Transporting your Scope?

[DARKMATTER]

Hi All!

I have just aquired a small newt 114mm and live in a house with very limited sky (trees everywhere).

So generally i will have to travel. I was after some ideas on protecting the scope when in transit, dont really want to spend too much $$$ just yet.

It's on a EQ mount that is part of the tripod, which doesn't collapse fully without taking it apart. And I assume this part is all pretty safe as is, for travel?

But should I build a box for the tube?

Thanks in advance.........

PS: great site!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[[1ponders] (Paul)]

Welcome DM.

For a really cheeeep carry box for the tube, you can use a length of 6" stormwater pipe, cut it in half lengthwise and line it with strips of foam. If you then get two endcaps and slip them on the ends, the halves won't come apart then. You can even fix a couple of knobs on each end of the split tube to stretch a thick rubber band across the ends and down the sides of the tubes to make sure the endcaps don't come off.

What about the focuser I hear you say. When you buy the stormwater pipe, also get a pvc "T" piece that would fit over the focuser. Cut the long section of the T piece lengthwise. It doesn't need to be exactly in half, just so long as you have pvc to paint with pvc cement on the outer surface. Cut a hole where the focuser will go in the 6" pipe the same diameter as the T piece tube. Poke the T piece section through the hole and cement the long section to the inside of the 6" pipe section. Now just cap the end of the T piece.

You can now fix handles to the 6" pipe and Bob's your uncle. Cheap, easy and safe for the scope. Just make sure you have foam in the endcaps as well.

[iceman (Mike)]

Hi Darkmatter, welcome to the site! Great to see another central coaster.

I put my 12" newt tube resting in the half-circle foam cutouts that came with the scope. The mount I just have resting on the floor in the boot or on the back seat. I probably should throw a seatbelt around them - don't want a 20kg mount lurching into my back if I should happen to stop suddenly.

You should come up to Kulnura next new moon, in March! It's only 25-30 minutes from Gosford.

[DARKMATTER]

Thanks to both of you, along the lines I was thinking of but knew someone would have better ideas

Iceman:

Yeah I would love to come along, got the scope 3 weeks ago and only had my first clear night on saturday. Needless to say HOOKED!

I have been reading up trying to figure it all out but could do with some instruction from someone experienced!

What date in march?

Address/ time etc?

Thanks again..

Paul