cooling the scope

[Beardy30]

can anyone please advise why this is needs and is it as simple as leaving it outside for a bit before you observe?

[dtr42]

its to allow any air/thermals in your ota to stabilise [preventing /reducing shimmering when viewing planets etc] leave it in the horizontal position as well when cooling it .

[richbyers]

yes its really noticable- sometimes i cant wait so look anyways- but go back in and come back out- there really is a big difference

[Csuka]

can anyone please advise why this is needs and is it as simple as leaving it outside for a bit before you observe?

I wonder if it's safe to put it in the fridge for a few minutes? lol

[Beardy30]

how long shall i leave it for

[gooseholla]

30 mins to an hour, maybe even two. It all depends what type of scope, how big and what the relative differences in the temperatures are.

[Stu]

I would think with a 130m then 30 to 45 mins should be plenty. It has an open tube so doesn't take as long as other scopes. Closed tubes like maks and SCT's can take much longer, up to 2 hours if the scope is kept in the house.

Stu

[Frank the Troll]

I keep mine in the garage with the door open, so by the time its dark, it already cooled down.

You just have to remember to let the EP's cool down too.

[Damo636]

I never heard of letting ep's cool down? I keep mine warm in my fleece pocket as I find the colder they get the more likely the eye lens is to fog up.

[Frank the Troll]

I keep the EP's indoors, so they are quite warm, if I take then straight out, they tend to mist a bit.

[cs1cjc]

It is easy to check if your scope is fully cooled down and discover other aberrations with a star test. See:

TMB Website

Astro Babys Guide to Collimation

[Catweazel]

I put my 200P out for about an hour before viewing with it. Only about 30 mins for the refractors.

[marshy123]

Bolted my tripod to 2ft spikes buried in the ground so it's going nowhere. Sling a tarp over at the end of the night, we'll see how long it lasts!!!