Scope Covers

[wavelandscott]

Any recommendations for a scope cover?

I am lookiong for a scope cover for my Discovery Truss Dob...any ideas and advice as to what to look for/avoid is appreciated...

Thanks!

[beren]

I use a linen bed sheet with elastic ends first as a layer then a barbecue cover thats apparently waterproof/uvproof and has a soft inner lining on the inside .You can find these covers at bunnings from small to very big

[Argonavis]

I use a doona cover for my 12.5inch f7 kept indoors.

There was a definite fashion in these parts for a while for using body bags as scope covers. Someone had contacts in the Funeral industry.

BBQ covers are good for small scopes (I have one for my LX90) and for really big scopes car covers look good.

[Dennis]

Hi

I ordered the C9.25 scope cover and tripod cover from Scopestuff at http://www.scopestuff.com/ss_tg12.htm

They are lightweight, thoughtfully designed, tough and durable. The tripod cover protects the wooden legs of my Tak tripod from the daytime heat at astro-camps and when I leave it out in the back garden over night.

Jim Henson and his team at Scopestuff have always been a pleasure to deal with.

Cheers

Dennis

[Argonavis]

I agree with Dennis that Jim at Scopestuff is great to deal with. Nothing but pleasure.

[rumples riot]

Wave,

I bought 12 months ago a stacked chair cover from Bunnings. I got the large one and it is water proof and will cover my SCT and part way down the tripod. It cost 18 dollars.

[Dennis]

This may be at the extreme end of the spectrum of being a nervous Nellie, but with any kind of cover, do be careful of the sail effect in strong winds. I read an account on sci.astro.amateur of someone’s Takahashi NJP mount actually being toppled by strong winds, damaging his DEC shaft. The NJP is heavier that a G-11 for comparison.

He did not have his OTA on the mount and in the thread, a bright spark worked out the wind loading on the surface area required to topple the mount and it came in at over 80 mph (or 128 kph).

Cheers

Dennis

PS - My observing hutch once blew over at the Qld Astrofest, so I peg the legs now to avoid a repeat.

[rumples riot]

Yes there is that danger of your scope cover becoming a sail. Although I have to say that I have never had a scope blow over on me. To be frank though, you would be pretty stupid to leave your scope or mount out in winds over 80mph. They are pretty strong gusts. While down at Clayton at Christmas I had my scope out in 50mph gust (I was worried), but nothing happened to the scope. BTW it was under the scope cover at the time.

[Dennis]

Hi Paul

Mate – you were sailing close to the wind at 50mph! I just tracked down the thread on the Yahoo Tak group and the wind was clocked at 68mph, not 80mph as I mistakenly wrote previously.

Here is an excerpt from this very sad tale:

Start copy ++++++++++++++++++
Well. I have to vent. I drove 1100 miles to Fort Davis, Texas for a week of astronomy and disaster struck. After setting up my NJP and polar aligning the first night I removed the Mewlon/FSQ and covered the mount with a shipping quilt and a desert storm mylar cover.

The weather forecast a windy day yesterday so I wrapped the cover tightly thinking it was secure. That night the wind was so fierce I thought I would roll over my camper! I almost expected my NJP to be knocked over and amazingly it was fine. Unfortunately, two losmandy mounts were down (and broken) and my friends 36'' Obsession mirror box was stripped of its tarp and the huge wooden mirror cover was gone. It was found over a hundred yards away, of course damaged.

Then, a gust of wind hit and knocked down my NJP and with the LL legs set in the widest position. It landed on the concrete pad with a sickening thud. I hoped for the best but expected damage. Well, after I stood it up and uncovered the head I discovered that the counterweight shaft snapped off at the top. My custom Casady saddle plate knob was driven into the Temma dec encoder. It looks like the encoder shaft is bent, and of course my saddle is damaged.

Then I noticed the bottom of the Temma RA box was dented. I am of course feeling pretty sick by this time.

Lastly, I notice all three wooden legs are broken at the mount collar. Snapped through the cam lever all the way around the leg. The lord only knows what other hidden damage may be lurking inside my beloved NJP.
End copy ++++++++++++++++++

Cheers

Dennis

[rumples riot]

Yeah probably was sailing close to the wind. However I have a good remedy for that problem. Get either sand pegs or grass pegs and put cable ties on the legs and drive the pegs into the ground. I don't like to use concrete to stand my scope on. Lots of equipment that I own has an extreme aversion to contacting Concrete.

[Roger Davis]

Check out the AstroSystems website.
SCOPECOATs

[wavelandscott]

Thanks All...some food for thought...

I am looking for an outdoor cover...have been eyeing the Bunnings (and others) BBQ Covers...Will check out your suggestions...

[rumples riot]

Actually, dont thank me thank Stuart (Beren). He spotted them first and let me know.

[ving]

i just use the roof of my house... is that too simple? ;)

i do have a bbq cover and it has occured to me to use it when outside tho

[RB]

I use a bbq cover for the LX200, works well.

[Rastis]

Hi chaps,

Bunnings sell patio umbrella covers that would go allright as a cover for a dob.They have a drawstring at the bottom as well to seal it up tight.

[acropolite]

I bought a couple of metres of tent fly material, it's showerproof and lightweight, I intend sewing it into a large bag with a drawstring to cover my LX90. The fabric is silver on the outside and so should minimise heat buildup in the sun.