November 6, 2010
 - Great binoculars for viewing the night sky. Photos courtesy of Garrett Optical.
A time-machine-to-the-stars with two viewing ports gives you with a better view
Garrett Optical makes some of the top giant star gazing binoculars in the business, including the 20x110 monster binoculars and its higher magnification 28x110 brother, which are part of Garrett Optical's Signature Line. These two binoculars boast 4.3-inch objectives for wonderfully expansive views of the night sky. The 20x110 puts 2.7 degrees of night sky into a single field of view, which allows star gazers to view celestial objects like the Pleiades (M45) and the Double Cluster (NGC 869 and NGC 884). The eyepieces of these two giant binoculars aren't removable, but you can thread standard 1 1/4-inch astronomical filters into the eyepieces of these giant binoculars.
http://www.garrettoptical.com/category-s/99.htm
Posted by Warren Wong. Posted In : astronomical binoculars
November 6, 2010
 - A time-saving astronomers tool
Give you more time for unforgettable astroimages. Photo courtesy of HoTech.
Laser collimators are indispensable tools for aligning the optics of your time-machine-to-the-stars, but many laser collimators of the past had an inherent weakness in which the collimator wasn't centered in the focuser. This often caused a small gap to exist between the collimator and the focuser's drawtube, no matter how precise the machining of the collimator's barrel. HOTECH's SCA Laser Collimators have solved this problem using a Self-Centering Adapter (SCA) using rubber compression rings that expand evenly against the drawtube and center the collimator perfectly straight in the focuser.
A clever idea that works by using three perfectly aligned laser beams to simulate the parallel rays coming from a distant star, HOTECH's SCA Laser Collimators work great for quickly aligning the optics of your time-machine-to-the-stars. Star gazers using Ritchey-Chretien, Dall-Kirkham, Schmidt-Cassegrain, and Maksutov-Cassegrain telescopes can quickly, efficient and reliably prepare their telescope to continue their journey to the beginning of the universe, using the only effective method known to collimate their time-machines-to-the-stars.
HOTECH's SCA Laser Collimators allow users to perform collimation indoors or outdoors, day or night, using a clear and simple to read display located within a short focal distance of the telescope for diagnosing alignment problems with a telescopes optical systems without guess-work. Avoid the frustration of moving between the front and back of your telescope adjusting the corresponding alignment screw, while holding your breath and looking through a high magnification eyepiece trying to reference the concentricity of an image out of focus with HOTECH's SCA Laser Collimators. You'll have more time for viewing the universe and taking the unforgettable astroimages you really did all of this work for.
http://www.hotechusa.com/category-s/21.htm
Posted by Warren Wong. Posted In : collimators
November 6, 2010
 - Lightweight and always ready to go, the iOpton MiniTower Pro is one of the best models around
Lightweight go-to mount for the star-gazer on the go. Photo courtesy of iOptron.
Tipping the scale at just 9 pounds, the iOptron MiniTower Pro is a portable atl-azimuth mount that can support a time-machine-to-the-stars weighing as much as 33 pounds, only takes 10 minutes to set on the launch pad, and has everything you need to journey to the beginning of the universe to view the universe. Totally portable, the iOpton MiniTower Pro fits in the included alloy metal carrying case like a glove, except for the tripod, and can be easily stored in the trunk of your car, or airline luggage, so you're always ready to continue your journey at a moments notice, no matter your location on the Earth.
The iOptron Mini Tower Pro is equipped with two dovetail adapters capable of supporting the majority of standard telescopes on the market today. Includes metal worm gears with typical 1 arcminute accuracy, strong 2" alloy legs and GPS capability that allows you to select the dark sky spot you desire to view the universe from. Add in a standard 8401 SmartStar hand controller with information that quickly allows you to locate over 130,000 celestial objects in the night sky, a USB port that allows you to easily connect to a wide variety of planetarium programs, an 8-inch LCD back-lit display, and you're always ready to continue your journey to the beginning of the universe at a moments notice.
Posted by Warren Wong. Posted In : telescope mounts
November 5, 2010
 Photo courtesy of altairastro.com A lightweight and portable observatory you can set up anywhere
Kendrick Astro Instruments has been in the business of selling some of the top observer tents in the world for years. Star gazers love the ease of use and set up of Kendrick observer tents, but nothing is perfect, and Kendrick has been listening to its customers. Measuring 10 feet wide by 15 feet long and 6.5 feet high at the center, Kendrick Astro Instruments Stargate Observer Tent is the latest edition to Kendrick's line of observer tents introduced a decade ago. Still including everything you loved about Kendrick's original Observatory Tent, the new Kendrick Astro Instruments Stargate Observer Tent has been redesigned to include two separate rooms, one for you to continue your journey to the beginning of the universe and another for sleeping away the hours, separated by a polyester wall.
You set up your time-machine-to-the-stars in the 10 foot x 9 foot star-gazing room, and then you and your weary-eyed star-gazing companion sleep away the hours of the day in the smaller 10 foot x 6 foot sleeping area. Once the sun goes down and the stars appear in the night sky, you simply head into your observatory and unzip the 6-foot-wide observing flap, and continue your journey to the beginning of the universe in perfect comfort. Once you return from your "Journey to the Beginning of Space and Time, simply close the observing flap, cover your telescope, and move into the next room for some well deserved rest.
http://www.kendrickastro.com/astro/observatory.html
Posted by Warren Wong. Posted In : observing tents
November 4, 2010
 Photo courtesy of OpticsPlanet
Flip the switch on your Meade LS-6 and being your journey to the beginning of the universe begins.
Just set up your time-machine-to-the-stars, flick the ignition switch, and your journey to the beginning of the universe begins. Incorporating GPS satellites, internal leveling sensors, a magnetic north compass, and a built-in ECLIPS CCD imager capable of displaying vibrant astroimages on the scope or filing them away so you can send them to all of your astronomy buddies, later, the Meade LS-6 ACF Telescope includes the industry's most advanced go-to astronomy system, for truly hands-free star-gazing.
The Light Switch Technology included with the Meade LS-6 go-to telescope goes to work with the flick of the switch, turning over the job of connecting the global positioning system with overhead satellites to a built-in Integrated Sensor Module (ISM). The global positioning system pinpoints the exact location and local time of your time-machine-to-the-stars on the planet's surface and then the Level North Technology sensors silently search for two alignment stars and automatically start charting out a real-time sky map of the night sky in its memory banks for the present time and your location on the Earth's surface.
The perfect telescope for the educated amateur astronomer heading out into the cosmos for their first journey to the beginning of the universe. The Meade LS-6 will automatically take you to points in space and time you'll never forget and you can take a few pictures of your unforgettable views to show your friends, when you get back.
Experienced astronomers will love not having to remember the name of alignment stars or having to worry about the view being blocked by a tree or house, which can be frustrating and time-consuming to solve. The Meade LS-6 go-to telescope solves these problems and gives you more time for what you really want to do, journey to the beginning of the universe.
http://www.meade.com/ls_series/lsseriesindex.html
Posted by Warren Wong. Posted In : go-to telescopes
November 4, 2010
 Photo courtesy Optcorp
Human beings were designed to view the universe using two eyes
Astronomical binoculars are a time-machine-to-the-stars that will make your journey to the beginning of the universe a trip of a lifetime. The views you'll experience during your journey will blow-your-mind using two eyes, rather than one, and you'll return from your trip with tales of space and time your astronomy buddies will envy. The Orion BT100 Premium Binocular Telescope's 100mm aperture helps to create bright, high-contrast 90 degree views of the universe at 24x magnification, using included 25mm Sirius Plossl eyepieces, that both your eyes will love.
A 4-inch refractor that accepts standard 1 1/4 eyepieces that are focused individually for optimal performance, the Orion BT100 Premium Binocular Telescope features an all-metal body, fully multicoated achromatic objective lenses, Porro prisms made of BaK-4 glass, and removable eyepieces. Just mount your two-eyed time-machine-to-the-stars on a sturdy heavy-duty tripod, which isn't included, slip the 25mm Sirius Plossl eyepieces into place in the integrated 90 degree prism assemblies, and blast-off from the Earth and journey to the beginning of the universe to experience the wonders of the universe through two eyes.
http://www.telescope.com/control/binoculars/astronomical-binoculars/orion-bt100-premium-binocular-telescope
Posted by Warren Wong. Posted In : binocular telescopes
November 2, 2010
 Photo courtesy of Bizrate
Give the Orion Parsec 8300C, a try, and see if you still look at your DSLR camera?
The Orion Parsec 8300C is the latest CCD time-machine-to-the-stars capable of taking one-shot, full-frame, 8.3 megapixel color views during your "Journey to the Beginning of Space and Time" in perfect resolution. The Orion Parsec 8300C Astronomical Imaging Camera is designed and engineered around Kodak's 8.3-megapixel KAF-8300 sensor, and is one of the most advanced CCD time-machines-to-the-stars you can purchase to "Journey to the Beginning of Space and Time.
The Orion Parsec 8300C Astronomical Imaging Camera's color Kodak CCD chip is built around the 5.4 micron x 5.4 micron pixel size for superior resolution and uses Kodak's microlens technology for maximum sensitivity. Regulated dual-stage thermoelectric cooling and the adjustable fan included with the Orion Parsec 8300C Astronomical Imaging Camera reduces the thermal noise you'll experience, while the internal full-frame memory buffer allows you to reliably and efficiently download you images for later use.
You get all of this astroimaging power at a relatively low price, considering the quality of the views this outstanding CCD camera produces, and the Parsec 8300C Astronomical Imaging Camera is compatible with Windows XP and later operating systems. You just plug the Parsec 8300C Astronomical Imaging Camera into the USB 2.0 port on your computer with the included cable and power your time-machine-to-the-stars using the 12-volt DC power cable included that plugs into a car accessory jack, or other compatible power source.
http://www.telescope.com/control/astrophotography/astrophotography-cameras
Posted by Warren Wong. Posted In : CCD astroimaging cameras
|
Author
Warren Wong
Prince George, British Columbia
|