19 replies to this topic

[Researcher]

Hi everyone

 

This next week is arriving my skywatcher dobsonian. and i wanna ask you for recommendations about the proper care for a telescope like that

 

Is somethig special that i should consider?

 

 

[SomeDoSomeDont]

if you store it in a shed or garage make sure there are NO chemicals or fertilizers in the same room. Vapors ruin coatings. just saying.

[ngc7319_20]

Keep the optics covered when not in use.  Make sure it can dry out promptly if dew collects.  Store indoors in a cool dry location.

[AstroApe]

Congratulations on the new telescope!!

 

One of the big issues with mass market Dobsonians is the particle board base. The base will work fine for a really long time as long as it's took care of and stored properly, but moisture is it's enemy and any damage to the outside laminate is like a open wound for moisture to penetrate into. So you'll want to keep the base protected from excessive water. Dew is fine as long as the laminate is in good shape, but I still wipe mine off after observing if the dew was heavy.

 

I use a shower cap on both ends of the OTA to keep the dust out and this works great. My Dob came with a plastic end cap but after some use I noticed that it was rubbing the paint off of the inside tube rim, which was then falling down onto my primary mirror. I was already using a shower cap on the bottom end of the tube to cover up the fan when stored, so just started using one on both ends. 

 

I store my Dob inside the house, sitting in it's base pointing straight up. I do take off all the finders and counter weights if I think it'll be a few weeks between uses due to weather or travel, but this seldom happens. The majority of the time it's setup ready to go other than hooking up my dew heaters. I'd highly suggest figuring out where you want to store the scope, then taking the time to plan out and practice taking the scope outside and setting it up, then taking it down and taking back inside. There's a little routine that you'll have to figure out for how this process works best for you. It takes me at least 5 trips inside and out to bring all my gear out, and it's taken some time to figure out how to get that much crap outside in that few trips, hahaha. You may not use as much gear as me during each observing session or you may use more, but IMO it's definitely worth the time to optimize that part of your routine so setting up and taking down the scope is more second nature and less of a hassle. Because the more work it becomes, the less fun it is and the less you'll want to do it. 

 

And don't worry if dust gets on the mirror over time. It doesn't effect the image near as much as you'd probably think, and cleaning risks doing way more harm than good. You can actually go a few years depending on use and still be in great shape.

 

I hope some of these comments off the top of my head help and I hope you enjoy the new scope!! 

 

Clear skies,

-AstroApe 

[Spile]

Keep it covered and you will be fine.

[Researcher]

Congratulations on the new telescope!!

 

 

Thank you  I hope to have its first light as soon as it arrives and specially as soon as the weather allows that. 

When i got my first telescope i had to wait one month to use it because of the weather, i hope this time it will be sooner

 

And thanks for all the responses guys

[kfiscus]

As Spile said, keep it covered.  Keep the focuser plugged, and the front end covered.  A cloth cover on the bottom end would be good, too.  I also keep an old bed sheet over everything to keep dust and spiders off.

[sevenofnine]

The primary mirror will get dusty/dirty over time...years usually. Don't be afraid to clean it. Just do it properly and it's easier than you think. Follow this video and it will look like new 

 

https://www.youtube....Y8xFnXFVGQ&t=9s.

[Illinois]

My telescopes are in garage for years.  Make sure to cover mirror or lenses to keep dusts away! Cover sheet on your telescopes! 

[seasparky89]

If the base material is constructed of fiberboard or similar, it is best to keep any moisture (i.e.; from dewy grass) from contacting it.  I fashioned a simple baseboard with short pipe feet to go between the scope’s base and the ground.  Some of my Orion dobs are over 10 years old, and the base structures look like new.

[MellonLake]

Keep the dust out and make sure the mirror dries before putting the cover on.  My biggest problem has always been mosquitos dying from the cooling fan and ending up on the mirror.   But the optics can be cleaned (read up first).  

[Researcher]

Thank you everyone for your advices!

 

My telescope just arrived today, its hughe!. Im looking forward to have its first light if weather allows it at weekend

 

Clear skyes to all!

[AstroApe]

Thank you everyone for your advices!

 

My telescope just arrived today, its hughe!. Im looking forward to have its first light if weather allows it at weekend

 

Clear skyes to all!

Did you get any opportunities for First Light with the Dob?? If so, what'd ya think??

[Researcher]

Did you get any opportunities for First Light with the Dob?? If so, what'd ya think??

Yea, i did it tuesday. My first light was amazing! I was trying to align the telescope with the finder with venus (since i hadnt somethin to align it at land) when i sudenly saw several defocused stars. I was like: whoa whats that?, then i focused and to my surprise the pleyades appeared beautifuly, it was an amazing view! Then i searched for orion nebula and the view was amazing too with the trapezium well defined with the 20mm eyepiece, i saw venus, mars and beta moncerotis before clouds came, so i just used it for a short time. The views are better than my 130 newt, with more detail and contrast. I hope i can spent several hours this weekend with my new scope if weather allows it

[CrazyPanda]

Hi everyone

 

This next week is arriving my skywatcher dobsonian. and i wanna ask you for recommendations about the proper care for a telescope like that

 

Is somethig special that i should consider?

Be mindful of where you store it. If it's in an un-insulated space, you'll have to watch out for condensation cycles.

 

Those thick, dense mirrors have high thermal inertia. They are slow to warm up and slow to cool down.

 

At night they get cold. During the day, the sun can rapidly heat up the air in an un-insulated garage or shed.

 

Warm humid air coming into contact with a cold mirror will cause condensation to form on that mirror.

 

Condensation sitting on the aluminum coatings for hours at a time, day after day, will cause them to degrade more quickly than normal. Best to keep the scope stored somewhere insulated where temperature changes slowly to give the mirror time to keep up.

Edited by CrazyPanda, 07 April 2023 - 08:01 AM.

[Sebastian_Sajaroff]

It’s a beautiful scope, congratulations.
I always kept mine in the basement, didn’t like the idea of leaving the optics and base exposed to Canadian weather, even if covered.

[25585]

if you store it in a shed or garage make sure there are NO chemicals or fertilizers in the same room. Vapors ruin coatings. just saying.

If in a wooden shed, vapours might come off the wood, either natural or treated/agricised. Protection against bugs and wild furries may also be needed.

[Researcher]

It’s a beautiful scope, congratulations.
I always kept mine in the basement, didn’t like the idea of leaving the optics and base exposed to Canadian weather, even if covered.

Thank you, its a beautiful scope indeed

[star acres]

I have a Spartan transformer aluminum frame 4 inch inflated wheels hand truck. It's big enough to make moving a large refrigerator kid-easy. Maybe that's your salvation.

[MadHungarian]

if you store it in a shed or garage make sure there are NO chemicals or fertilizers in the same room. Vapors ruin coatings. just saying.

Uh oh.  So you're saying that storing my xx14g Dob in the same part of the house as my new home chemistry lab might not be a good idea?  Hmm.  But mind you, i'm not exactly planning to fill my house which chemical fumes or anything.  And the dob does spend all its time disassembled in the orion carrying bags.