Keeping telescope outside year round?

[Arcane]

Is it ok to keep a telescope and asorted accesories stored outside all year round? Out of the rain and weather of course.

Where I live it can get down to 0F or less in the winter and above 100F and quite humid in the summer. Will this hurt the telescope?

Thanks!

[Kaptain K]

It depends. Closed tube scopes (refractors, Schmidt-Cassegrains and Maks) are less susceptible than Newtonians.

[Veeger]

As far as I know, it won't hurt if you can figure out how to keep condensation and dust off the optics. It isn't necessarily the condensation that hurts the optics but it tends to collect dirt which requires cleaning and frequent cleaning takes a toll.

-Veeger

[Kaptain K]

Electronics (if any) are more vulnerable than optics.

[Arcane]

Yah it is a newtonian and condensation was one of the things I was worried about. I wouldn't want it to start to rust or have the wood base start to warp or anything.

Hmmm, I guess it would be better to keep it in doors then.

Thanks for the input.

[RickJ]

It's not a problem at all. All major observatory scopes are kept this way!

My 10" Cave has been stored in the unheated, unattached, garage since 1958. Mirror needs recoating every 12 to 15 years or so. My 6" f/4 which stays in the house also needs coating that often so being outside has no effect on it that I can see. Most of those years it was in Nebraska with temps ranging from -15F to +110 F. Now it sits in my observatory in northern Minnesota, also unheated of course with an even wider temperature range. -30F is common here. Also out there is a Paramount ME which is a heavily computerized and horribly expensive mount with a 14" LX200R on it. I don't worry about it at all. Works fine at -30 F though I use a lighter grease in winter.

I'd not worry about it at all. If a Newtonian cap both ends with a plastic shower cap. A film can fits the focuser. I store it mirror end up since dust rarely falls up. This isn't hard in a GEM but with a dob you'll have to take it out of the rocker box and use a bungie cord to hold it up against a wall.

At Hyde Memorial Observatory we have a C11, C14, 8" newtonian, 13" dob and a 3" solar scope, refractor. All stored in the unheated rool-off roof observatory at outside temp and humidity. The C14 and 8" newtonian have been there since 1977. The fully computerized C11 has been there 5 years without any problems at all.

Only problem anyone I know has had that keep their stuff outside is some report their computers (not the one in the scope--their PC I mean) sometimes doesn't boot in really sub zero temps. The hard drive just won't spin up to speed when too cold. My controlling PC stays in the house at all times so I've not had that problem.

Rick

[Arcane]

Well thats good news rick. The wife really doesn't want it sitting in the living room and I sure as heck aint carrying it up and down the stairs all the time heh. Also I figured since the mirrors need to adjust to temperature changes for best viewing (I think), it would be better to just have it outside so it is ready to go at a moments notice.

Well cool then, I will keep it outside.

Thanks Rick:clap:

[Nick Theodorakis]

Yah it is a newtonian and condensation was one of the things I was worried about. I wouldn't want it to start to rust or have the wood base start to warp or anything.

...


Or have some mice make a nest on your primary.

Nick

[aurora]

I'd check it frequently, at least the first winter, to see if there is any condensation forming. Depending on where you live, it is possible to get some mold growing on your optics...