Scope outside ok?

[EzyStyles (Eric)]

Hi Guys,

Recently ive been imaging quite alot but am contemplating on leaving the equipment outside without bringing it back in. getting abit lazy on packing and unpacking everything each night. Lets say on a 30-40 degree day, will this be ok? i dont want to fry any of my equipment or anything. Most likely just the EQ6 mount and the scope/camera.

[erick (Eric)]

Security?

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

I've thought about this from time to time Eric, and I can't see much difference between keeping the scope outside covered with a thermal blanket and keeping it in a tin shed observatory, apart from security ( ). The temp in a tin shed is easily going to get to the 40 deg mark easily. Check out some of this years Duckadang shots particularly h0ughy's scope tent, works a treat especially if you can get the one without the zip strip that normally runs across the bottom of the door frame. Much easier to fit without having to lift it over the top of the scope.

Alternatively if you are worried about the scope you could always bring the scope in and leave the mount outside.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/a...8&d=1187059822

Ok there are 4 tents in this image. You don't want the big one at the back . Nor the green one at the back or the one with the yellow roof. Both of those have a fabric strip along the bottom of the door side where the zip attaches. This means you will have to lift the tent over your scope. Unless of course you can work out some way to remove the strip without ruining the zip.

The forth one (front left) with the silver sides and green dew cap has no strip along the bottom and can be easily moved to cover the scope and mount without having to lift over them. If they are still available (it was a challenge to find them but from memory Big W had them) they are the Bees Knees.

[astro_nutt]

I once had to leave my set-up..(10" dob) outside on a 30+ day..after covering the scope with a white cotton sheet...I used a 2 metre cafe umbrella which had a 30 kilogram concrete base...I then covered the umbrella with a large piece of sandy coloured shadecloth down to ground level..it kept the scope clean, cool and dry.
Cheers!

[EzyStyles (Eric)]

cheers guys thanks . I think the tent way is a go, what i really want is to leave the scope outside imaging on 1 object overnight so i can actually get some sleep. in the morning for work, i simply take the tent out and cover it.

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

Hey Paul,

Do you know how these tents stand up in the wet? I think most of them are intended as shower tents for camping so I'm wondering if the waterproofing is going to be dodgy as they are intended to get wet on the inside?

I'm also intrigued as to how Houghy's tent works if there is nothing to keep the base square when the door is unzipped? Most of these things have a spring steel frame that relys on the tent fabric to keep the shape.

I recently got one (primus) that has the door strip so you have to lift it over the scope but it doesn't have the fixed floor and it is a bit larger than the green one in the Duckadang picture (1.4x1.4). It isn't too difficult to lift over the scope but if the wind was blowing that would be another story. I should set it up tonight to test the waterproofing - I might get a clear night if I do.

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

My thought Peter is for dew protection only. If the weather looks dodgy I'd be bringing the scope in and throwing an extra tarp over the top. Though the one I was indicating at the top is made of heavy woven plastic so would be more water resistant than you standard nylon ones (ie the one in the photo link on the right at the back with two white disks on the side)

H0ughy's one is fairly rigid with the poles and moved quite easily.

[g__day (Matthew)]

You could build a shed for $800 - $1,200...

[peter_4059 (Peter)]

I would build a shed if I had space and a suitable horizon. I'm on a small block and need to position the scope depending on the target to avoid the house/trees. Might have to move out of town!!