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IMPORTANT: Our store is located in Canada. All orders that include products manufactured outside of Canada or USA will be subject to tariffs and duties, regardless of the order value. US customers are responsible for all applicable duties and tariffs, and those will be billed by the carrier, except for the Lacerta upgrade kit, for which we collect them at checkout.
IMPORTANT: Our store is located in Canada. All orders that include products manufactured outside of Canada or USA will be subject to tariffs and duties, regardless of the order value. US customers are responsible for all applicable duties and tariffs, and those will be billed by the carrier, except for the Lacerta upgrade kit, for which we collect them at checkout.

Orion Optics UK Truss Shroud 18″ Telescope

by Orion Optics UK
SKU OOUK-ODK18TR-MS
$1,263.14 - $1,263.14
$1,263.14
$1,263.14 - $1,263.14
$1,263.14
Price Match Policy!
  • Blocks stray light to increase image contrast
  • Breathable material maintains crucial airflow
  • Prevents image-degrading tube currents
  • Flexible material fits around focusers and accessories
  • Designed for 18-inch truss-tube telescopes
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  • Description
  • FAQ
  • Specifications
  • In the Box
  • Warranty

  • Truss Shroud 18″ Telescope

    Specifically designed for 18″ truss-tube telescopes, this black latex-type shroud provides essential stray light rejection while allowing critical airflow to prevent tube currents, dramatically improving image contrast and stability for deep-sky observation and imaging.

    Maximize Contrast in Your 18" Truss Telescope

    An open-truss telescope offers incredible aperture for its weight, but its open design is susceptible to stray light and thermal instability. This shroud solves both problems with a single, essential accessory. By blocking off-axis light from streetlights, yard lights, or even bright moonlight, it significantly darkens the background sky, making faint nebulae and distant galaxies stand out with enhanced contrast.

    Unlike simple covers, this shroud is made from a breathable, latex-type material engineered for astronomy. It allows air to flow freely through the optical tube, helping your telescope's primary mirror reach thermal equilibrium with the ambient air. This ventilation is critical for preventing the formation of "tube currents"—internal air turbulence that blurs fine details and degrades seeing, especially during high-magnification planetary viewing.

    The material is also highly flexible, allowing you to manipulate and stretch it to achieve a custom fit. It easily accommodates focusers, finder brackets, dovetail plates, and other accessories without compromising its light-blocking function, ensuring your 18" instrument performs at its optical peak.

  • Why is a shroud necessary for an 18" truss telescope?

    An 18" truss telescope has an open optical tube, which allows stray light from external sources to enter the light path and reflect off internal surfaces. This washes out faint details and reduces contrast. A shroud blocks this stray light, resulting in a darker sky background and making it easier to see faint deep-sky objects.

    How does the Truss Shroud 18" Telescope improve views of faint objects like the Veil Nebula (NGC 6960)?

    Objects like the Veil Nebula (NGC 6960) are extremely faint and require high-contrast views to appreciate their delicate structure. By eliminating stray light, this 18" Truss Shroud darkens the sky background, making the faint filaments of the nebula "pop" against the blackness of space, especially when used with a nebula filter.

    Will this Truss Shroud 18" Telescope cause my mirror to dew up?

    This shroud is made from a breathable material specifically to prevent this issue. It allows air to circulate, which helps prevent the primary mirror from cooling below the dew point too quickly. While it doesn't eliminate the risk of dew entirely in very humid conditions, it is far superior to non-breathable materials that trap moist, stagnant air inside the tube.

    Can I use the Truss Shroud 18" Telescope if I have accessories attached?

    Yes. The shroud is made from a flexible, manipulative material. You can stretch and position it to fit snugly around focusers, finder scopes, dovetail plates, and other mounted accessories, ensuring a tight, light-proof fit without having to remove your essential gear.

    Why is airflow important in an 18" telescope?

    A large 18" mirror takes time to cool to the ambient night air temperature. If warm air is trapped in the optical tube, it creates "tube currents" that distort the light path and blur the image, an effect similar to looking over hot pavement. The breathable fabric of this shroud allows the scope to cool efficiently and maintains stable air, leading to sharper, steadier views.

    How does this shroud help with planetary imaging on my 18" telescope, for example on Jupiter?

    High-resolution planetary imaging of targets like Jupiter is highly sensitive to atmospheric instability, including localized tube currents. By maintaining smooth airflow and helping the optics stabilize thermally, the 18" Truss Shroud minimizes a key source of local "bad seeing." This results in a steadier image at the camera sensor, allowing you to capture finer details in Jupiter's cloud bands and the Great Red Spot.

  • Orion Optics UK 1-Year Warranty