My primary was not in the OTA, but was out of the OTA , stored in it's cell , with the special paper over it , upside down in the box which had a cotton sheet over it .
So it should be dust free. Too bad about those couple finger prints I managed to get on the just cleaned mirror when I was doing my dry run on collimating the OTA and installing the mirror and cell . (Will get a wash before I place the catseye centre spot and reinstall it and the cell and do a proper collimation).
My secondary was in the OTA , which was standing with the secondary facing down with a dustcap over the top end of the OTA (special size for the 300mm NB UPVC tube I'm using for my OTA , that I bought .... expensive at the local plumbing supply on Monday .... lucky me to have this before the dust storms). There is a dust shadow on the old kitchten bench (where the OTA was standing) I am using as my garage work bench in the garage that the OTA was ontop of. It looks like very little dust entered unsealed focusor , as it was probably very still in the garage so the dust precipated rather than circulating in there.
I can't see any dust on the flocking or the secondary. So I think I'm fine.
I expect lots of dobs and newts in NSW, QLD have pretty dusty mirrors now.
Is your's one of these ?
Last edited by Ian Robinson; 26-09-2009 at 09:24 PM.
My newt was lying on it's side in a box, covered with a sheet and a doona.
The refractor is wrapped in a cotton doona and is stored in a tool box.
Though it may have collected some dust tonight while it was being used.
I normally have more to worry about keeping out the 2 and 4 yr old
OTA normally stored in original cardboard box, with large piece of wood over the top (in case they decide to STAND on it as has happened before), with towel over that, all tied down with plenty of knots to keep prying hands out. All this is a PITA when I want to set up or store at the end of the night.
Thankful now though that's nicely kept any dust out. Every room in our house is a dust bath currently.
I voted yes. I was looking at my C8 corrector plate before the dust storm and thinking it needs cleaning. There wasn't any noticeable dust into the POD from the storm.
I am finding though that dust does collect quicker on the optics in the observatory than in a box. Maybe I'm using it more, so it spends more time with the caps off... then again maybe its just my perception... when I think about it, the scope's only 4 years old... it must be 2 years since I cleaned the corrector...
Pulled the secondary out this avo to install new collimating screws with thumbtops (replacing the old hex screws), found that it was dirty .... not much dust got in through the open focusor , but enough to discolour the surface.
I had to take the secondary out and inspect it closely under sun light to see the dusty blemishes .
The white dust cap on the top of the OTA was quite dirty too .
I can only presume the dust was strongly staticly charged and this was why the secondary is still dusty despite being stored in the tube facing down. I tried blowing it off but there is still some there. Much the same as when I tried blowing the dust off the laminated work bench.
Checked out the dobs primary when i got home. its dusty and now needs a clean which is a pain as i cleaned it just before Astrofest. Havent looked at the secondary yet but i assume the worst. Teaches me for not having a dust cover across the bottom of the scope.
), with towel over that, all tied down with plenty of knots to keep prying hands out. All this is a PITA when I want to set up or store at the end of the night.
