Condensation on eyepieces

Hi,
A very novice question here.
At the end of an observing session last night I noticed some condensation starting to form on one of my eyepeices. so when i got indoors I took all my eyepieces out of their case to check them - in hindsight a bad idea, cold glass in a warm room. Of course, each one had condensation forming on the lens, so, as I was worried that condensation may form between the lenses I left the eyepieces out (uncapped) on a table over night. This morning all but one -worst luck my favourite one - of the eyepieces were clear of condensation. I didn't inspect the telescope objective as I prefer the blissful ignorance of uncertainty. and if there was condensation on the lens there was not much I could have done.
So my question is, what do you do if you notice condensation forming on your eypieces at the end of a session? Or more correctly what is the best way to put telescope and eyepieces away at the end of a viewing session to avoid condensation becoming a problem?
Or ( hopefully this is right answer) I'm parnoid and really shouldn't worry about condensation life is too short?

BTW I stored the telescope in my sitting room, a reasonably warm room.

Thanks in advance.

Martin --

Condensation won't hurt your eyepieces as long as you avoid the temptation to wipe it off. You did the correct thing by letting them air out -- if they stay damp mold can grow on the optical surfaces which can damage them.

If your telescope is an SCT, MCT or refractor, it's also going to get wet. About the only things that are immune are reflectors with long tubes. But again, just let it air dry (or use a hair drier) and don't put it away wet.

If you find that the dew is interrupting your viewing, you can also get 12volt heater strips or a 12volt hair drier and bring them with you observing.

-- Jeff.

Condensation will not damage the eyepieces.

However, do not dismantle one to "clean" it, you'll end up causing more touble then you solve.

The one thing to avoid here is mold, if you let a cap on a scope or enclose an eyepiece in its case and is soaking wet with dew, you could end up with mold on the optics if left for a long time, this stuff eats into the optical coating and irreversibly damages the lens.

If I get dew on a lens, I leave it in a cold place over night and exposed to the surrounding air, that way the dew evaporates away (obviously indoors somewhere).

I find if you point your scope towards the ground it will clear quicker regards Darren

I had a similar problem about two weeks ago, but condensation was a huge problem all night, from about half an hour after I brought the scope out. My spotter scope was neigh on useless for over an hour, so I had content myself with the moon.

Anyone any tips on avoiding condensation DURING the night?

I had a similar problem about two weeks ago, but condensation was a huge problem all night, from about half an hour after I brought the scope out. My spotter scope was neigh on useless for over an hour, so I had content myself with the moon.

Anyone any tips on avoiding condensation DURING the night?

I've been thinking about this myself. Coventional wisdom says first try a dew shield, then a hot air gun and then heating coils attached to various parts of your equipment. Dew shield is a good idea (try making a toilet roll shape from overhead projector plastic sheet and fit it over the end of your spotter scope)

Problem with air gun and heating coils is you need to lug a power supply outside and this does not suit my minimalist approach to equipment. I have a 12 " mirror at the end of a big tube so the primary mirror isn't a problem, however eyepieces and finder are. I purchased some foot heating pads from a camping shop (the type that heat up by chemical means) and I am going to put one pad in my eyepiece bag and stick the other pad to my finder dew shield (I use a telrad finder).

Hope this works :roll:

Damon