Good Quality Cover

[kimforster (Kim)]

Hi everyone

I have the dobsonian 8". Unfortunately it lives in the only place I have room for, in front of my china cabinet.

I have been reading that they can be left outside with a good cover to protect it from the elements? This would certainly make it a lot easier for me to use as I wouldn't have to move it far.

My question is what is a good quality cover?

[erick (Eric)]

This one:-

http://www.telegizmos.com/

See also:-

http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/s...ad.php?t=71975

[erick (Eric)]

I should mention that you really also need to find a way to enclose the bottom if you are going to leave it out of doors for a long period - to stop creepy-crawlies climbing up from underneath. (Think what gets up under your BBQ cover!) I reckon a good blue tarp with the scope sitting on top and the ends pulled up and tied. Then the cover over top and pulled tight onto the blue tarp using the elastic draw string at the bottom.

[jones (Salvatore)]

I have a telgizmos series 365 covering my pier and mount all year round, and it's taken well large amounts of snow. I also reflects the sun rays effectively (not that we have any up here) so I feel like I can recommend it wholeheartedly.

[Liz]

Hi Kim ... quite a few goodies out there to cover your scope. I leave mine outside under a protected veranda for months at a time. I do use a Bunnings chiminea ( those outdoor patio heaters) to cover my scope.
As Eric says, cover the bottom to keep the crawlies out, I used to use a shower cap, but they are too small now.
If not using your scope for an extended period, bring inside and cover, and keep tube horizontal.

[kimforster (Kim)]

Originally Posted by erick

This one:-

http://www.telegizmos.com/

LOL when they say elements they really mean huh. Thanks for the link. That particular one is no good. I have a solid base, but I'll check out the link & see if there is the right one for my telescope.

I am not sure it will be in the sun, & it's usually a stinker here, today is a relief though. It's probably most likely gonna be under the veranda. I didn't think about bugs, my veranda has plenty of spiders so I will also look at properly covering the whole thing so nothing can get into it. I'm terrified of what might be under my BBQ LOL the last time I looked it was a redback & the body was the size of a $2 coin.

This is what I need to cover

http://i285.photobucket.com/albums/l...t/images-1.jpg

[that_guy (Tony)]

im pretty sure those covers cover up a dob just fine, one of the pictures on the site shows the cover on a dob.

[mill (Martin)]

I have a bbq cover from ray's outdoors that has white felt on the inside and a reflective coating on the outside.
My scope is outside now for most of the year and it looks like it repells crawling insects.
I first had a tarp from Bunnings and had earwigs and snails under it.
Also the scope stays nice and cool under the bbq cover.

[Jeeps (Sam)]

I would give these guys an email: http://www.infrontcampinggear.com.au/

they make bbq covers and a huge range of canvas covers for anything you can think of. They made some custom canvas covers for some of my equipment only last week. I'm going to get them to make me a dob cover with zipper to fully enclose the my dob within it so i can leave it in the garage.

cheers

[mr bruess]

Yes you gotta cover scope as the primary mirror is delicate

[kimforster (Kim)]

Thanks Martin & Sam for the BBQ cover tip. I will definitely check out that site. A custom made one would be fantastic.

Sorry Tony, maybe a little confusion here?? i couldn't find any pictures of the dob covered in one, only that one pic. That one is on legs. I don't have legs, I have a solid base that also needs to be covered. Anyway I will still keep looking at the site, maybe I'm blind LOL

I'm a little confused here, not sure what this is about?

Originally Posted by mr bruess

Yes you gotta cover scope as the primary mirror is delicate

[erick (Eric)]

I should have read more closely. Yes, if an 8" solid tube, you really need to seal the tube to keep the creepies out. Lid on the end of the tube. Focusser sealed with a cap or a plug, and, if an 8", a shower cap or two over the mirror end of the scope. I use shower caps on 8" tubes, no problem. By the way, check the inside is completely dry before you seal - that all of the previous night's dew has evaporated.