Cover up and turn the screw ?

[deepblue]

I have a question on how to store your scope after use. Do you cover up in plastic transport bag straightaway or do you give the scope time to come back up to storage room temperature. I am thinking that their may be moisture inside the tube after observing and that covering up in plastic bag straight after viewing might not be the best thing for the mirrors? Any thoughts?

Also I am still learning collimation. I have figured out how to centre the secondary and how to tilt secondary, but am still puzzled with which screws to twiddle for the primary adjustment. My scope is a GSO980. Does anyone have the same scope and if so could they help me understand which screws do what? There are 6 similarly sized screws on my scope.

[Kal (Andrew)]

Lately with all the dew all of my equpiment is usually wet when I bring it inside at the end of the night. I leave all my cases/boxes open and lens covers off until the morning to let it all dry out.

If there is no dew though I normally just pack it all up straight away.

[astro_nutt]

After a dewy night's observing..I would cover the scope with a cotton sheet prior to transporting it to help collect any moisture on the optical tube..I do the same with the mount..to help everything dry out..I'll set the scope verticle on it's mount with the dust cover off and cover the top with a piece of loose-weave fabric..the EP's are taken out and allow to dry (never wipe or clean a dewy EP as this is the best way to scratch them!!)..as well as the finderscope, books, etc..
As for the 6 screws..3 would be locking..and 3 adjusting..use some liquid paper to mark which is which and be careful not to over-tighten after adjustment..
Cheers!

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

After I chip and scrape the ice of my Dob, I lay it horizontal and cover it with a loose sheet for the night. In the morning if it's still wet I use the inbuilt fan or a hair dryer to dry it out. Then I put the covers on.

[Ric]

My 12" gets brought into the loungeroom and lives at the opposite end from the heater. Then I leave until the next day before covering it up with a trimmed sheet.

Cheers

[matt]

Originally Posted by ballaratdragons

After I chip and scrape the ice of my Dob.

Yep. Sounds familiar, Ken

[Dennis]

I bring my OTA in under the house and leave it under a dust sheet until the morning, then move it into the house into a room with a dehumidifier (for the Qld summer months).

Previously, I've had a couple of optical instruments ruined by fungus.

Cheers

Dennis