Is it ok to keep my scope outside?

dizzy2005 (Mike Diskett) · #1 14-05-2009, 01:05 PM

OK I've ordered a 8 inch collapsible skywatcher dob, and its due to arrive any day. (Upgrading from one of those dept store scopes everyone says not to buy, But I've had a fantastic time learning the southern sky with it <I'm from the UK, home of rain >, its a 60mm celestron refractor bought for $90).

Now security aside, would it be better to keep the new scope inside or outside? Outside it would be under cover (car porch). Inside would be in a cupboard somewhere. I live in Brisbane with its associated big temperature range between day and night.

MikeD.

erick (Eric) · #2 14-05-2009, 01:13 PM

Just try to keep it dry (and don't put it away when wet with dew or humidity). Rust may be your major concern. A breathable cover might be better than plastic? And seal every hole the creepy crawlies can get into (shower caps are your friend). You don't want to open it up and find spider webs everywhere and eggs stuck to the mirror surfaces! Also try to store with tube unit horizontal to reduce dust or anything falling onto the primary mirror - but this is less of a problem if you have it well sealed. If horizontal, you may be able to put some cloth bags of silica gel inside the tube. Check the "kitty litter" in the supermarket. One form is silica gel.

I wouldn't be concerned with the temperature extremes.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #3 14-05-2009, 02:00 PM

The only concern with the temp extremes is the time it take for the mirror to cool down. If it's been a hot one, it can take 2 hours or more. (you always have to let the mirror cool down to ambient regardless, minimum time is about an hour) You want to be using the scope as soon as you can, not waiting for hours.
That said, so long as the scope is well covered, and not stored where the afternoon sun can get at it, it should be ok.

Jen · #4 14-05-2009, 09:47 PM

is that why sometimes when i first use my scope it looks like im looking through a microscope
I keep mine outside under the verandah

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #5 14-05-2009, 11:08 PM

LOL
I was going to be smart and tell you that you're looking through the wrong end Jen, but then I remembered that you have a reflector.
With a hot mirror, it's more like you can't get focus. Everything looks like crap.

dizzy2005 (Mike Diskett) · #6 15-05-2009, 02:39 PM

Thanks for the replies,

I'm assuming whatever covers come with the scope it isnt going to be airtight, would there be a risk of dew getting in? And then because it isnt well ventilated it might start the evening with a nasty ammount of dew in it from the day before?

I'd imagine each time your mirror gets dew on it then it evaporates it would leave some particles of dirt on it. So perhaps leaving it outside would result in a steady dirt build up.

Or maybe I'm worrying over nothing.

On the plus side it sounds like keeping it outside all the time is a great way of keeping it at ambient.

Mike.

Wavytone · #7 15-05-2009, 07:52 PM

Don't leave your scope outside, even if covered, for more than a night.

People think dew is just water - it isn't - anywhere near a city it is actually quite corrosive due to traces of contaminants it collects from the air. What settles on surfaces is usually an acidic witches brew of nitric, sulphuric acids and more. If you're near the coast it will contain salt and that is a disaster for mirror coatings.

At one time I had a big heavy 12" newtonian on a heavy equatorial mount (fork) whicj was big and cumbersome to set up and pack away each night. At one time over a Christmas break I left it outside for a few weeks hoping to do a lot of observing each night, with a silver padded car cover, thinking I could save myself some time. At the end the scope was in bad repair - the mirrors had to be recoated and a lot of parts were rusted or corroded.

Anything made of steel rusted. Even parts that were plated, and despite liberal application of grease and WD40. Even on modern scopes, most have nice allen head or grub screws in odd places and most are steel.

The mirror coatings were ruined, quite quickly despite having been quartz overcoated, even though the tube was parked such that the mirrors were vertical (primary) or facing down (diagonal).

If you value what you have, take it indoors. Even a garage would be better provided you can keep car exhaust fumes away from it (they're nasty too).

Jen · #8 16-05-2009, 03:55 AM

acropolite (Phil) · #9 16-05-2009, 09:08 AM

I agree with Wavytone, I have a sawbench, kept under cover (but outdoors) on my carport, never exposed to rain. It's rusted considerably over the past few years, despite never having been wet. Don't forget that nightfall brings increase in moisture content and this moisture can condense, bringing with it any impurities in the air.

Your 8 inch dob will be light as a feather and will only take moments to pack up.

dizzy2005 (Mike Diskett) · #10 17-05-2009, 01:38 PM

Well I'm convinced!
Keep it indoors or risk losing it.

The scope would have arrived on Friday if someone had been in the house to open the door. The damn delivery place is shut at weekends so I have to wait till Monday to sort out re-delivery. So I was outside for 3 hours last with the 60 mm cheap o refractor still having a geat time.

MikeD.

TJD (Trevor) · #11 17-05-2009, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dizzy2005

OK I've ordered a 8 inch collapsible skywatcher dob, and its due to arrive any day. (Upgrading from one of those dept store scopes everyone says not to buy, But I've had a fantastic time learning the southern sky with it <I'm from the UK, home of rain >, its a 60mm celestron refractor bought for $90).

Now security aside, would it be better to keep the new scope inside or outside? Outside it would be under cover (car porch). Inside would be in a cupboard somewhere. I live in Brisbane with its associated big temperature range between day and night.

MikeD.

i would keep my scopes in side it extand the life more

wavelandscott (Scott) · #12 18-05-2009, 12:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dizzy2005

OK I've ordered a 8 inch collapsible skywatcher dob, and its due to arrive any day. (Upgrading from one of those dept store scopes everyone says not to buy, But I've had a fantastic time learning the southern sky with it <I'm from the UK, home of rain >, its a 60mm celestron refractor bought for $90).

Now security aside, would it be better to keep the new scope inside or outside? Outside it would be under cover (car porch). Inside would be in a cupboard somewhere. I live in Brisbane with its associated big temperature range between day and night.

MikeD.

Would you keep a special "loved one" outside?...
Would you keep a scientific instrument outsie?...
Would you kepp $1,000 (or your actually paid price) outside?...

I'd think not...

dizzy2005 (Mike Diskett) · #13 18-05-2009, 12:47 PM

>Would you keep a special "loved one" outside?...

No, but then I also wouldnt keep them in a cupboard

Shano592 (Shane) · #14 18-05-2009, 03:29 PM

Snap!

TJD (Trevor) · #15 18-05-2009, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wavelandscott

Would you keep a special "loved one" outside?...
Would you keep a scientific instrument outsie?...
Would you kepp $1,000 (or your actually paid price) outside?...

I'd think not...

what about a $1000 weather station

or a friend that went camping there all loved cost lots and in some cases there scientific instriments

stephenb (Stephen) · #16 18-05-2009, 09:10 PM

My only concern would be direct sunlight, or direct rain. Apart form that, why not? I kept a dob under the back porch for 2 years. Didn't do it any harm.

rmcpb (Rob) · #17 19-05-2009, 12:19 PM

If its under cover the main worry for me would be security. Plenty of light fingered people running around just looking for an easy pickup.

TJD (Trevor) · #18 19-05-2009, 07:23 PM

does any body here know of a 12'' or 16'' thats got stollen the robbers would have to be olympic athlets to lift a 16'' and carry it 100 yards to there van with out been seen or hurting them selves

rmcpb (Rob) · #19 20-05-2009, 10:54 AM

Yep, the larger ones may slow them down a bit but they could do some serious damage to your bits 'n pieces while they try to work out what it is and how to knock it off. Besides, we were originally talking about an 8" collapsible dob which would be easy pickings.

TJD (Trevor) · #20 20-05-2009, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rmcpb

Yep, the larger ones may slow them down a bit but they could do some serious damage to your bits 'n pieces while they try to work out what it is and how to knock it off. Besides, we were originally talking about an 8" collapsible dob which would be easy pickings.

you right but still what is a person with not much(if not no)knowlegde of what it is going to do with it most people i show my scope to there first impresion is what on earth is that thing you would think that somebody turning upto the second hand shop saying "i would like to sell you this.........thing" would be a bit suspisius

but still securaty is a problem in most cities and your right they might get into bit of vandilisum trying to work out what it does