SCT 8'' Dew Shield

Jonathan,

Welcome to the boards!

I have a 12" SCT and was looking into buying a dew shield also about 6 months ago. The metal ones are both heavy and very expensive. I've no doubt that they work very well, but the cost of them is very high.

I got a camping mat in a camping shop for €8.99 and rolled it up until I got the size right. Then I taped it together. I've used it many times now and it works absolutely perfectly with no sign of wear. Best value accessory I ever bought and would highly recommend it!

Take care,

Just as an addendum, formica is a cheap material which works very well for dew shields. Seanies suggestion of the ground sheet material would work well too.

Dave Lillis -

If you want a lighter dew cap for your 12", purchase a sheet of 1/2" thick elastomeric foam wrap (used for thermal insulation). I did this for my 14" and it weighs practically nothing. In order to keep it from sagging a bit, I cut out a ring of Kydex and glued it to the end of the cylinder. This adds the necesary support withouit adding any weight. (I used the glue that is made especially for this product by the way.) Oh, and it's black too.

A 36" X 48" sheet (1/2" thick) is about $24 from McMaster-Carr (here in the US). I presume there is an equivalent supplier in your neck of the woods?

A dew shield as everyone mentioned is essential, and you can make your own dew heater also if you like, for no more than the price of a dozen resistors, less than a couple of euro. See link:

skytonight.com/howto/diy/3304231.html

Thanks folks. Looks like I'm off to the camping shop...Guess I should buy a tent for all-night observing too!!

Thats for the advice Pat, I deliberately got the heavy metal dew shield to counterbalance the Giant Easy Guider+focuser, so that worked out well.