available on Amazon are another great option for keeping eyepieces safe and clean.
What is the lifespan of a telescope?
A high quality telescope will outlive its owner in most cases.
Telescopes are hardy pieces of equipment that are designed to be used in a wide range of weather conditions.
Reflector telescopes will need more maintenance over its lifetime than a refractor telescope.
As a general rule, telescopes will remain useful for hundreds of years if they are free of manufacturing defects. The Swift telescopes manufactured in the 1960s are still incredibly popular for collecting and observing even 60 years later. A high quality telescope will be functional for many years.
Do Telescopes Have Warranties?
Every company has a slightly different warranty policy, but almost all offer some type of support after your purchase.
My telescope, purchased from Orion, has a 1 year, non-transferable warranty.
Here is the basic information about the warranties of the major telescope manufacturers. Most are helpful over the phone and on their websites. These are the warrenties on telescopes only, some also offer a warrenty on accessories.
| Manufacturer | Length | Notes |
| Orion | 1 Year | Non-transferrable, otherwise very simple |
| SkyWatcher | 2 Year | Parts and Replacements if found defective, must include contact information and detailed explanation of issues found. |
| Celestron | 2 Year | Parts and Replacements if found defective, you are responsible for all shipping costs |
| Apertura | 2 Year | You are responsible for shipping |
| Explore Scientific | 1 Year | Must register within 60 days of purchase |
