19 replies to this topic

[ClownPants]

Hi y'all, I'm a beginner stargazer and I bought a dobsonian for the first time a couple months back. I usually set up at a park right by my house, but a couple nights ago I drove about 30 minutes to darker skies to watch the Perseids and I realized its a much more gorgeous spot for stargazing.

 

I want to try to haul my dobsonian out there tonight. Normally I would just put it upright on my passenger floorboard with a seatbelt around it to secure it, but this is a much longer drive on the interstate and I'm nervous about moving it since I know they're somewhat delicate. How do y'all secure your telescopes on drives? Am I overthinking it?

[Dobs O Fun]

No, you're not overthinking it.

Personally I would put it in the ba kseat laying down on a few layers of blankets.

[jrussell]

I lay mine down on the back seat with the base covering one end to keep it from rolling and it seems to travel fine.

[vtornado]

You can either do as you say, or lay it across the back seat (assuming you don't have a two seater).  You will probably have to touch up the collimation, should be simple to do.

Use a barlowed laster or a collimation cap.

 

Dobs are actually tough.

[rachnoman]

Just make sure it's secure enough in case you have to slam on the brakes.

[ClownPants]

I appreciate all the replies! I feel a lot more comfortable about traveling with my Dob now.

[tcifani]

A few additional points I learned the hard way:

 

1. Plan on arriving at your dark site destination just before sunset, so you have time to setup before it's dark. Nothing worse than fumbling around with gear setup in an unfamiliar dark place. This will also allow time for your mirror to acclimate to the outdoor temperature.

 

2. If you blast the air conditioner in the car like I do (we both live in The South), your scope will need additional time to acclimate to the outdoor temperatures.

 

3. Be comfortable. Bring extra stuff like an observing chair, a small folding table for accessories, a small drink cooler with drinks and snacks, bug repellent, extra clothing, etc....

 

Have fun!

 

Tony

[mountain monk]

Ditto on the above. I place the tube of my 11” Dob on a 4” futon in the back of my SUV and wrap a 2” strap around the whole thing, then brace it with a couple of sand bags. Put the scope back together when I arrive at least two hours before dark. Then I start the 4” interior fan and the big battery powered Dewalt fan. Then use a laser to check everything.

 

Dark skies.

 

Jack

[Tony Flanders]

Interstate highways are the least of your problems. I would worry a lot more about the dirt road at the end of the trip.

 

Anyway, I just throw my Dob and its base in the back of my car and take off. Never had a hint of a problem yet. Dobs are mighty tough.

[WillR]

Hi y'all, I'm a beginner stargazer and I bought a dobsonian for the first time a couple months back. I usually set up at a park right by my house, but a couple nights ago I drove about 30 minutes to darker skies to watch the Perseids and I realized its a much more gorgeous spot for stargazing.

 

I want to try to haul my dobsonian out there tonight. Normally I would just put it upright on my passenger floorboard with a seatbelt around it to secure it, but this is a much longer drive on the interstate and I'm nervous about moving it since I know they're somewhat delicate. How do y'all secure your telescopes on drives? Am I overthinking it?

"Am I overthinking it?" A bit. You didn't say what kind of Dob you have. Solid tube? Truss? Table top? If a solid tube, you of course take the tube off the mount and can lay it across the back seat, assuming it is a standard 8" or 10". The base can go on the passenger seat or in the back. Use a seatbelt. Like Tony says, they are pretty rugged.

[Echolight]

I just chunk the tube up on my shoulder and hike out back.

.... usually trip over the same root every time. Both on the way out and back in.

Dark out there.

[Richie2shoes]

I slide mine in the bed of my pick up truck and off I go.  A quick collimation when I get to the site and I'm set.

[Fu_Bo]

I usually put it on top of blankets in the back seat and strap it in. Most of the time collimation stays pretty intact.

[epee]

I would add,

If you plan on returning in the dark have some hands-free light (Headlamp or lantern) bright enough that you can see what you are doing while packing up. It doesn't have to be red at that point. No sense tarnishing a great night under the sky by losing or damaging something in the dark.

[ClownPants]

Thanks for all the tips! My dobsonian was easily secured in the back seat of my car; I feel much more comfortable moving it now. The other advice were also very helpful, luckily I'm an avid hiker and had all the headlamps, bug spray and layers I could possibly need to have a good time out there. Got some great views of Saturn, Andromeda and M13. Thanks for the help!

[sevenofnine]

One tip mentioned by another member is to put the tube in a cheap sleeping bag. It's protection against scuffs and dings. Good luck! 

[Spile]

I rest the base of my 8” Dob against the rear door and then slide the OTA into it. Finally I wrap a towel around it to stop it knocking.

[TheChosen]

Delicate? Nothing too delicate about a Dobsonian steel tube. Those mirrors can take a lot of beating which is why they don't take them out when transporting those scopes all the way from China when they are new. 

 

I used to transport my 8" simply on the backseat put on top of my child seats, secured with a seatbelt just in case if I ever got into an accident not getting hit with a steel tube in the back of my head on top of it.

 

This is how I transport my 12" now, all good. 

 

 

 

And yeah, the highway is absolutely fine. The uncomfortable part is the last part of the road which can get bumpy. Either way the 8" even after that kind of beating didn't need a collimation.. The 12" sadly does but with a laser collimator it is a 30 second job.

 

 

[Sky_LO]

The best support for a dob solid tube in the back seat...".If " you saved them...".If " you bought the scope brand new....

 

Is the Stiff foam U-Shaped packing foam from the original carton.   

Makes for a great "cradle."   Set the tube into those.  

Super easy.  Holds the OTA securely with zero worry about rolling around.  

 

-Lauren  

[Jon Isaacs]

As others have said Dob's are quite tough, the least delicate of all telescope designs. In the 22 years I've had my 10 inch GSO Dob, twice I've had the focuser end slip out of my hand and hit the concrete floor. There was no obvious damage, I did have to tighten up the spider vanes and the cover still fits.

 

I do not recommend drop testing your Dob but they are tough.  

 

Jon