Telescope Focuser And Temperature Acclimationm

Discuss your refractor type scopes here.
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Refractordude
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Telescope Focuser And Temperature Acclimationm

#1

Post by Refractordude »


Did a two day test on a way to quicken cool down time for my 120mm f8 refractor. Both days the inside temperature was around 75 degrees, and outside temperature in the low 50s degrees. Cool down time was 30 minutes for each day. The first day I left the focuser inside the telescope. The second day I fully extended the focuser tube outside the telescope. I used the moon as my target for the test. The first day tube currents made the surface of the moon look like it was submerged in water. The second day the surface of the moon was steady and sharp at 133.33 magnification.

What do you do to quicken temperature acclimation of your telescope?
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notFritzArgelander
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Re: Telescope Focuser And Temperature Acclimationm

#2

Post by notFritzArgelander »


Nothing but plan ahead ahead. Gently slowly relaxes the glass. Set the OTA to cool soak in advance.
Scopes: Refs: Orion ST80, SV 80EDA f7, TS 102ED f11 Newts: AWB 130mm, f5, Z12 f5; Cats: VMC110L, Intes MK66,VMC200L f9.75 EPs: KK Fujiyama Orthoscopics, 2x Vixen NPLs (40-6mm) and BCOs, Baader Mark IV zooms, TV Panoptics, Delos, Plossl 32-8mm. Mixed brand Masuyama/Astroplans Binoculars: Nikon Aculon 10x50, Celestron 15x70, Baader Maxbright. Mounts: Star Seeker IV, Vixen Porta II, Celestron CG5
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JayTee United States of America
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Re: Telescope Focuser And Temperature Acclimationm

#3

Post by JayTee »


What do you do to quicken the temperature acclimation of your telescope?
I drink beer! It relaxes me so I don't worry about the speed of optical cooling so much.

Just sayin',
JT
∞ Primary Scopes: #1: Celestron CPC1100 #2: 8" f/7.5 Dob #3: CR150HD f/8 6" frac
∞ AP Scopes: #1: TPO 6" f/9 RC #2: ES 102 f/7 APO #3: ES 80mm f/6 APO
∞ G&G Scopes: #1: Meade 102mm f/7.8 #2: Bresser 102mm f/4.5
∞ Guide Scopes: 70 & 80mm fracs -- The El Cheapo Bros.
∞ Mounts: iOptron CEM70AG, SW EQ6, Celestron AVX, SLT & GT (Alt-Az), Meade DS2000
∞ Cameras: #1: ZWO ASI294MC Pro #2: 662MC #3: 120MC, Canon T3i, Orion SSAG, WYZE Cam3
∞ Binos: 10X50,11X70,15X70, 25X100
∞ EPs: ES 2": 21mm 100° & 30mm 82° Pentax XW: 7, 10, 14, & 20mm 70°

Searching the skies since 1966. "I never met a scope I didn't want to keep."

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yobbo89 Australia
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Re: Telescope Focuser And Temperature Acclimationm

#4

Post by yobbo89 »


Cooling fans is the way to go, but many don't want to modify thier ota,s, other then that just keep busy for 30 mins.
scopes :gso/bintel f4 12"truss tube, bresser messier ar127s /skywatcher 10'' dob,meade 12'' f10 lx200 sct
cameras : asi 1600mm-c/asi1600mm-c,asi120mc,prostar lp guidecam, nikkon d60, sony a7,asi 290 mm
mounts : eq6 pro/eq8/mesu 200 v2
filters : 2'' astronomik lp/badder lrgb h-a,sII,oIII,h-b,Baader Solar Continuum, chroma 3nm ha,sii,oiii,nii,rgb,lowglow,uv/ir,Thousand Oaks Solar Filter,1.25'' #47 violet,pro planet 742 ir,pro planet 807 ir,pro planet 642 bp ir.
extras : skywatcher f4 aplanatic cc, Baader MPCC MKIII Coma Corrector,Orion Field Flattener,zwo 1.25''adc.starlight maxi 2" 9x filter wheel,tele vue 2x barlow .

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Lady Fraktor Slovakia
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Re: Telescope Focuser And Temperature Acclimationm

#5

Post by Lady Fraktor »


I would not really want to mount a cooling fan into a refractor tube.
These were designed for cooling Cat/ Mak tubes but work well for refractors as well.
http://www.lymax.com/
See Far Sticks: Antares Elita 103/1575, AOM FLT 105/1000, Bresser BV 127/1200, Nočný stopár 152/1200, Vyrobené doma 70/700, Stellarvue NHNG DX 80/552, TAL RS100/1000, Vixen SD115s/885
EQ: TAL MT-1, Vixen SXP, AXJ, AXD
Az/Alt: AYO Digi II/ Argo Navis, Stellarvue M2C/ Argo Navis
Tripods: Berlebach Planet (2), Uni 28 Astro, Report 372, TAL factory maple, Vixen ASG-CB90, Vixen AXD-TR102
Diagonals: Astro-Physics, Baader Amici, Baader Herschel, iStar Blue, Stellarvue DX, Takahashi prism, TAL, Vixen flip mirror
Eyepieces: Antares to Zeiss
The only culture I have is from yogurt
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UlteriorModem
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Re: Telescope Focuser And Temperature Acclimationm

#6

Post by UlteriorModem »


Yep planning ahead is actually the best idea. Having a beer doesn't hurt either :D

I am lucky that my 10" RC stays outside under covers almost all of the time. It would take a loooong time for that mirror to equalize!

ps; I don't think that pulling out the focuser would really make that much of a difference. Probably just seeing conditions.
Tom

Current Equipment:
Mount: Celestron CGX-L
Scope: 130mm f7 APO
Cam: ASI071mc-pro
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Re: Telescope Focuser And Temperature Acclimationm

#7

Post by notFritzArgelander »


I'm all for planning ahead to drink beer. ;)
Scopes: Refs: Orion ST80, SV 80EDA f7, TS 102ED f11 Newts: AWB 130mm, f5, Z12 f5; Cats: VMC110L, Intes MK66,VMC200L f9.75 EPs: KK Fujiyama Orthoscopics, 2x Vixen NPLs (40-6mm) and BCOs, Baader Mark IV zooms, TV Panoptics, Delos, Plossl 32-8mm. Mixed brand Masuyama/Astroplans Binoculars: Nikon Aculon 10x50, Celestron 15x70, Baader Maxbright. Mounts: Star Seeker IV, Vixen Porta II, Celestron CG5
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John Baars Netherlands
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Re: Telescope Focuser And Temperature Acclimationm

#8

Post by John Baars »


I set my telescope up. Go inside to drink some coffee with my wife and than go out again for some observing.
Refractors in frequency of use : *SW Evostar 120ED F/7.5 (all round ), * Vixen 102ED F/9 (vintage), both on Vixen GPDX.
GrabnGo on Alt/AZ : *SW Startravel 102 F/5 refractor( widefield, Sun, push-to), *OMC140 Maksutov F/14.3 ( planets).
Most used Eyepieces: *Panoptic 24, *Morpheus 14, *Leica ASPH zoom, *Zeiss barlow, *Pentax XO5.
Commonly used bino's : *Jena 10X50 , * Canon 10X30 IS, *Swarovski Habicht 7X42, * Celestron 15X70, *Kasai 2.3X40
Rijswijk Public Observatory: * Astro-Physics Starfire 130 f/8, * 6 inch Newton, * C9.25, * Meade 14 inch LX600 ACF, *Lunt.
Amateur astronomer since 1970.
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Thefatkitty Canada
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Re: Telescope Focuser And Temperature Acclimationm

#9

Post by Thefatkitty »


I would say just giving it time outside. My 10" lives outside in the shed all covered, so it's always acclimatized :D The fracs live in the basement, so they need time... As for speeding it up, I'll go with beer as well; unless it's early morning. Then I'll have coffee; no need for a wake 'n' bake :lol:

Lately with the temps in the teens to low 20's F (-10 to 0C), it takes about 45 minutes, especially for the long f/l ones.

I did discover one thing the other night when it was 15F (-10C). I took out my orange C80, which originally had the objective cover inside the aluminum dew shield. This was awkward, so I replaced it with one I made from a margarine container lid, some plastic and good ol' duct tape. Much easier, and it's a snug fit.
I let the scope sit for almost an hour. I went out, and saw I hadn't taken the cover off the dewshield. I went to do that, and for the life of me, it wouldn't budge! Seems the plastic contracts more/faster than aluminum in the cold...:lol:

Took the scope inside, was able to get it off after almost 15 minutes, took the scope back outside, let it cool down again...!! Lesson learned :D

Yup, time and beer; good call on both counts. And remove all plastic covers beforehand ;)

All the best,
Mark

"The Hankmeister" Celestron 8SE, orange tube Vixen made C80, CG4 & AZ-EQ5 mounts.
Too much Towa glass/mirrors.

H/A - PST stage 2 mod with a Baader 90mm ERF on a Celestron XLT 102 (thanks Mike!)
Ca-K - W/O 61mm, Antares 1.6 barlow, Baader 3.8 OD and Ca-K filters with a ZWO ASI174mm.
W/L - C80-HD with Baader 5.0 & 3.8 Solar film, Solar Continuum 7.5nm and UV/IR filters with a Canon EOS 550D.

Oh yeah, and Solar Cycle 25 :D
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