I have a 10" collapsible dobsonian which I acquired only recently - a very nice thing, especially when the skies are clear!
However, this weekend I shall be travelling into the country, away from city lights, in the hope of a bit of dark sky. My question is - what's the best/safest way of transport? I have a Toyota Tarago - big tall car - in which the scope can fit easily assembled (but with tube not extended, of course) standing up. I know this as that's how I transported it to a local primary school last night.
Or I could disassemble it and carry the OTA wrapped up in a blanket or two firmly on one of the back seats.
I've had one for years, and usually lay the tube across the back seat held
in place by the seat belts, but if the back seats are occupied then upright
assembled in the back is fine, provided you're not a close relative of
Daniel Ricciardo.
yep should be fine, move it so it is propped adjacent to the seats so when you brake it doesn't fly/fall forward. my 12" I have to put the tube in the boot (or backseat) and can untidly squeeze the base in the front seat (falcon).
When my 12" collapsable was new - I always transported the OTA collapsed and in the original box! (All fitted easily in my station wagon). Yes, I was a bit overcautious and it soon became tedious.
Then the OTA was carried collapsed, laid flat across back seat, and restrained by seatbelt and a big pillow. I get to the observing field and then put on my home made light shroud. This part of the process soon became tedious as well.
Now the OTA is always extended, light shroud is always on, and it fits flat in the back of S/W with seat folded down. (Pillows under the two parts of tube). The base slots in beside nicely.
I recently transported a 10" collapsable using a ute. Decided not to carry the whole lot assembled. In this position, the OTA is just resting on the 4 little support 'rollers'. I imagined some potential for bending the screws if things got too bouncy. (Maybe that arrangement would get tedious too in time.)
Well, I've been and come back - two and a half hours each way, and I carried the beastie assembled, upright, but unextended. No dramas.
I haven't got a light shroud for it yet, but I'd like one. Not so much to block out light (in a dark sky location that's not really an issue, and in the city I'm looking mainly at the moon and planets), but more as insurance against dropping things like eyepieces onto the primary mirror.
I had a great time away - first time in a dark sky location - and although my ability to use the instrument is as yet rudimentary, with the help of some astro apps on my phone I was able to find several Messier objects.
The dew was a killer though; by 2.30am it was getting very wet; and when we put the scopes away at about 3am they were running with condensation. (Also the combination of many hours of peering through an eyepiece plus many glasses of whisky had me being tired by then!)
I'm looking forward to more such nights, and getting more experience at finding my way about the sky. (We would have liked to find Uranus: it was in view, but in a sparse area of the sky, and hard to pinpoint relevant to known objects.)
Alistair
Just read your post and well done on getting the scope out to a dark site. It certainly makes a difference.
Just a couple of comments. Firstly, you mentioned having a few drinks of whisky. I normally advise against alcohol if doing any serious observing. One obvious reason is that using valuable gear in the dark and drinking are not a good combination, secondly, alcohol increases our susceptibility to cold. It may feel like it is warming us but it is actually causing us to lose heat quicker. Thirdly, and most importantly, alcohol is detrimental to dark adaption. This is not to say that observing cannot be accompanied by a little light drinking, just be aware of its effects.
Also you noted the dew conditions. The most valuable accessories I purchased have been dew heaters and controllers. Especially one for the secondary mirror and the eyepiece. Can also be very useful on the finder! If setup right can enable you to keep going worry free without stopping to use a hair dryer!
I made my light shroud from some heavy cotton material and 25mm plastic square garden lattice from Bunnings.
This square lattice product keeps the tubular shape well when fitted, and it bends easily enough so that when you look through a straight-through finderscope, you can get into position comfortably without pushing the OTA all over the place place with your cheek. (My Mk1 version used core flute which didn't bend easily).
You will need much less than amount in the smallest packaged roll. Maybe someone in your astronomy group has some spare.
