Celestron has introduced its EclipSmart solar safe optics and observing kits in advance of the 2017 North American Total Solar Eclipse. The EclipSmart line includes everything you need to plan, experience, photograph, and celebrate America’s total solar eclipse including 100-percent Solar Safe glasses, binoculars, and telescopes, plus smartphone/DSLR photo filters, […]
By Peter Rejto Peter Rejto, born into a family of musicians, initially followed a scientific career path, but ultimately left the doctoral biochemistry program at UC Berkeley to become a concert cellist. Now Professor Emeritus at Oberlin College, Rejto lives in Sydney, Australia with his family, but continues to direct […]
Mirro-Sphere of Mazy, France now offers a true Serrurier truss-tube Newtonian constructed of carbon fiber and high-grade aluminum. Lightweight and rigid carbon-fiber tubes connect the support rings in a Serrurier-truss design using ball screws and socket hardware. The initial version of the telescope is a 12-inch f/4. It is designed […]
In announcing its new Good Neighbor Lighting line, Lowe’s recognized that “Star-filled night skies are now fading and being washed out by the glow of city lights. Artificial light shining up into the sky creates light pollution and dulls the view for stargazers. Excessive and poorly directed lights are also […]
Software Bisque’s Paramount Software Suite, shipped with all Paramount mounts, has always come with macOS and Windows versions of TheSkyX Professional Edition, not to mention the Camera Add On, the Multi-OS and Six License Add On, and the TPoint Add On. The Paramount Software Suite thumb drive now also includes […]
We saw Meade’s new EclipseView Line of Solar Safe telescopes first this year in January at CES in Las Vegas, then again at NEAF in April, and now they are ready for shipment. What makes them so great? They are dual-purpose instruments, ready for use during the day for solar […]
Richard Day of Skylight Telescopes is offering a one-off 85-mm f/9 refractor in Candy Apple red with a polished brass dew shield. The vintage-style scope weighs 3.5 kilograms (7.7 pounds). The telescope is supplied with a high-quality Crayford-style focuser and an integrated Vixen-style dovetail rail, but the dovetail can be […]
For 20 years, Meade’s ETX series telescopes have provided novice astronomers quality, value and performance, with each new model bringing enhancements and improvements. The all-new ETX Observer model introduced earlier this year continues that legacy. New Features The ETX Observer models come in an 80mm refractor, a 90mm Maksutov-Cassegrain, or […]
Four years ago, iOptron introduced the SkyGuider; which quickly became a tool of choice for serious astro-scape and wide-field astro-imaging. Since then, there has been an explosion of interest in this popular genre of outdoor photography. As users’ imaginations pushed existing tracking devices to their limits, iOptron designers recognized it […]
For iOS, the Solar Eclipse Timer app is a complete guide to solar eclipses that is simple to use. Created by Gordon Telepun for first-time eclipse observers as well as veteran eclipse chasers, it is released well in time to prepare everyone for the August 21, 2017 Total Solar Eclipse, […]
Looking for something more durable than the standard cardboard-plus-film disposable solar glasses? Consider these options now offered by the Astronomical Society of the Pacific. Wrap-Around Eclipse Shades Perfect for non-eyeglass wearers, these new Eclipse Shades solar glasses feature extra wide temples and shield above the nose bridge eliminating most ambient […]
Optical astronomy has always played an important role in exploration of the cosmos, even if it has faded in popularity with new detection methods like radio telescopes replacing it in recent decades. When it comes to the search for exoplanets, the visible spectrum is still incredibly important for a lot […]