{"product_id":"orion-optics-uk-odk18tr-ms","title":"Orion Optics UK Truss Shroud 18″ Telescope","description":"\u003cul class=\"DAV-feature-list\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBlocks stray light to increase image contrast\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBreathable material maintains crucial airflow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrevents image-degrading tube currents\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFlexible material fits around focusers and accessories\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDesigned for 18-inch truss-tube telescopes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c!-- more --\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tabs\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003eDescription\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFAQ\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eIn the Box\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWarranty\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"tabs-content\"\u003e\n\u003cli class=\"active\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-bg-light\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-section-center\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eTruss Shroud 18″ Telescope\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSpecifically 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-bg-light\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-section\"\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eMaximize Contrast in Your 18\" Truss Telescope\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eUnlike 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWhy is a shroud necessary for an 18\" truss telescope?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn 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 \u003cstrong\u003eblocks this stray light\u003c\/strong\u003e, resulting in a darker sky background and making it easier to see faint deep-sky objects.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eHow does the Truss Shroud 18\" Telescope improve views of faint objects like the Veil Nebula (NGC 6960)?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eObjects like the Veil Nebula (NGC 6960) are extremely faint and require high-contrast views to appreciate their delicate structure. By eliminating stray light, this \u003cstrong\u003e18\" Truss Shroud\u003c\/strong\u003e darkens the sky background, making the faint filaments of the nebula \"pop\" against the blackness of space, especially when used with a nebula filter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWill this Truss Shroud 18\" Telescope cause my mirror to dew up?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis shroud is made from a \u003cstrong\u003ebreathable material\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eCan I use the Truss Shroud 18\" Telescope if I have accessories attached?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. The shroud is made from a flexible, manipulative material. You can stretch and position it to fit snugly \u003cstrong\u003earound focusers, finder scopes, dovetail plates, and other mounted accessories\u003c\/strong\u003e, ensuring a tight, light-proof fit without having to remove your essential gear.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eWhy is airflow important in an 18\" telescope?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 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 \u003cstrong\u003ebreathable fabric\u003c\/strong\u003e of this shroud allows the scope to cool efficiently and maintains stable air, leading to sharper, steadier views.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion\"\u003e\n\u003ch3 class=\"DAV-accordion-Q\"\u003eHow does this shroud help with planetary imaging on my 18\" telescope, for example on Jupiter?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"DAV-accordion-A\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHigh-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 \u003cstrong\u003e18\" Truss Shroud\u003c\/strong\u003e 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ctable class=\"DAV-specifications\"\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"DAV-grid\"\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/davidastro.com\/pages\/orion-optics-uk-warranty-policy\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\"\u003eOrion Optics UK 1-Year Warranty\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Orion Optics UK","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52942369587485,"sku":"OOUK-ODK18TR-MS","price":1768.0,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"url":"https:\/\/davidastro.com\/fr\/products\/orion-optics-uk-odk18tr-ms","provider":"David Astro","version":"1.0","type":"link"}