Keeping cool and dry....

Once of the issues with an observatory is keeping the equipment in good condition and also keeping an eye on temperatures too. In the winter there are massive potential condensation issues when the observatory is closed up.
Condensation can be controlled by the use of a dehumidifier. Modern dessicant dehumidifiers will operate efficiently at cold temperatures, are fully automatic in operation and drain the water away continuously. A dehumidifer controlling the humidity in the observatory stops all the corrosion and damp problems completely. Have a look at http://www.dry-it-out.com for more information on dehumidifiers for your observatory.

In the summer it is important to keep the telescope and equipment cool. If the equipment has got hot during the day then as the temperature drops at night the telescope radiates heat. This causes heat shimmer and upsets the seeing and quality of any images produced. The secret is to cool the telescope down to the same temperature as teh night sky. This can be done by opening the observatory 2 or 3 hours before you start imaging and running fans in the equipment to circulate the air. Commercial observatories go one better - they kdeep the temperature inside the observatory cooled using air conditioning during the day so the equipment does not heat up. This is entirely possible for the amateur to do as well - modern portable air conditioners can be used to great effect. Again have a look at the link above for more information.