I leave my LX-200 in my observatory all winter long. Up here in Cache Valley it will get as low as about -25F. In the winter I do leave my desert storm bag covering the scope and I have a 40 watt bulb inside the bag to help keep it dry. Concerning Paul's original questions, if you do opt for a dew shield, I've had great success with the "insulated dew shields". You can find them at www.dewshields.com As Brent alluded dew is very bad for your scope. If you bring your scope inside after observing in the cold you should leave the cap off until everything has evaporated. Otherwise you might get mold and other bad stuff forming on your corrector plate and other parts of the scope. Clear skies, Dale.
-----Original Message----- From: Joe Bauman [mailto:bau@desnews.com] Sent: Tuesday, November 18, 2003 7:53 AM To: Utah Astronomy Subject: Re: [Utah-astronomy] Question about dew.
Brent, I have been thinking about doing that. I have an LX200, and my concern is that the intense cold of winter might damage the computer or somehow freeze up the gears, if it's left at subfreezing temperatures for weeks. But I don't know. Any thoughts on that? Thanks, Joe
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