Handy Dew Cover for EP's/Acc's

[Boozlefoot]

I find myself taking my scopes to other sites more frequently. I was concerned regarding wear and tear on my EP cases, and moisture getting into the expensive case every time an EP or Acc is changed. Usually plan my viewing, so know what my changes will need. I simply added black velvet covered 3mm ply to the racks in this el-cheapo greenhouse, and everything is readily available/viewable and at hand. You could even keep your laptop in there if so inclined. Use tent pegs if wind suspected. Only 5 minute setup, but saves heaps of searching time in the dark! At only 92cm tall, not infringing on others horizons, and at $29.00 an affordable/portable storage cabinet which folds flat in the car.

[Wavytone]

If the dew is that bad I’d say you’ve chosen a rather poor site, probably with black soil or well-watered eg farmland, a park or oval.

Find an elevated site on sandstone (best) or sandy soil where humans are not applying any water and you should have no dew.

At my usual spots I’ve very rarely seen dew in 20 years and only then in total calm conditions.

[Boozlefoot]

Thank you for your presumptions, which are completely and utterly incorrect. Last occurrence was at an elevated site, 665m ASL on a granite tor some 6kms as the crow flies from the nearest soil disturbance by humankind. Dew is not a man made phenomenon, but a result of many and varied weather conditions. Out here we also battle with frosts, which also can form mid evening. Dew rarely falls in that area prior to 9.30pm, which I presume is your bedtime, thus you haven't seen it in 20yrs. Thank you for your input, though.:D

[astroron]

Good answer :)
:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

PS it could also be used at the Queensland Astrofest, which has about 250 people
over the 8 day period and it does also have lots of dew but it still is a great observing and imaging site.

[LewisM]

No offence to Wavy, but I had a good chuckle at this.

Oddly, I get NO dew at home in Canberra, even though I water the garden and grass twice daily (a fruitless endeavour in summer), yet out at the observatory outside Yass, dew can really be a problem (maybe it's the water evaporating out of all the sheep crap :lol:). Had snap frosts out there too.

Now, if there was a way to plug something in and remove light pollution, I'd be happy - you know, like a massive overload to the grid :)

[Wavytone]

I can think of a cheap solution involving a few motorcyclists and some chains thrown in strategic locations which would give a few hours of instant dark, but it would land you in jail after the cops figure out whodunit.

IMHO it would be better to ramp up a massive campaign to switch off ALL public lighting - including street lighting - in major cities after say midnight on selected Saturday nights near new moon. That way the public can rediscover what they've lost.

Councils should also monitor the crime and accident rates and I'd warrant there is no change. When they figure out what they are spending is being squandered on a non-risk they might begin to rethink lighting policies.

Might be easier to start with an enlightened country town like canberra where there is one authority, though, rather than deal with 40-odd councils in Sydney all well known for their disunity on everything.