Did any one here ever used something like these folding covers for a quick solution to protect a permanent setup from the elements?
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Folding covers for protecting permanent telescope setups from weather elements
I have one (that I use for my motorcycle) but I have put it over the mount/scope in the odd times where I was able to leave my scope and mount set up for multiple days in a row…. Worked brilliantly.. Just make sure you have a humidity control system under it, whether that’s a fan, exhausting air out of it, or a heated desicant system inside to dry anything out, but overall - it works brilliantly…
No. But for~13 years I used a 32 Gallon Dome.
(A 32 gallon dome?) Yeah, a 32 gallon black plastic trash can inverted over my telescope and mount.
A plastic trash can is sunlight resistant to almost the impervious degree.
When I finally upgraded from my 80mm I started with, to my 130mm now, I got a dome BBQ cover and put that over for my weatherproof cover. Several years ago I sewed up some shade cloth into an envelope and put that over my dome cover. Perfect shade that gets spring clamps applied to hold it in the winds.
The BBQ cover is very sun resistant. I’m on my second one as the first got wear holes in it from hanging over my telescopes for years.
About 3 years ago I took a muffin fan from my defunct G3 Orion camera and mounted it into a 2” shop-vac hose. It was rigged to draw air from the high end of my parked telescope to ventilate the cover. That way the cover cannot develop any moisture under it. It runs one a single 12-volt power supply during idle times of my equipment which lives outdoors setup and ready to uncover and use.
It is not practical for me to build an observatory. But covering my equipment has worked amazingly well for about 14 years now. I just uncover it, plug in my power supply and dew heaters, connect my laptop and get started. Super convenient!
No matter what, do ventilate whatever cover you decide to try. Condensation can build under covers. Even my 32-gallon dome, at times. But never since using a low voltage muffin fan to draw condensation out. And they can run 24/7. So mine runs anytime the equipment is covered, even during inclimate weather.
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Fox Park Observatory · Jan 12, 2026, 02:41 PM
I use one of these. Works great through all kinds of weather.
Looks good! I like the zipper option. (My arthritis in my right shoulder just kills me fishing my cover on.)
I do use one for my permanent and automated backyard setup; it works great, even if you need to plan to replace the canvas one a year or so - depending on your weather (mine lives in New England).
I have set up a portable heat pump under it to keep humidity and heat under control. I have automated opening/closing with a couple of simple linear actuators.
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Rostokko · Jan 12, 2026 at 03:41 PM
I do use one for my permanent and automated backyard setup; it works great, even if you need to plan to replace the canvas one a year or so - depending on your weather (mine lives in New England).
I have set up a portable heat pump under it to keep humidity and heat under control. I have automated opening/closing with a couple of simple linear actuators.
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That is very cool! Thank you
Excellent, Rostokko!
I’d be doing some ground level pruning though. 🫣 But you may have good reasons not too. I see the 3 trees appear to be your neighbors.
This time of the year I sometimes wish I had an automated covering. I finally dawned my long johns yesterday, tired of shivering. Everywhere freezing is 32° F (0° C), except California. At 60° F the girls all proclaim it’s freezing here.
Great setup!
SonnyE · Jan 12, 2026, 04:44 PM
I’d be doing some ground level pruning though. 🫣 But you may have good reasons not too. I see the 3 trees appear to be your neighbors.
Yeah, there is only so much I can do. I have a good open view of the NE/E/SE/S skies; SW/W/N/NW is just not there for me right now. Plenty of targets available anyway.
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Almost anything will work. I keep my EQ6-R mount out in the backyard with two heavy-duty black garbage bags over it. These work very well and have little plastic loops that I use to secure the bags to the central tripod bolt. Add a velcro strap around the top to keep the bags from blowing around in the wind and you’re set. These things last a long time, at least a year under the Oklahoma sun. If I’m shooting a number of nights in a row, I’ll leave the OTA mounted and just throw a bag over that too! A very simple and cheap solution.
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You’d have to be careful to secure it when not in use. They use tents like this during professional American football games on the sidelines for player privacy when their injured, have to go to the bathroom, or other things like that, and just this last weekend one almost blew away. The broadcast said 26 mile per hour winds, but I don’t know what it was gusting up to especially down in the bowl of a stadium like that.