There's something to be said about the simplicity of a dob
It was sooo easy to prepare for an imaging session with the dob + EQ platform.. most times I left them setup in position, and just put a cover over them. It stayed like that through sun + rain, and I really only moved them under cover if it was predicted to be really hot, or really wet
It meant my imaging sessions could start very quickly, just take out the laptop, eyepiece case, webcam+bits case, plug it all in, collimate and away I go. It also meant if it was cloudy (after setting the alarm to get up at 3am), I could just put the cover on and go back to bed.
Now, it's 20-30 minutes to completely setup the EQ6 + 12" and all associated bits and be ready to image. Plus, it's a lot more physically demanding.. The mount is heavy. The counterweights (22.5kg in total) are heavy. The 12" newt (21+ kg) is heavy. Set it all up last night, left the fan running for a Saturn/moon imaging session early this morning.
Get up at 1:30am, high hazy cloud meant transparency was horrible. It looked like clearing so I got out the laptop and started setting up.. by the time I'd setup the laptop, camera etc, and the clouds had gotten worse. Gave it away, spent the next 20-30 minutes at 2am putting it all away.
I'm going to get a garden shed and put it in the garden near my observing area - not for an observatory (not enough visible sky from there), but just to store my scope/mount/bits in, so at least I won't need to carry it long distances to unpack/pack it up. That will help a bit. I'm also going to put some concrete pads/pavers on the grass where the tripod legs go, so I can level them/mark them when it's properly aligned, so at least I can plonk the tripod down and it will be roughly aligned without having to get it level, check the compass, put the mount on, etc.
Makes me very jealous of you guys with an observatory and plenty of usable sky
There's a great spot in my yard up the back corner (highest part of the yard) for an observatory, but I have 2 big gum trees which block my view to the north (from there), which is a no-no for my planetary pursuits.
I think I remember a thread about it a while ago, but what's the consensus on leaving the tripod/mount/counterweights setup and in position with a cover/tarp over them? Is it bad for the mount/electronics? I assume the wet is not a problem cause it won't get wet? if it's "breathable" material it shouldn't dew up.. is it the extreme heat on hot summer days that are a worry?
I do miss the simplicity of setting up the dob/platform for imaging. I'm sure it will get easier/quicker in the months to come but it can be very frustrating at the moment!