Storage Question

[KLA58]

I know and understand the climatization process, allowing for the telescope to adapt to a new environment. Is it okay to pack my 130slt in a carrying case and leave it in my non-environmentally controlled shop or is it better to leave it assembled and covered with a dust cloth?

[Lady Fraktor]

Either will work well. If using a sheet make sure the aperture cover is in place.

[Gordon]

I keep my scopes in my garage in a large cabinet.

I don't have AC or Heat in the garage, so it gets 110 deg in the summer and 20's in the winter.

I don't keep my cameras out there however, they are inside the house.

[kt4hx]

I keep a 12 inch dob in our garage. I personally like to put shower caps over both the front and back ends of the tube. While the front does have a solid plastic cap that fits in the end of the tube, I tend to do overkill and keep a shower cap there as well. Since the bottom (mirror) end is not sealed, I most definitely keep a shower cap over that end to keep dust out. I also frequently keep a plastic tarp over the OTA as well. I don't worry about the temperature differentials that exist in the garage, I mostly worry about dust and insects. Spider webs and insect excrement can be caustic to the first surface coatings of a telescope mirror.

[gregl]

If you cover the whole rig, use cloth, not plastic. Condensation can form under a plastic tarp.

[kt4hx]

If you cover the whole rig, use cloth, not plastic. Condensation can form under a plastic tarp.

While I understand what you are saying, I have never had that happen. However, I should have said that if I have been out and there is moisture (dew or frost) on the OTA when I come back into the garage, then I leave any cover off until I get up the next morning. Personally I have never had any moisture form on anything inside the garage from humidity any time of the year.