So disappointing!!!!! :(

[DJVege]

Hey guys!

Tonight, I finally wanted to test the TouCam with my scope for the first time. I figured, work out all the kinks tonight, and be set for tomorrow's lunar eclipse! When i set the scope up at 5.30pm, it was still light, the moon was up...but when looking at the moon through EPs, the moon looked like it was floating...make sense? What could cause that?

ANYWAY, I went to the gym, came back and got the TouCam connected to the scope at 10pm...only to find that, due to the temperature drop, all my lenses, mirrors, you name it, had condensation on them. How do I stop that from happening? I read about "dew straps"...what are they, and do I need them? So unhappy!

At least last night I was able to check out the moon, as well as Jupiter and 4 of its moons. Was awesome!! :thumbsup:

Any suggestions? If the temp. drops tomorrow, my photo ops are gone, and I'll be back to taking images with my digital camera.

Thanks!

[[1ponders]]

What sort of scope are you using? In a pinch you can use a hair dryer (briefly, not too close and not on high), but it's better to prevent than cure.

[DJVege]

My scope is an MN56 f/6 5".

http://www.iteastronomy.com/products/telescopes/specifications.php?p=MN56

Thanks!

And can you believe it!!!?? 10 minutes inside, and the glass is fine now!!

[[1ponders]]

Nice!!
Couple of things you can do.
1. Build a dew shield out of an unused yoga mat (or sacrifice someones thin camping mat) and some velcro.
2. Get a dew heater (one that you can control)
3. while your at it get one for you finderscope as well. Trust me you will need it.

The Dew shield can be made in a matter of minutes once you have the material and short blasts with the hair dryer will be all you need. But it is only a short term measure. With a corrector plate at the front dewing comes with the game. And with the humidity that BrisVegas gets it is a year long joy (except when those lovely south westerlies blow in winter :cold: )

[Omaroo]

DJVege - what Paul says is right. You won't be able to use your equipment outside at night when you start dewing up without some dew control methods in place. With a unit like yours that has a corrector plate (such as either a Schmidt-Newtonian or Cassegrain) you can firstly benefit from a wrap-around dew shield (such as in the first photo). Then, as you get more involved, go for a dew heater and controller to gently heat the corrector plate flange that serves to heat the air held within the dew sheild. It only needs to maintain a temperature a couple of degrees above the real ambient air temp to prevent dew from forming.

Cheers - and good luck tonight!

Cheers
Chris

[Phil]

DJ you have a dew shield for that scope. If this does not work get the good old hair dryer ouy mate. Hope you get clear skys tonight.
Phil

[DJVege]

OK! Dew shield....CHECK!! =) I got one from Phil in Rocky (who is also who I got my scope from)! Cheers, Phil! :thumbsup:

That and a mini blow dryer will have to do for tonight. What exactly do I point the dryer at? Inside the shield?

Also, what else can get "dewed"!! EPs I know...can the primary/secondary mirrors?

I guess I'll have to check out these kendrick systems out, eh?

Thanks heaps, guys. Wish me luck for tonight!

[rmcpb]

Another thing, if you are leaving your setup for a while just cover it with some garbags to physically stop the dew getting on it then the other dew controls will not have to work so hard when you are using the scope again.

[Omaroo]

Not necessarily - at all. Build your own - it isn't hard if you're any good with your own or someone else's hands.... strip, controller and all. I build the one you see in my 12" scope in about 90 minutes from start to finish - and all for around $10 in parts.

[DJVege]

Rob, yesterday, I left my scope and mount covered in a thick plastic covering, but the dew seemed to get in anyway.. ??

Omaroo, did you follow some kind of guide? If so, could you share, please?

Thanks heaps for the info and suggestions guys.

[erick]

Just a thought - toss a sheet over it first, before the plastic. I think the sheet may suck up much of the moisture?

[jjjnettie]

For your finder scope, slip one of those soft stubby coolers over the working end. Don't forget to cut the bottom off it. LOL

[rmcpb]

What!! And spoil a perfectly good stubby holder. You could use a small softdrink bottle, withj both ends cut out, and keep the stubby holder for its intended and very noble use :)

[Omaroo]

My heater strip technique: http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=21421

Controller: same thread.

Cheers
Chris

[DJVege]

Erick: Should I keep the cover on the "glass"/front of the scope while I'm away? Will that help as well?

Jeanette: I use an Orion EZ II finder. Although it, too, had dew on it.

Rob: LOL

Omaroo: Thanks.

So the general jist of things is to cover the scope to keep it warm...yes? Not too warm, but we don't want it colder than the dew point. Yes?

Can my primary get "dewed" on? The tube should save it from that, right?

Thanks again, guys! Appreciate it!

[Omaroo]

Yep - a differential temperature of two or three degrees from ambient will do it. You don't want any more than that because you start getting warm air currents interfering with your optics otherwise - which is just as bad as not being able to see at all....... hence the variability available to you via a controller.

[astro_nutt]

For your EP's..try a hot water bottle wrapped in a teatowel...place it a box and put EP's on top...this will keep them warm for a few hours!
Cheers!

[[1ponders]]

Having an enclosed tube your primary won't dew up. If you are going to use a dew shield, just use the hair drier intermittently on the corrector plate when it starts to look a bit "cloudy". Shouldn't take much.