Nik C Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Hello AllJust joined the forum.I'm quite new to atronomy, bought a scope about 18 months ago (Skywaycher 250 on HEQ5 GoTo mount) but between doing up a house and cloudy skies usage has been a bit limited - but what I have done has been great fun (highlights - Moon, Saturn, Jupiter, Orion Nebula).I was away in Weymouth recently and wished I had my scope with me as the dark skies were great (London to the north and Guildford to the south at home) so I have just bought a 6 month old Skymax 127 on GoTo mount as a grab and go scope as the 250 is not that mobile!!I've read that a dew shield is recommended with a Mak and was wondering if anyone had advice on which one to buy, whether a shield by itself is enough or if I need a heated one.Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aza Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Hi NikMake your own! Since I started using mine I have never had a problem. See this thread for pics of my homemade one. http://stargazerslounge.com/equipment-help/86090-dew-problem-newt-reflector.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glowjet Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Hi Nik,welcome to SGL, hope you enjoy the forum.John. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nik C Posted September 7, 2009 Author Share Posted September 7, 2009 Thanks Arran, will that work on the Mak given that it is not supported by the tube as it would be on a Newtonian?Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talitha Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Hi and welcome to SGL, Nik. The corrector plates on Maks and SCTs are dew-magnets.. trust me, i've got one of each, lol. You can easily and affordably make a dew shield from a thin styrofoam camping mat but TBH i'd use it in tandem with some sort of dew prevention system. If you want a quick fix, a hair dryer (low heat, low fan) can be used instead of the dew prevention system but it's merely postponing the inevitable and needs to be constantly repeated throughout the session. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GazOC Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 TBH I find most nights in the UK that a sheild on its own is enough to keep the dew at bay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nik C Posted September 7, 2009 Author Share Posted September 7, 2009 Thanks John. The forum has come up quite a lot on various Google searches and everyone seemed very friendly and helpful, hence why I am here!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nik C Posted September 7, 2009 Author Share Posted September 7, 2009 Thansk Talitha - is there any particular dew prevention system you woul dsuggest? I've seen the Kendrick system on line but seems a lot of money at £70-80 plus the shield? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nik C Posted September 7, 2009 Author Share Posted September 7, 2009 Thanks GazOC - would a Kendrick be a good purchase so that I can upgrade to a heated system if needed? I live in the Thames Valley so it can be quite damp. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talitha Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 TBH I find most nights in the UK that a sheild on its own is enough to keep the dew at bay.Not here in Wisconsin. I think it might be because my day/night temp fluctuates so greatly, though. Yesterday it was 26C but went down to 8C by the time i went home... everything was absolutely dripping. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talitha Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Nik, i have a Dew Buster.. not sure if it's available in the UK but i suppose any thermostatically controlled unit would work the same. They're not cheap, but they use less power than the static on/off heat tapes. I used those when i first started out in all this about 10 years ago but found out the hard way that they get dry-rot after a few years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig H Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 :)Hello Nik, and welcome.regards craig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nik C Posted September 7, 2009 Author Share Posted September 7, 2009 Thanks Talitha. Don't think that they are but the Kendricks seem popular and you can buy the shield with a fitting built on for the heater if you want to upgrade later so will probably go with that. Thanks for your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nik C Posted September 7, 2009 Author Share Posted September 7, 2009 Thanks Craig. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barkis Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Hello Nik, Welcome to SGL. I am sure you will find a solution to the dew problem. I hope you enjoy SGL, there's lots of advice and help on here. Ron. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Astro_Baby Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Hi from me too - you might also want to get a dewshield for the 200 as well - reflectors are not immune to dew either and the secondary mirror will dew up just as readily as an SCT corrector plate.A decent dew shield will also improve contrast for you and get rid of any extraneous light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpookyKatt Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Welcome to the forum Nik.Kathleen Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Talitha Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 You're welcome Nik, hope things work out well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nik C Posted September 7, 2009 Author Share Posted September 7, 2009 Thanks for all your welcome messages and advice everyone, most appreciated. Nik Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brinders Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 TBH I find most nights in the UK that a sheild on its own is enough to keep the dew at bay.Not my expereince near the sea in Blackpool (plus a large pond at the back of my property). From October through to March dew is a constant problem and not one a dew shield will beat on its own. I use the dew-not system from Modern Astronomy:-Accessories @ Modern AstronomyBrinders Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rusty Strings Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Hi and a welcome from meJohn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GazOC Posted September 7, 2009 Share Posted September 7, 2009 Not my expereince near the sea in Blackpool (plus a large pond at the back of my property). From October through to March dew is a constant problem and not one a dew shield will beat on its own. I use the dew-not system from Modern Astronomy:-Accessories @ Modern AstronomyBrindersYep, I should have mentioned its very dependent on location.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starjumper Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Hi Nik,Welcome to SGL.John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaffa007 Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Welcome to SGL.I got my dew shield for my 127 off ebay for a tenna. An Orion version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ron.s.g Posted September 8, 2009 Share Posted September 8, 2009 Hi Nic and welcome,lots of choices.regards ron.s.g Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.