Re. Insulation in an observatory?

Hi,


My 10X10 roll off roof observatory went up this weekend. It was done by backyardobservatory.com. They did a great job. Highly reccomended.
I was told that a layer of insulation on the walls and ceiling would prevent condensation buildup inside. Anyone have any opinions on this?

Thanks,

Marc Zukoff

Marc,
Some things to consider: Insulation alone will not stop condensation. If you did put up insulation, you would need a vapor barrier to keep the insulation dry. Something like uncovered fiberglass would constantly shed 'floating' particles. Any heated observatory spaces should be insulated. An insulated space cooled by nighttime temperatures would stay cool longer but would therefore be more prone to condensation if exposed to outside air. I find that my uninsulated observatory space can maintain a 15 degree F difference compared to the outside air. What I have done is to treat the inside of the observatory as outside; All paint is exterior grade, all electrical wiring is in conduit, carpeting is indoor/outdoor, etc. I also put into place a passive, adjustable venting scheme to control air flow which helps with cool down time for scopes and reduces condensation.
I hope this helps,
dan kowall