Caring for equipment when brought in from the cold

[Onebitrocket]

Hi all,

First post here, I've bought an explorer-130p az-goto.

I've just finished trialling the scope and I love how easy it is to target objects.

Setting up took a little working out and research, including some really valuable tips on this forum.

Now that I'm done for the evening, how do I care for the scope and lenses when finishing a nights viewing?

There's quite a temperature change between outside and inside, ( -1°c to 21°c ) and my lenses have got condensation on them, is this ok?

I've left the scope in my porch for the time being where the temperature difference isn't as great.

I'm aware that you need to allow some time for a telescope to acclimatise to the conditions outside before observation.

But I can't find any details regarding care for equipment bringing it in form the cold.

Are there any other general care tips I should be aware of?

Thanks

Matt

[Space Dragon]

As you've guessed, as soon as you bring the scope into a warm house condensation will appear on the optics.

Basically, avoid the temptation to wipe any of the glass or mirrors and leave them uncapped and they will clear as they reach ambient temperature.

I usually just leave mine till morning and they're always ok.

[Onebitrocket]

Thanks for the advice!

[crashtestdummy]

i used to worry about this so now i dont bring my scope in,it stays at outside temp in the garage

[Astralstroll]

I tend to angle the tube to about 45 degrees and leave the cover of the optics until the condensation has evaporated. As Space Dragon says, avoid any temptation to wipe anything!!

Dave.

[Moonshane]

good advice above. it will dry off by morning and then pack up. welcome to SGL from a fellow Manc (sort of).

[keithatrochdale]

Onebitrocket why don't you pop over one Saturday evening and say hello to us at the Astro Centre.

[Bubbles82]

I always just bring my equipment in and leave it to naturally acclimatise,never touch the lenses or any of the optical surfaces but usually wipe the tube of the scope / scopes I have been using with soft clean cloth. One thing I am a bit over the top about is not taking my cases that I store my equipment in outside or leaving them open to the moisture or dust as I think this is asking for trouble as storing optical equipment in a damp foam case in a warm room closed of from the fresh air or similar is only going to end up with fungus growing inside,that might never happen but with the cost of some of my equipment I have I ain't gonna take the chance, plus does look good with the scope out on display on the coffee table for a few hours

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Billy- the -Badger]

Is it also ok to leave a scope out in a shed (secure) as the mrs is getting the hump with the scope living in the bedroom

[russ.will]

Well done for getting hump, scope, Mrs and bedroom all into one sentence.

Russell

[russ.will]

Is it also ok to leave a scope out in a shed (secure) as the mrs is getting the hump with the scope living in the bedroom

Mine lives in an unheated out house, but if it does get particularly badly dewed up, I do bring it indoors to dry. Once dry, it goes back in the out house.

Moisture doesn't hurt the optics, but I'd avoid prolonged soakings due to the number of places it can eventually get into and the fungal problems it will cause in the long run.

Russell

[Billy- the -Badger]

Thanks Russell.

I was concerned with damp getting into the electrics.

I may leave it where it is till the weather gets a bit better