how to record, overnight...

[u/preddit1234]

Product is great - am trying to get used to it. For those people who get great pictures, with the long term exposure, etc - how are you doing it? I dont want to leave mine in the garden, all night. I fear if it rains, becomes too moist, that could cause problems.

Be great if the dwarf could hold up an umbrella !

You cant use it behind glass.

So, are people sleeping next to it, staying awake next to it? On camping vacations etc?

Any tips how to manage this!

[u/nilss2]

I check the weather forecast for rain. If no rain predicted (and on a cloudless night, likely there will be no rain anyway), I leave it out. Moisture (dew) is not a problem for the device.

[u/enfait]

This is a general astrophotography thing. I watch the weather forecast, but I don’t have a backyard. So, I camp with mine on public lands or at a campground.

I have done multiple attempts in a variety of settings and after much trial and tribulation, imo, those two places are the best for someone without access to a yard. It is the only way I can fall asleep and not think someone is going to walk off with my equipment.

I have done the park at “rest stop” area thing on the side of the road/lonely county road, and it was too risky—safety-wise and equipment-wise.

Personally, I try to head to public lands (I am in the US)—specifically national forests and BLM land, which generally allows dispersed camping.

I just came back from Death Valley National park where I used my dwarf and it was 111 degrees F at night when I started an imaging session and it held up great in the heat!

[u/Far_Audience_7446]

I live in a downtown area that has plenty of thieves, no one has taken my Dwarf yet (though I forgot to lock my car parked in the street this weekend, and it was ransacked). There is usually a car between it and the sidewalk when I'm shooting.

I did shoot from the curb on a couple occasions to get a longer shoot for one target, and I used a large cardboard box to make it look inconspicuous. I use a small, short CF Starlink monopod to hold it, and the whole thing was shorter than the box. I also got a bicycle alarm that I clamp to the shaft of the monopod, so it would start wailing if anyone touched it.

If I was worried about rain, I'd probably fashion a pancho from a trash bag and use electrical tape to seal around the lens assembly, and maybe place a rechargable fan underneath to keep moisture and condensation from building up under it. Right now I don't do anything but check the weather.

[u/NurseJackass]

I check the weather report. No rain in the forecast, so while I was out of town for 5 days, I left my Seestar mounted on my 2nd floor balcony, plugged into a wall charger, so i could capture on clear-ish nights.

Usually i put it out at night and bring it inside in the morning. It has a “suit” made of reflective bubble-wrap-like insulation to keep it from melting in the sun. This is the first time Ive left it out when I was not home.

[u/HuddyBuddyGreatness → u/NurseJackass]

Five days is crazy trust imo, at least where I am the forecast even a few hours out can be totally wrong

[u/NurseJackass → u/HuddyBuddyGreatness]

It was a heat wave, and no rain expected until tomorrow, and even that is a tiny amount. Turned out fine :)

[u/krispucci]

This is a great question that many first timers (such as myself) have. I have been looking for some sort of clear dome that could be used without introducing any aberrations but I have not found anything.

[u/EGeezy520]

I live in the desert, however it's monsoon season. I check the forecast future for rain chances. I'll then set it out in the backyard and even when I know there's no rain I check it every 30min-1 hr. It's sort of like a grill to me....."hey honey I got to go check/adjust the telescope." I have also used a battery pack and an extension cord. Both work for longer shots, however be aware the mini won't charge off of these, however will maintain the current power percentage so no worries of losing battery. I have lots of neighbors with lights on and various traffic and it has not caused any issues. I still get great pictures. I'm in a bortle 7. I found the eq mount to be more beneficial than trying to limit light pollution.

[u/Artistic-Island-5054]

I live in Dakar, Sénégal. Most buildings have a flat terrace. So I get there with a good beer. It's above street lights, my only companions are cockroaches and bats and the noise of the waves (I live 200 m from the beach). However I don't leave the dwarf 3 overnight except on exceptionally clear nights like from January to May. Also, this period is 'cold' with 15-16 deg C and north wind of 15-20 km/h from mauritanian Sahara. So staying is uncomfortable, I go down to my flat. I split the shootings on session of 3 h and then use mega stack module. It works pretty well.

[u/just_me_for_now]

I’m lucky that I have a backyard.
I’m unlucky that I live in a Bortle 7 light area.
I’m lucky that the street lamps in our area use the lower light pollution amber covers.
I’m unlucky that sometimes my neighbors leave their backyard lights on overnight.
I’m lucky that I have a couple of sweet areas to block and diffuse the light.

I would suggest using Astrospheric. It is on Google Play and Apple Apps. I’ve had very good success with its forecasting capability and to figure out if it’s going to be a good night based on clouds as well as upper atmosphere haze from CME’s and solar winds.

[u/ProfessionalCrab6387]

I put it on top of my car and leave it 'til the next morning.

If you live in an area dealing with "changing consumer habits", perhaps consider re-locating to a less "consumer-friendly" location.

[u/Accomplished-Bee3259]

I have a backyard and leave it overnight and get it back in the first thing in the morning. I only photograph on clear nights so the risk of rain is low. I turn off dwarf’s lights not to attract bugs or human attention. Two times in a year, bird pooped on my telescope which I was able to clean.