Do you store your telescope complete?

[Devil20]

I'm slightly confused as to why people think that having the scope closer to the ambient temperature is a good thing. Doesn't that mean it will fog up quicker and get dew on the mirror (for a reflector anyway). If you point the telescope at the open sky the temperature of the optics will drop to significantly below the ambient temperature as they are pointing at something not much above absolute zero.  

[PlanetGazer]

I definitely take the telescope of the tripod, just afraid someone will gives it a little push plus I don't want any permanent deformation/creep developing on the mount. 

[ChrisLX200]

I'm slightly confused as to why people think that having the scope closer to the ambient temperature is a good thing. Doesn't that mean it will fog up quicker and get dew on the mirror (for a reflector anyway). If you point the telescope at the open sky the temperature of the optics will drop to significantly below the ambient temperature as they are pointing at something not much above absolute zero.  

Not really, you want your optics at, or controlled @ fractionally above ambient (using an anti-dew heater) for best optical performance. So you have to wait for that to happen from room temperature which can take a long time if there is a big temperature difference. Getting dew on your optics is a separate issue and can be easily controled using dew shields and dew heaters.

ChrisH

[Devil20]

Not really, you want your optics at, or controlled @ fractionally above ambient (using an anti-dew heater) for best optical performance. So you have to wait for that to happen from room temperature which can take a long time if there is a big temperature difference. Getting dew on your optics is a separate issue and can be easily controled using dew shields and dew heaters.

ChrisH

Chris. I'm very new to this astronomy business so probably not my last daft comment. I can see the benefit of having the optics just above ambient. If you took a radiator warmed scope into the outside then I suppose the warmer air in the cope would cool and condense on the optics. Conversely, a scope just above ambient, pointed at the night sky would eventually cool to less than ambient and if the optics got colder than the dew point they'd also get wet. I'm that new to astronomy that I haven't heard of dew sheilds or dew heaters so I suppose I'd better go and find out. I've only had my scope just over a week and yet to use it. It's been cloudy every flippin' night since.

[Astro Imp]

If dripping wet with dew I take it into the house to dry off, but get it out before Mrs.c wakes up,

Old Nick.

Very wise Nick, my wife would commit murder if like a lot on here I even suggested keeping it in the kitchen/dining room/bedroom.

[scarp15]

The dob, along with much of my astro kit adorns the back room (demoted to activities room), when not in use I place a plastic dust cover over it. I keep the radiator low in here. The SCT is kept in its original foam mold, which is inside a large zipped cargo bag. 

[liseyc82]

Thank you for discussing this. I've just had a new skywatcher telescope and was wondering where to store it. I don't have a garage or shed so it's currently still in its box. I think I will out it up in our spare room. 

[Stridor]

Thank you for discussing this. I've just had a new skywatcher telescope and was wondering where to store it. I don't have a garage or shed so it's currently still in its box. I think I will out it up in our spare room. 

Yes, that's where mine is kept...it`s also an unheated room.

[Fatrick]

I store my OTAs in purpose-made wood cradles in an outbuilding, 

Thats a good idea. I think you've just gave me a little spring time project

[oldpink]

I take the scope & weights off but thats pretty much it
it lives by my front door which is cool but above outside ambiant
lenses stay under my desk in there boxes
I can be set up in 5 minutes if I get a break in the weather

[rustyjames]

Store my dob assembled in annexe living room(sometimes it's warmer outside!) it's easy to move outside on to garden and if I'm feeling really lazy I can just open patio doors and poke the tube through

[scarp15]

If dripping wet with dew I take it into the house to dry off, but get it out before Mrs.c wakes up,

Old Nick.

I know what you mean Nick, arriving home after a weekend session, I happened to tread mud onto the carpet whilst hauling in the OTA. Fortunately my wife was in bed, yet carrying in then airing all my astro kit, followed by scrubbing the mud off the carpet felt, at 2.30am like a task too far.

[jnb]

To save space I now take the mount off the tube and fold the tripod legs in a bit so that the tripod still stands up but isn't so wide.The OTA then stands on end behind the tripod. Yes it's less stable than keeping the tripod splayed but on the other hand it's less likely to be walked into. What I might do is get hold of a folding trolley and bungie both scope and tripod to that. A bungie will stop it falling over and a trolley makes it quicker to move the whole setup.

[ChrisLX200]

Thats a good idea. I think you've just gave me a little spring time project

My cradle for the 12" Newt looks like this:

Smaller cradles hold the guidescopes and smaller OTAs:

The larger guidescope (Vixen 90mm) fits onto a dovetail rail screwed to the roof:

The heaviest scope (10" Cat) sits on a shelf:

And I use the rest of the space as a remote imaging station when the weather is cold - saves dragging it all out outside and me freezing to death

ChrisH

[nucleardwarf]

My cradle for the 12" Newt looks like this:

Smaller cradles hold the guidescopes and smaller OTAs:

The larger guidescope (Vixen 90mm) fits onto a dovetail rail screwed to the roof:

The heaviest scope (10" Cat) sits on a shelf:

And I use the rest of the space as a remote imaging station when the weather is cold - saves dragging it all out outside and me freezing to death

ChrisH

Now that is astropornography.

[gingergeek]

Mount is left covered up outside, imaging scope is stored inside in a downstairs room that much colder than the rest of the house for cool down purposes.

[PlanetGazer]

My cradle for the 12" Newt looks like this:

Smaller cradles hold the guidescopes and smaller OTAs:

The larger guidescope (Vixen 90mm) fits onto a dovetail rail screwed to the roof:

The heaviest scope (10" Cat) sits on a shelf:

And I use the rest of the space as a remote imaging station when the weather is cold - saves dragging it all out outside and me freezing to death

ChrisH

You sir have a little spot of heaven! 

[mickshere]

deffo  :-)

[Devil20]

That's some seriously impressive kit Chris. When's your next star party

[Kirscovitch]

Now that's a mancave!

[mickshere]

Outstanding!

[dROU]

Beginner extension of this question, which I hope doesn't seem ludicrous.

8" reflector on an EQ5 or similar mount is the practical max for us driving to a site to avoid home light pollution - Blackpool

Can a setup like this be transported assembled in a hatchback estate car?

Seats drop to flat and would need to make anchored/sculpted polystyrene support blocks/surrounds and velcro straps to support and secure it.

Otherwise mount in the back and tube on the back seat as most seem to.

Thanks for advice.