Importance of capping the OTA after a session

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KathyNS Canada
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Importance of capping the OTA after a session

#1

Post by KathyNS »


I have gotten lazy about capping my scope after a session if there are more clear nights in the forecast. Each cap or uncap requires a trip out to the observatory, about a 2-minute walk. Yep, lazy.

So, I had some cleaning to do today. I might have to shoot some new flats!
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DSO AP: Orion 200mm f/4 Newtonian Astrograph; ATIK 383L+; EFW2 filter wheel; Astrodon Ha,Oiii,LRGB filters; KWIQ/QHY5 guide scope; Planetary AP: Celestron C-11; ZWO ASI120MC; Portable: Celestron C-8 on HEQ5 pro; C-90 on wedge; 20x80 binos; Etc: Canon 350D; Various EPs, etc. Obs: 8' Exploradome; iOptron CEM60 (pier); Helena Observatory (H2O) Astrobin
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OzEclipse Australia
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Re: Importance of capping the OTA after a session

#2

Post by OzEclipse »


Kathy
Pah, that's not a spiderweb, THIS is a spiderweb :lol: .........
ballooning season-3780.jpg
If I left my scope out uncapped, I would barely be able to see through it next morning.

more examples here:-
https://theskysearchers.com/viewtopic.p ... 00#p206200


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Amateur astronomer since 1978...................Web site : http://joe-cali.com/
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KathyNS Canada
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Re: Importance of capping the OTA after a session

#3

Post by KathyNS »


OzEclipse wrote: Wed Jun 22, 2022 7:03 am Pah, that's not a spiderweb, THIS is a spiderweb :lol: .........
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9_GlqRRs0s
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DSO AP: Orion 200mm f/4 Newtonian Astrograph; ATIK 383L+; EFW2 filter wheel; Astrodon Ha,Oiii,LRGB filters; KWIQ/QHY5 guide scope; Planetary AP: Celestron C-11; ZWO ASI120MC; Portable: Celestron C-8 on HEQ5 pro; C-90 on wedge; 20x80 binos; Etc: Canon 350D; Various EPs, etc. Obs: 8' Exploradome; iOptron CEM60 (pier); Helena Observatory (H2O) Astrobin
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Gordon United States of America
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Re: Importance of capping the OTA after a session

#4

Post by Gordon »


When I used to leave my newt in the 'dog house', It regularly got spiders making webs in the tube. Finally had to clean it when they started leaving "bug guts" on the mirror.
Gordon
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED80CF, Skywatcher 200 Quattro Imaging Newt, SeeStar S50 for EAA.
Mounts: Orion Atlas EQ-g mount & Skywatcher EQ5 Pro.
ZWO mini guider.
Image cameras: ZWO ASI1600 MM Cool, ZWO ASI533mc-Pro, ZWO ASI174mm-C (for use with my Quark chromosphere), ZWO ASI120MC
Filters: LRGB, Ha 7nm, O-III 7nm, S-II 7nm
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Primary software: Cartes du Ciel, N.I.N.A, StarTools V1.4.

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KathyNS Canada
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Re: Importance of capping the OTA after a session

#5

Post by KathyNS »


Gordon wrote: Wed Jun 22, 2022 6:20 pm When I used to leave my newt in the 'dog house', It regularly got spiders making webs in the tube. Finally had to clean it when they started leaving "bug guts" on the mirror.
My park position has the tube horizontal, so the spider poop at least doesn't land on the mirror.
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DSO AP: Orion 200mm f/4 Newtonian Astrograph; ATIK 383L+; EFW2 filter wheel; Astrodon Ha,Oiii,LRGB filters; KWIQ/QHY5 guide scope; Planetary AP: Celestron C-11; ZWO ASI120MC; Portable: Celestron C-8 on HEQ5 pro; C-90 on wedge; 20x80 binos; Etc: Canon 350D; Various EPs, etc. Obs: 8' Exploradome; iOptron CEM60 (pier); Helena Observatory (H2O) Astrobin
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Re: Importance of capping the OTA after a session

#6

Post by Gordon »


KathyNS wrote: Wed Jun 22, 2022 7:02 pm
Gordon wrote: Wed Jun 22, 2022 6:20 pm When I used to leave my newt in the 'dog house', It regularly got spiders making webs in the tube. Finally had to clean it when they started leaving "bug guts" on the mirror.
My park position has the tube horizontal, so the spider poop at least doesn't land on the mirror.
So was mine!

Somehow they figured out how to splash on the mirror!
Gordon
Scopes: Explore Scientific ED80CF, Skywatcher 200 Quattro Imaging Newt, SeeStar S50 for EAA.
Mounts: Orion Atlas EQ-g mount & Skywatcher EQ5 Pro.
ZWO mini guider.
Image cameras: ZWO ASI1600 MM Cool, ZWO ASI533mc-Pro, ZWO ASI174mm-C (for use with my Quark chromosphere), ZWO ASI120MC
Filters: LRGB, Ha 7nm, O-III 7nm, S-II 7nm
Eyepieces: a few.
Primary software: Cartes du Ciel, N.I.N.A, StarTools V1.4.

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Aratus Great Britain
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Re: Importance of capping the OTA after a session

#7

Post by Aratus »


If you have never had a cap, or lost one, a very cheap replacement is one of those plastic cardboard tube caps used to mail posters and things.
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