Astrozap Flexible Black Plastic for the 8" Astro-Tech AT8RC Ritchey-Chrétien astrograph, with two notches

This Astrozap dew shield/lens shade is made of lightweight, flexible, and durable black ABS plastic, lined with black felt to absorb both moisture and light. Aside from retarding the formation of dew during imaging, it acts as a lens shade to block neighboring lights and provide a sharper and higher contrast image when imaging from a light-polluted city or suburban site.

Simply wrap the Astrozap dew shield around the 8" Astro-Tech optical tube's front cell. The ends of the dew shield overlap and Velcro strips on the overlapping ends hold it firmly closed in a tubular shape. The Velcro closures are sewn in place for durability. A two-inch rubber trim inside the dew shield clasps the telescope optical tube front cell snugly to prevent any slippage of the dew shield during use.

This dew shield for the AT8RC has two rectangular notches cut in the plastic. One clears the standard equipment Losmandy-style "D-plate" dovetail plate on the bottom of the optical tube. The second clears the Vixen-style dovetail on the top of the tube that is used for installing mounting rings and a photoguide scope. Both notches are wide enough to accommodate a Losmandy-style dovetail, should the user decide to replace the top Vixen-style dovetail with an optional wider Losmandy-style dovetail at a later date.

Storage is easy. You can roll the Astrozap up like a newspaper and fasten it with a rubber band or string to stand out of the way in the back of a closet when not in use. Alternatively, you can store it open and flat in the top of your telescope carrying case or standing on end out of the way in the back of a closet.