Scope Transport

[Aussie_Nick]

Just wanted to ask how you transport your scope?
In a bag, a rug, etc?

I'm taking my scope to my mother in laws tonight and I haven't a clue how to transport it and how durable it is.

[Wavytone]

I transport two of my scopes in their original cardboard boxes - the foam inside is still in perfect nick though the boxes could do with some reinforcing.

My third scope - a 180mm Mak - stays in a soft padded transport bag from Orion.

[barx1963]

Nick
I gather you have a Celestron 130EQ? Which is a newt on an EQ mount?
With the scope itself, newts are pretty robust. Placed in the boots with something wrapped around it so it won't roll around is fine. Or if you have a fixed lap belt in your back seat, wrap that around it. The only thing is with wrapping it in an old blanket is they tend to be dust traps and introduce dust to the inside of the scope, won't necessarily affect its performance but nicer to have a nice clean mirror, so I would make sure if you do wrap it in something it is reasonably clean.
With the mount, probably detach the counterweights and stow them carefully so they don't end up rolling around, and stow the mount so it doesn't roll around either.

At least that what I used to do with my old 130EQ.

Malcolm

[RickS]

I put mine in the front seat and toss my sleeping bag and warm clothes over it then attach the seatbelt.

[Aussie_Nick]

Thanks for the Tips.

I do have the 130EQ, which is a Newtonian on an EQ mount.

I just transported it with the tube and EQ mount together and sat it on some towels and the tripod seperate.

Glad to know that they're fairly robust.

[l3gendluk3]

I have a 130 SLT, which is pretty similar and I love it because of its portability. The mount/tripod and all of its accessories fit nicely into a backpack and I keep the OTA in a modified box (the original OTA box with straps, foam and bubble wrap. Lots and lots of bubble wrap :)). This is for the SLT mount though which is smaller than the EQ mount of your telescope.

-Luke