Astrophotography: Leaving your gear out in the summer heat

I leave my gear out under 365 covers year round. In this video I share what I have learned and what I have experienced with leaving my gear exposed to the high temperatures of the summer.
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[@3VAudioVideo]

I live in CA. I saw one of your other video first and thought "he has to be locate in TX". Then a few minutes later I was on the phone with my gf who's visiting her daughter just outside of...Austin TX! After I got off the phone, I see this video and you confirmed where you're located. The house, lawn, fence and everything looks just like where her daughter lives. I think you are her neighbor ;)

[@DSOImager]

Small world! That said, a lot of neighborhoods here look the same. :)

[@garyrobertson6469]

Excellent information about heat, especially since I live so close to you.

[@DSOImager]

Thanks Gary! This summer was the hottest I can remember. Hopefully next year it won't be as bad.

[@petesastrophotography]

Meanwhile in Scotland...😂 Great video James, some good info there. FYI, the working temperature for the ASI533MC Pro is -5C to +45C (storage temperature -20C to +60C, ASI533MM Pro is -10C) and the ASI2600MC/MM both have a working temperature of -5C to +50C (storage temperature -10C to +60C). If it gets up to 45C here something has gone terribly wrong! However, cold is definitely an issue as well as humidity. I think most ASI cameras are rated up to 80% RH. It rarely gets below that in this part of the world in the winter months.

[@DSOImager]

Scotland has a whole different set of challenges :) Thanks for posting those temp specs on the 533 and 2600. I'm honestly impressed that you could run them in a 50C environment.

[@miguelmorales9667]

I live in a hot place with strong sun at a latitude of 18 degrees north. What I do in order to keep the equipment at a low temperature is to cover the scope with a few folded cotton bath towels ( at least 3 or 4 inches thick) then I cover everything with a plastic bag. This may sound a little crazy but it really works. Even in mid day the equipment won't get very hot ay all. Give it a try and see if it works for you.

[@DSOImager]

That's a good tip. I've thought about using a bath towel but I worry about the towel collecting moisture. Any issues with moisture?

[@seansmith908]

Glad to see this video, I have a newish observatory in SE Louisiana and I’ve been debating adding vents to my shed. Highest temps I’m seeing in there are around 105. Feeling pretty safe now leaving the vents out of the equation. My gear inside never gets more than “warm”. Clear skies James.

[@DSOImager]

Thanks Sean! Vents might still be a good idea in regards to moisture. Clear skies!

[@MazzifLOL]

I live in Northern Nevada. We get the hot and the cold. Im coming into my 3rd year with my gear under a TG365 cover. The TG365 is just an important piece of kit as anything else.

[@DSOImager]

Those tg365 covers are a must IMHO.

[@deejaybustab]

Great information & test results. I’m in VA & I have my setup in a mini shed but in there I always put a cover over it & have some solar fans to pull some heat & moisture out. I monitor the temperature with a remote thermometer & this summer we got to 105 outside & shed got to 118F. Our heat index with the crazy humidity we have gets us up to the index of 118F sometimes I will bring the scope with camera inside mainly because I was thinking about the cameras sensor & how some people post images of how the sensor starts to leak oil all over it. I didn’t know if that leak came from the sensor glass sealer degrading from heat over time with expansion & contraction.

[@DSOImager]

Thanks! Your mini shed is cool. I like how you have that set up. I believe the oil leak issue impacted ZWO camera's with the imx571 sensor only. IIRC it was a manufacturing issue where either the wrong grease or two much of it was used that led to the leaks. To my knowledge this issue doesn't affect any other camera. That said.. this type of issues is something that appeared over time.. so who know's when a similar issue pops up elsewhere... keeping things interesting :)

[@rbrickproductions123]

I live in San Antonio! I left my gear covered on my balcony throughout the summer heat. I had thought of it but i had heard something earlier in the year that “this equipment is meant to be outside” probably took that a bit too literally but I haven’t had any problems. I’ve even imaged the sun in 100+ degree weather for a few hours. Had no issues but probably should have done more research for this expensive equipment 🤣 I only bring my equipment in for heavy rain, but leave out the scope I’m using otherwise. I appreciate this well researched video!

[@DSOImager]

Thanks! I've wondered about solar imaging... and maybe not doing it during a TX summer, lol.

[@tomwall8403]

I live in S Arizona. My solution is to keep my rigs light enough to bring in every morning. (AVX, C8, ASI533) I've found that leaving my rig out (Summer or Winter) leads to mysterious equipment misbehavior. Bringing things in seems to limit this. My AZ telescope buddies have piers and observatories. They are constantly having costly equipment failure issues. Just my $.02. Nice video! 👍

[@DSOImager]

What are the summer highs that you typically see in Southern AZ?

[@tomwall8403]

@@DSOImager 100-110f

[@AZ4Runner]

good stuff James! purchasing my Temp gun for next summer so I can check the temp inside the dome when outside temps are 118. maybe I'll use the dome to cook pizza next summer. very nice tank!

[@DSOImager]

You might be on to something Jason. Galaxy Pizza! Has a nice ring to it :)

[@anata5127]

I leave only mount. I haven’t been planning to leave it, but left it anyway, since its function depends on sky alignment, which may take 30 min, if set up fresh. However, I have fan blowing under telegizmo. So, temperature is 115-120F. It takes 15 min to assemble whole system and 15 reassemble. I don’t mind. But I have only one rig. As soon as temperature drops below 100 under cover, I will leave whole system outside. So, I need 88-90 outside.

[@DSOImager]

Thankfully we're done with those high temps for the year. Bring on the cold!

[@anata5127]

@@DSOImager Yes, interestingly, Texan cold is no problem for entire rig.

[@IcemanAstro]

James, you are nuts for leaving your gear outside in those temps!!! So I had an Altair camera that I was running like mid June back in 2017. After that night, it never worked again. At that time it was maybe 86° at night. My laptops and even the Atlas EQ G I had , had a VERY hard time it seemed like.i have never imaged since. I contacted Altair for the warranty. Only thing they told me, was that I could have fried the camera lol . I don't feel comfortable anything over 85 to leave the gear out all day... you are a brave man!!

[@DSOImager]

I may be a little nuts... lol. That said, 85F is not really warm at all. That is well within the spec's of all the gear. Did Altair turn you down for warranty support? Right on their website, for the hypercam 183c it lists the operating temp of 50C, thats 122F.. for the operating temp! I didn't look at their other cams but I expect the temp ranges to be similar on all of them. No way mid 80sF cooked your camera.

[@IcemanAstro]

@DSOImager I got it replaced thankfully, but this was at night when it was about 86 and I had it cooling as well, I can't remember the specific temp I had it programmed, but I just recall that it did not work after that day. I never left my equipment out at that time since I still didn't have my block fence at that time. But I only imaged about 2 hours that night. My other laptop more than anything just had a hard time keeping up.

[@darkrangersinc]

Great video as someone who has had a scope out in Arizona a Telegizmo 365 with the solar liner is a must. Never had any issues with the ASIAIR I think if you can survive phoenix, it can survive anywhere, so I’ll give some anecdotal evidence for you ;)

[@DSOImager]

Thanks! Sounds about right in regards to Phoenix :)

[@jlecomte0719]

90 days above 100F?! Forget about the telescope. How can the astronomer survive that?! 🤯

[@DSOImager]

I ask myself that question every summer, lol.

[@scilec]

I moved to Dripping Springs just last year and I've had the same concerns about my Astro equipment this Summer. Thank you so much for creating this video!

[@DSOImager]

Nice! Dripping Springs was one of the first small towns around Austin to achieve dark sky status. Now there's a bunch of smaller cities west of Austin that have achieved or are in the application phase of becoming dark sky communities.

[@KingLoopie1]

Electronics and machinery like the same environments their inventors like (yeah, OK,... Not quite true). I would be more tempted to set up a week ventilated tent /observatory with a solar powered fan to keep the air exchange going to keep the equipment temps down. Some plastics deform under thermal stresses so if you have any plastics in your optics and mounts it might be wiser to go ahead and hump that stuff in and out of the house.

[@DSOImager]

Good point on the plastics inside the scopes.

[@rural_astro]

Great video! I have been wondering about this exact topic. I'd like to leave my gear setup for multiple days/weeks at a time but have been unsure about my MS temps.

[@DSOImager]

Thanks!

[@textandtelescope8199]

Up in Dallas with 2 rigs under 365s. Was wondering meowself. I have learned that this old liberal arts guy can trust in tech head types to do the research! Thanks.

[@DSOImager]

You're welcome :)

[@robertarmstrong9406]

Well done. I live in Tucson. We all know what Tucson's weather is like in summer. For me having a pier and running two different scopes on my eq6, taking down and set-up isn't a problem. I have the Telegizmo 365. The aluminum is flaking so badly, that I'm going to have to throw it away. I too like so many others, go round and round about heat and astronomy equipment. Manufactures really need to step up the information they provide .

[@DSOImager]

Thanks! One of my 365 covers has some of the aluminum ripping near the bottom.. but that happened due to it getting hung up on something and tore while I was removing it.

[@jiltardiff5543]

Also in Tucson, same issue. I have started "double-covering" my rig, first with a barbeque cover and then the TG365. This makes it easier to put the TG on and pull it off - less snagging and damage to the TG aluminum side.

[@DSOImager]

@@jiltardiff5543 Smart. I wonder if the extra layer helps keep the temps a little cooler underneath.

[@jiltardiff5543]

@@DSOImager Perhaps , can’t hurt. The flaking all over my gear was driving me nuts!

[@robertarmstrong9406]

thank you, nice tip about the BBQ cover. When the wind isn't blowing (like it does in tucson) I have a umbrella over my set-up. @@jiltardiff5543

[@deepskysanctuary]

Very helpful video to hear your experience. I ended up taking things in once we got a string of days over 100 near Dallas but I might be a bit braver next year now!

[@DSOImager]

I'll admit I had some concerns.. but along with the heat was clear nights. The prospects of setting up 3 rigs nightly was not appealing. I decided to risk it :)

[@astroindianx]

I'm in India, in summer temperatures reached 110°F 😂 Hope my telescope is good. My Telescope become untouchable

[@DSOImager]

Yikes.. that is hot! :)

[@luboinchina3013]

How about a solar powered fan for air circulation?

[@DSOImager]

That's an option for sure. One of my other subscribers commented on this video that he has a fan blowing underneath the cover. That's a good idea.

[@davidleejenkins]

Wow! That’s warm! What temperature do you cool your camera sensor to during those hot summer nights?

[@DSOImager]

As low as I could get them. At these temp settings.. the cooler power would be right around 98% and would drop down a bit as the evening cooled off. 533mc = -3c 1600mm = -10c 294mm = -2c

[@luboinchina3013]

The heat considers me when I keep my gear in my car's trunk. However I encountered problem with my EQ6R-PRO in the winter. at -20C. The gears or bearings were too stiff, so I brought it inside to adjust as it is really hard to do anything outside at that temperature. It got condensation on and I think inside too and that may have caused main board to fail. Or it may be the temperature difference. Sent it back to Skywatcher and got it back with updated USB out version board. So far so good. I was without the mount for 3 months missing some great weather. For the summer I had it either in the car, shed or at home. Shed got pretty hot during summer too. I am observing stiffness in the bearings again and it let me wondering if I chould change them, or just lubricate them. I can literally hear it getting stuck and unstack. Any advice?

[@DSOImager]

Hows it guiding? Both of mine have always felt a little stiff to me. I would use guiding performance to judge if there's a problem or not. If yours is still guiding as normal.. I wouldn't worry about the stiffness too much.

[@textandtelescope8199]

Power box with the MELE for camera, dew straps etc.?

[@DSOImager]

I use a pegasus powerbox on each rig. The temp sensors will read -40 to 80°C. I didn't look up the specs on the dewstraps. Mine are working fine.

[@nikaxstrophotography]

What temperature would you need to melt a telescope?????

[@DSOImager]

Not much more than the temps I showed in the video, lol!

[@astronate]

Have you observed any bleaching or discoloration of the anodized parts? I’m not always great about covering up my scope first thing in the morning and I’m seeing some fading - perhaps from the sun.

[@DSOImager]

Yes.. I should have mentioned this in the video. Definitely getting discoloration on the anodized parts... the zwo cameras in particular. Same deal with me.. I'm usually not covering everything up until 3 hours after sunrise. The temps are still reasonable but that sun is bleaching the anodized parts.

[@KingLoopie1]

I have a celestron c130 that has been sitting on a rack in a south facing window and many of the anodized parts facing the window have turned an interesting burnt orange color. They used to be black so it makes that scope a bit weird looking 2 tone color. Maybe I should rotate it so it can even out... 😜

[@DSOImager]

@@KingLoopie1 lol!