Being new to this forum, I'm sure this topic must have been discussed. But please indulge me. I have a SP -C102 (Vixen) refractor, and after a night under the stars, and when it is cold outside, condenstation forms on the inside of my telescope lens when I bring the scope into a warm house. After a few minutes or so, it clears after I remove the diagonal and let the scope reach ambient temperature. How do you avoid this condensation, and will this condensation lead to lens problems in the future?
Condensation inside of refractor lens
Started by Tallydon, 01/12/2004 06:13PM
Posted 01/12/2004 06:13PM
Opening Post
Posted 01/12/2004 06:34PM
#1
The house is warm and moist, so the dew forms. I would say to let the scope equalize in the garage for a while before bringing it in or to put it in a case so that it takes a while to equalize.
Floyd
Floyd
[SIZE="Large"][/SIZE][COLOR="Blue"][/COLOR] Floyd Blue
Amateur Imager
Posted 01/13/2004 01:10AM
#2
Don,
I do not recommend capping a scope prior to bringing it in, unless you have no other option. The glass and OTA are still cold regardless of being capped or not. As such, condensation can, and most likely will still form once you bring it into a warm house or garage. Capping the scope can also hold this moisture "IN" the scope. BAD! Putting it in a case will not prevent this either. Many times what happens is the scope still condensates but the case foam absorbs the moisture. This is just as bad as that moisture being present can still damage the scope.
There are several products on the market just for this. First, as was mentioned by Floyd, you will still have to bring the scope in but it is a good idea to let it equalize before putting on the caps, etc. Typically, the moisture will evaporate quickly if you take out the diagonal and and leave the refractor cover off. I have researched a lot on this. I also offer a product called the Opti-Dry that I developed just for this very reason. There is also a product made by Particle Wave Technologies called the Desicap.
This is not intended to be a "sales" response as we are both Astromart vendors, however, I just thought you might like to know.
Paul Atkinson
AstroProProducts.com
I do not recommend capping a scope prior to bringing it in, unless you have no other option. The glass and OTA are still cold regardless of being capped or not. As such, condensation can, and most likely will still form once you bring it into a warm house or garage. Capping the scope can also hold this moisture "IN" the scope. BAD! Putting it in a case will not prevent this either. Many times what happens is the scope still condensates but the case foam absorbs the moisture. This is just as bad as that moisture being present can still damage the scope.
There are several products on the market just for this. First, as was mentioned by Floyd, you will still have to bring the scope in but it is a good idea to let it equalize before putting on the caps, etc. Typically, the moisture will evaporate quickly if you take out the diagonal and and leave the refractor cover off. I have researched a lot on this. I also offer a product called the Opti-Dry that I developed just for this very reason. There is also a product made by Particle Wave Technologies called the Desicap.
This is not intended to be a "sales" response as we are both Astromart vendors, however, I just thought you might like to know.
Paul Atkinson
AstroProProducts.com
Funding Member
