View all misted up.

[weetooner]

First night in about 2 weeks I have clear skies. Set up the scope and went indoors to let scope cool down and adjust to outside temperature, go outside about 3/4 hour later and cannot see a thing through the scope. Well when I say I cannot see anything I mean that every thing is all misty, don't want to rub eyepiece or scope with anything but it is frustrating that the first night in ages that I can get outside my scope decides to mist up

[paul mc c]

What scope are you using.

[weetooner]

I've got a Sky-Watcher mercury 705 refractor.

[paul mc c]

Give the lens a gentle blow with a hair dryer that will clear it,and make a dew shield for the front of the scope.

[weetooner]

Cheers Paul, "hair dryer" now that is something I haven't needed for the last few years so may have to invest in one lol. There is a removable plastic cover (not the dust cover) on the end of the scope is this a dew shield or do I need to buy or make one?

Starting to get some hazy clouds coming over now so may have to give it up for just now.

[brantuk]

You already have a dew shield on the 705 - its the big round tube on the front around the main lense. Some slide forwards for best effect but I don't know if yours is fixed.

If it keeps misting up in your location then you may benefit from getting a dew controller and dew band to go round it. You'd need a 12V battery as well - and probably a charger.

[cantab]

Next time you might try pointing the scope at the ground or a wall or fence while it's cooling. It should dew less that way.