33 replies to this topic

[Bill Weir]

Thanks all, i will be ordering one of these later today

Get the whole vest with hood and not just the hood. Extra large so it can go over any jacket. My original Dark Sky Apparel version will fit over an oversized parka.

 

Bill

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Edited by Bill Weir, 20 February 2024 - 12:51 AM.

[Mike Q]

Get the whole vest with hood and not just the hood. Extra large so it can go over any jacket. My original Dark Sky Apparel version will fit over an oversized parka.

 

Bill

I did order the vest/hood combo last night.  I dont know how much i will really use the vest to hold eyepieces while i am at the scope but i do like the whole set up instead of the hood by itself 

[csrlice12]

They also solve that "Here, hold my beer" thing....

[George N]

I use the older Dark Skies Apparel Hooded Observing vest which is quite similar to the R-sky one.  In addition to the hood, it has lots of pockets for putting things in that are needed at the telescope: 

 

ObservingVestLabeled1.jpg

My best all-time star party raffle win! I should have bought one long before winning one! Love it! .... but it is one more think go 'pack' for observing trips - or to put away after observing at home.

[NWStars]

At the 2018 Oregon Star Party, I was able to try out the Dethloff eyepiece shade on Chuck's scope (See link below). I made one and have been using it for the last 6 years on my 16.5" dob. It surrounds the head to both block out surrounding light sources and submerse my eyes in darkness. Enables my to observe an additional magnitude dimmer stars. Still using the first one I made. Early on, I enlarged the bottom opening to open-up the pathway for exhaling breath. This last summer, I replaced the black duct tape which had started to loosen. Dollar store salad bowl cost $1. JoAnne fabric store was the black felt source. Home depot black spray paint.

Carthart knit hat with ear flaps.

I will sometimes use a black eye-patch on my observing eye when away from the eyepiece and while I look at SkySafari charts. Other times just close observing eye when not at eyepiece.

Switched to a AMOLED tablet which eliminates screen glare. Bought it used off Amazon. I highly recommend it.

 

https://www.thefreel......-a0487432760

[Bill Weir]

At the 2018 Oregon Star Party, I was able to try out the Dethloff eyepiece shade on Chuck's scope (See link below). I made one and have been using it for the last 6 years on my 16.5" dob. It surrounds the head to both block out surrounding light sources and submerse my eyes in darkness. Enables my to observe an additional magnitude dimmer stars. Still using the first one I made. Early on, I enlarged the bottom opening to open-up the pathway for exhaling breath. This last summer, I replaced the black duct tape which had started to loosen. Dollar store salad bowl cost $1. JoAnne fabric store was the black felt source. Home depot black spray paint.

Carthart knit hat with ear flaps.

I will sometimes use a black eye-patch on my observing eye when away from the eyepiece and while I look at SkySafari charts. Other times just close observing eye when not at eyepiece.

Switched to a AMOLED tablet which eliminates screen glare. Bought it used off Amazon. I highly recommend it.

 

https://www.thefreel......-a0487432760

I’ve thought of building one of these but I’m not wanting to keep adding more weight to the front end of my 20”. The filter slide I recently added seems to have pushed my scope’s front end to its tipping point quite literally. The hood does the job. The hood travels with me if I’m at a star party and want to look through someone else’s scope. It also allows me to wander around with my eyepieces to see how they behave in other scopes

 

Bill

[Redbetter]

At the 2018 Oregon Star Party, I was able to try out the Dethloff eyepiece shade on Chuck's scope (See link below). I made one and have been using it for the last 6 years on my 16.5" dob. It surrounds the head to both block out surrounding light sources and submerse my eyes in darkness. Enables my to observe an additional magnitude dimmer stars. Still using the first one I made. Early on, I enlarged the bottom opening to open-up the pathway for exhaling breath. This last summer, I replaced the black duct tape which had started to loosen. Dollar store salad bowl cost $1. JoAnne fabric store was the black felt source. Home depot black spray paint.

Carthart knit hat with ear flaps.

I will sometimes use a black eye-patch on my observing eye when away from the eyepiece and while I look at SkySafari charts. Other times just close observing eye when not at eyepiece.

Switched to a AMOLED tablet which eliminates screen glare. Bought it used off Amazon. I highly recommend it.

 

https://www.thefreel......-a0487432760

I use a hood and a tall light baffle extending up opposite of the focuser on my 20".  The latter blocks out annoying glare I have had at times from bright stars, planets, or distant light domes that sometimes made their way into the focuser, killing DSO contrast.

 

I am curious about the dimmer stars part, what is your TLM?  I've done a number of things to completely black things out at the eyepiece while wearing the hood and black gloves.  There is some difference with threshold DSO's but very little in the way of stellar telescopic limiting magnitude.  It doesn't change much from just cupping my eye carefully under dark sky.   Under bright sky or with glare sources it is a different matter of course.

 

I am not doubting that it works for you with respect to TLM, but like a few other things folks have mentioned, I haven't seen that much difference in TLM.  Folks talk about tracking drives/seated position, or hyperventilating providing these sorts of TLM benefits, but again I have not duplicated the sort of changes they report.  I still try these things at times.  Similarly, my NELM doesn't go significantly deeper in dark sky, looking up with cupped hands and a hood, while others report it does for them.

[GGK]

I live in southwest Florida, so no cold weather challenge.  My needs are light block, bug deterrent, and not getting too hot.

 

When bugs are bad, I wear an ultralight sun jacket with a long hood.  It adds almost no insulation and breaths well, but keeps the bugs off. The hood helps, however, it is not fully light blocking.

 

When I want to block all light, I use the detachable uninsulated hood that is usually stored in the neck pocket of my Eastern Mountain Sports ski coat.  The hood has tabs with Velcro that extend around my neck, so it stays on without the coat.  It extends out a good distance, completely blocks all light, and since it's uninsulated and allows heat to radiate out, I stay cool enough.

 

During summer sessions, I also wear ultralight uninsulated hiking pants.  Like the sun jacket, I do not overheat int he pants, but they keep the bugs off.

 

Gary

[Mike Q]

My R-Sky vest/hood arrived last week.  It is made in the USA and shipped from North Carolina.  The hood, well it is definitely big and it blocks out any light source that may be around you.  The vest is a one size fits all and has straps up front that tighten up.  You could easily drop a ES 30/82 in the largest pocket if you wanted to.  I can't see filling every pocket but i could see myself carrying a couple eyepieces in it.