Dew protection for C 9.25 OTA?

[michaelmorris]

I planning to buy a Celestron C 9.25" tube and mount it on an equatorial mount using a Losmandy-size dovetail.  

I'm planning to fit it with a dew strap and (on occasion) a flexible dew shield.  Is it easy to mount both on the front of the tube with the Losmandy dovetail?. If not, what is the best way to do this?

Thanks

[SkyBound]

Hi,

it is quite straight forward, the proper Celestron flexible dew shields have a cut out for the dovetail bar, and then a dew strap can be fitted over the top if needed, but you will need a slightly bigger dew strap because of the extra diameter with the dew shield fitted,  as another option Astrozap make a heated flexible dew shield with a dew strap built in, but don't think that come with the cut out to fit around the dovetail bar...

to be perfectly honest, I have never seen the need for a dew heater on an SCT when a good length dew shield is fitted, it does the job fine.

[michaelmorris]

There are occasions when planetary imaging with my current 8" SCT that it has been dewy (is that word?) and windy.  In such circumstances a dew shield just acts as a sail.  That's why I want a separate dew strap and dew shield.

[Mr Spock]

I use an Astrozap dew shield on it's own. I don't like heaters. Works fine

[BlueAstra]

I had a Celestron C8 which is similar. I put a dew strap just behind the front plastic band, recessed against the metal and under the dovetail bar. I could then slide on a home made dew cover (with no internal heater and a recess cut out for the dovetail bar) over the front.

 

[Stu]

It depends where you live as to whether you need a dew heater or not. Some folks say they are unnecessary, but I live between three reservoirs and also near the rivers Thames and Mole; dew happens!

I have the combined Astrozap dewshield and heater, it's the neatest solution. In my conditions a dewshield alone is not enough.