Permanent outdoor telescope setup advice for Northern California climate

Backyard Astrophotography Observatory Weather Help Needed
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Paul Campbell avatar
Paul Campbell avatar

I’m not quite ready to do this, but i’d love to create a permanent rig outside. Feels like there’s quite a few environmental threats to consider. Rain of course, excessive heat and cold, condensation, etc. For anyone who has done this, what’s your setup? Are we talking basically ADU level structure that is temp controlled or can a garage environment suffice? I’m in northern California where it gets down to about freezing in the winters and sometimes 114 f in the summer. I have a C8, EQ-G mount and asi533mc pro. What kind of abuse can this equipment take over years potentially?

Thanks!

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Tony Gondola avatar
Tony Gondola avatar

There’s a good track record with observatories and the gear within. In general it’s not really a problem. There are rigs in very plain enclosures in rougher climates than CA. With a max temps of 117F it doesn’t sound like you are on the coast but rather inland. At that location even humidity should not be an issue. Keep the rain out and make sure you have good airflow and you’ll be right!

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Paul Campbell avatar
Paul Campbell avatar

Tony Gondola · May 27, 2026, 11:48 PM

There’s a good track record with observatories and the gear within. In general it’s not really a problem. There are rigs in very plain enclosures in rougher climates than CA. With a max temps of 117F it doesn’t sound like you are on the coast but rather inland. At that location even humidity should not be an issue. Keep the rain out and make sure you have good airflow and you’ll be right!

Good to hear! Appreciate the message. Yeah i’m in Chico, CA. About 3 hours from the coast. Fairly low humidity. Does it reduce the lifespan of equipment or require some additional maintenance to optics? The thought of my equipment expanding and contracting all day due to temp changes makes me wince. I’d probably take my optical train inside since that only takes seconds to reattach. But I may be significantly under estimating how much this equipment can take. Sounds like it can take quite a bit

Tony Gondola avatar
Tony Gondola avatar

Yes, it can. The main problem with humidity is corrosion, especially if it’s ocean air but that’s not a concern for you.

Brian Puhl avatar
Brian Puhl avatar

Paul Campbell · May 27, 2026, 11:29 PM

What kind of abuse can this equipment take over years potentially?

Short answer, alot more abuse than you can throw at it.

I live in the devils armpit. North Carolina. Hot, humid, afternoon thunderstorms, hot as balls, afternoon thunderstorms, snows during the winter. My equipment sits outside 24/7 under a telegizmos cover. 2-3 years now without an issue. Only evidence is a few spider webs and the az knobs on the EQ6 rust rather quickly. Everything else is golden.

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NeilM avatar
NeilM avatar

I live in Santa Rosa, Paul. Not quite as hot as you but getting close especially in recent years! And it gets a little below freezing. At home I also leave my gear outside under a Telegizmos 365 cover (make sure and use the 365 version, not the regular one). I don’t leave it out all year, but I do for months at a time, and like Brian, I have had no issues!

I also work at our local Observatory where we have three large telescopes under roll-off roofs (and one dome). (www.rfo.org). Come and visit us sometime!

Neil

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Paul Campbell avatar
Paul Campbell avatar

Brian Puhl · May 28, 2026, 02:26 PM

Paul Campbell · May 27, 2026, 11:29 PM

What kind of abuse can this equipment take over years potentially?

Short answer, alot more abuse than you can throw at it.

I live in the devils armpit. North Carolina. Hot, humid, afternoon thunderstorms, hot as balls, afternoon thunderstorms, snows during the winter. My equipment sits outside 24/7 under a telegizmos cover. 2-3 years now without an issue. Only evidence is a few spider webs and the az knobs on the EQ6 rust rather quickly. Everything else is golden.

Ha! Great to hear and that sounds like just about every environmental condition I was worried about. Telegizmos sounds like a good deal, will be looking into it.

Thanks!

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Paul Campbell avatar
Paul Campbell avatar

NeilM · May 28, 2026, 04:07 PM

I live in Santa Rosa, Paul. Not quite as hot as you but getting close especially in recent years! And it gets a little below freezing. At home I also leave my gear outside under a Telegizmos 365 cover (make sure and use the 365 version, not the regular one). I don’t leave it out all year, but I do for months at a time, and like Brian, I have had no issues!

I also work at our local Observatory where we have three large telescopes under roll-off roofs (and one dome). (www.rfo.org). Come and visit us sometime!

Neil

Thanks, Neil! Sounds like the telegizmos 365 is the way to go. I head up that direction sometimes, that would be great to check out your observatory. Looks really nice from your site.

Paul

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NeilM avatar
NeilM avatar

Hope to see you at the Observatory sometime!

Nice first two Astrobin images, by the way. I am following you now so looking forward to seeing more.

Neil

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Paul Campbell avatar
Paul Campbell avatar

NeilM · May 29, 2026, 01:07 AM

Hope to see you at the Observatory sometime!

Nice first two Astrobin images, by the way. I am following you now so looking forward to seeing more.

Neil

Thanks very much, Neil! I’ll follow you as well. Can’t wait to get some more images soon. It was a gamble for me to get a C8 and larger mount. My other setup is an iExos and an old Tamron 300mm lense, bit of a leap between those two, wasn't sure how everything would turn out. It took a few months but starting to turn out OK so far.

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