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Stefan Taube

Stefan Taube

Posts composed by Stefan Taube

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The new Gran Turismo 81 Apochromatic Refractor by William Optics

August 24 2018, Stefan Taube

William Optics, the specialist for high-quality lens telescopes, is bringing a very interesting “photo machine” to the market with the Gran Turismo GT 81. This refractor features a travel telescope forma-factor, so it’s still easy to handle – a real dream for astrophotographers!

The GT 81 is fitted with a three-element lens that ensures high colour correction and ultra-sharp depiction. In addition to the usual high-quality workmanship of William Optics, the equipment of this apochromatic refractor is worth looking at: A high-quality eyepiece holder, pre-mounted guide scope rings and a prism rail. A special highlight is the patented focus mask that is also included in the scope of delivery.

We are offering a matching guidescope and a field flattener with this telescope. With the Gran Turismo 81 by William Optics, you’ll be receiving a high-quality piece of optical equipment for life-long fun with astrophotography!

New: Star Discovery telescopes by Skywatcher with a smartphone app

June 25 2018, Stefan Taube

An increasing number of telescopes can be controlled with a smartphone. The advantages are obvious: Smartphones offer, with their colour display, touchscreen and GPS mobile, more possibilities and are more intuitive to operate than a classic hand-held controller. The app can be kept constantly up-to-date and the telescope can be controlled wirelessly.

So, the manufacturer, Skywatcher, now offers its azimutal one-arm mount, Star Discovery, without a hand-held controller only. Instead, a Wi-Fi module is included, with which the smartphone can be linked. The telescope can then be controlled with the free SynScan app.

At the moment, Skywatcher is offering the Star Discovery mount with two telescope optics. We can recommend in particular the Star Discovery P1 50i:

Star Discovery P1 50i

The 150/750-Newton optic of this telescope has proven to be valuable for beginners and can be used in many variants. With a mirror diameter of 150 mm, objects from the Deep Sky guide can be viewed, but it is also a pleasure to observe the Moon and the planets with this telescope! Thanks to the relatively small focal length of 750 mm, the telescope is still very compact and transportable.

Those who prefer to observe with a classic telescopic lens should get hold of a Star Discovery 90i. Thanks to its deep eyepiece, it is especially suitable for children.

Both optics can be removed from the mount by way of a handy screw to they can be transported. The Star Discovery has a classic prism rail connector thanks to which almost any small telescope optic weighing up to five kilogrammes can be secured. The mount is also an attractive option if you already have a telescope.

Take another look in the App Store for the SynScan app. You can get the right telescope from us.

New mount from Skywatcher: EQM-35 Pro SynScan GoTo

May 16 2018, Stefan Taube

Many amateur astronomers started their hobby with the EQ-3 by Skywatcher. There’s one reason: The mount is excellent value for money and easy to transport. It can be used as an equatorial mount with motorised tracking for astrophotography and offers the functionality of larger mounts with its SynScan control.

Skywatcher has developed the EQ-3 mount further. We would like present to you the new EQM-35 Pro SynScan GoTo!

 

Die neue Montierung von Skywatcher: EQM-35 Pro

Combine the EQM-35 Pro with a 6-inch telescope. The much-loved Newton optics N 150/750 is very suitable. You will receive this telescope with an improved eyepiece holder: N 150/750 PDS Explorer BD. It has a gear reduction that is useful for astrophotography. If you are interested mainly in photography, the new apochromatic refractor EvoStar 72 ED would be a great choice!

The special highlight of the EQM-35 Pro is the removal declination axis. This way you can use it as a photo mount , with a camera and lens taking the place of the telescope. The EQM-35 Pro then tracks the sky’s rotation, allowing long-exposure shots of larger constellations.

Die EQM-35 als Fotomontierung

With the new EQM-35 Pro, you’ll be getting a versatile and very light mount on a sturdy steel tube tripod. A very good choice for taking up astronomy as a hobby without breaking the bank and a good travel mount for experienced astrophotographers.

Value for money set: Celestron CPC 800 telescope with StarSense AutoAlign

April 27 2018, Stefan Taube

We are currently offering you a valuable set, comprising a CPC 800 telescope and the StarSense AutoAlign module. You save €345.00 compared to buying all the items individually!

Celestron CPC 800 mit StarSense

The telescopes in the CPC series are modern classics! The American developer, Celestron, offers Schmidt Cassegrain optics with this series in a very sturdy azimuthal bracket mount. This compact system is great for when you’re on the move. If you want to drive to a dark sky, you can load this robust CPC into any small car and set it up quickly and easily at your observation site. The NexStar computer control will help you to adjust to interesting celestial objects at night. There are hardly any other telescope systems that will allow you to use your precious observation time so effectively as the CPC by Celestron.

Before you can use the NexStar control, you must first of all initiate your computer. This means you must tell the computer where the telescope is, enter the date and time, and orient it to the starry sky. The CPC telescopes shorten this procedure, too: The built-in GPS tells the NexStar control the location, date and time, and thanks to the SkyAlign technology, you don’t have to already know the stars for initialisation. It’s enough to adjust to three bright celestial objects of your choice in the telescope.

But it gets even easier: With the StarSense AutoAlign module, this last procedure isn’t necessary. Switch on the telescope and just wait for a short while. The telescope will initialise fully within three minutes and be available for you to start your observation session.

The StarSense AutoAlign module is suitable for GoTo telescopes by Celestron. There is also a special version for Skywatcher mounts.

You can now get the CPC 800 with StarSense AutoAlign at a great price!

Celestron CPC Teleskope

The telescopes in the CPC series come with an 8 to 11-inch aperture (200 to 279 mm). With your compact SC optics, these are real all-rounders, and are especially suitable for observing and photographing the moon and planets.

New Skywatcher Apochromatic Refractor: EvoStar ED 72 DS Pro

March 29 2018, Stefan Taube

The telescopic lens tubes in the EvoStar series by Skywatcher have been greatly appreciated telescopes for years for both beginners and advanced users.

With the EvoStar 72, the Skywatcher now offers a dual-lens ED apochromatic refractor at a good price: You can purchase the EvoStar 72 ED DS Pro OTA for just €349.00!

EvoStar 72
The very decently priced EvoStar 72, thanks to its short design, is the ideal instrument for travel, but more than that, it’s great for constellation astrophotography. You only need a small parallactic mount with a load capacity of 5 kg.

The apochromatic refractor has a double lens made from particularly tough ED glass. High-quality glass by Schott is used for the crown glass element. Every glass-air surface of this optical item is fitted with a metallic anti-reflective coat to achieve high maximum light transmission of 99.5 %! The optical construction of this apochromatic refractor considerably reduces chromatic aberrations and creates a much sharper image!

The apochromatic refractor comes with a carry case and a sensitive eyepiece holder with 1:11 reduction. For visual observation, you will also need a zenith mirror and eyepieces. You can find these in the “Recommended accessories” section for EvoStar 72.

We will be pleased to advise you personally!

New Explore Scientific Dobson with 20-inch mirror!

March 6 2018, Stefan Taube

With the Ultra Light series, Explore Scientific is offering telescopes with the Dobson construction that can be taken apart easily for transportation. This means you can travel to dark observation sites with Dobson telescopes. For an unimpeded look into the night sky!

The latest model in the series has a 20-inch mirror: Dobson N 500/1800 Ultra Light telescope.

ES-500-UL

It’s no longer quite so ultra-light. There needs to be two of you to set it up at the observation site. But apart from that, it can be taken apart into practical parts just like the smaller models.

Other features of the Dobson N 500/1800 Ultra Light Hexafoc telescope:

  • Truss tubes made from solid aluminium: Very high level of stiffness
  • Main and secondary mirrors made from quartz with a test certificate
  • Low viewing height of just 1.63 m at the zenith
  • The main mirror can be adjusted from the top, and hence, during observation
  • Very transportable thanks to the small packaging dimensions
  • Large 2.5-inch eyepiece holder with 1:10 fine adjustment
  • Large powder-coated adjustment wheels for wobble-free tracking

The telescope is made in Hungary and Germany

“Hot Product 2018” by Sky & Telescope

February 9 2018, Stefan Taube

At the beginning of each new year, the magazine Sky & Telescope features interesting product developments. The criteria are innovation, an elegant solution to a typical problem, or the particularly high quality of a product.

We would like to present from this long list of “Hot Products 2018” those that we also considered to be particularly noteworthy:

 

Explore Scientific GoTo control PMC-8 with WIFi

ES-PMC-8

The company, Explore Scientific, has developed a control system that, in conjunction with the app, ExploreStars, enables wireless control of astronomical mounts via a smartphone, tablet or other mobile device. You will receive this control system in combination with two tried and tested mounts with completely different load-bearing capacity, namely:

 

Stargate Dobsons by Skywatcher

Stargate-Dobson

For the purists who would rather invest in optics than in electronics, the Skywatcher Dobsonian N 458/1900 StarGate-450P telescope is a dream! The Dobsonian telescope with truss tube, mirrors and a lightweight construction collects a great deal of light, but despite its size, it is still relatively easy to transport.

Sky&Telescope awarded both motorized Stargate versions with GoTo control:

They are equipped with the tried and tested SynScan control system, which helps you to find celestial objects and then automatically guides the telescope.

Mini Star Adventurer by Skywatcher

Mini Star Adventurer

Camera mounts have taken a positive development in recent years. Thanks to the high demand for this very immediate method of astrophotography, manufacturers are always coming up with new innovations. Sky & Telescope awarded the Mini Star Adventurer by Skywatcher. This mount also creates its own WIFI, so it can be controlled via the app. This eliminates the need for a manual control box; control is done wirelessly – and thus vibration-free – and the clear graphic user interface can be used for adjusting your mobile device.

Things that make the life of astronomers easier and lovelier

Orion Astrolampe

The many smaller things on which Sky & Telescope has bestowed the Hot Product Award 2018, include the Astro Lamp by Orion, which, of course, can also be operated with glare-free red light. The editors of the magazine also like:

  • Diagonal mirror with TwistTight fixation for 1,25″ and 2″ connector diameter, also by Orion. This special fixation centres the accessory, keeps it secure, won’t scratch, and can be screwed in place while wearing gloves.
  • The “bible” for one of the most powerful astrophotography programs Inside PixInsight by Springer Verlag. The book is available in English, and is very popular. The book is published in the Practical Astronomy
  • Sky & Telescope has also awarded its own Globes. At least for the Pluto Globe, this is most justified. The globe shows the spectacular view of the dwarf planet, Pluto, as the New Horizons spacecraft revealed in 2015.

Mount and accessories for observatories

Paramount Taurus

We can help you with advice and support for your observatory project. This also includes the high-end products by Software Bisque. So, we are pleased that Sky & telescope has awarded the recently developed bracket mountings, Paramount Taurus.

The Spanish company, Lunático, is making a useful accessory for observatories. Its remote control, Dragonfly, has made it to the list of Hot Products 2018.

Every year, it is interesting to see what products the well-known magazine, Sky & telescope, will award – and we are pleased that every year, these award-winning products are already part of our offer.

New in January: Taurus-Dobsons, APOs by Vixen, solar telescopes by DayStar, Atik Horizon cameras and a high-end mount by iOptron

January 12 2018, Stefan Taube

This year, too, we would like to present a small selection of items to you every month that we have recently included in the range:

  1. Taurus Dobson N 304/1500 T300 telescope

Taurus T300

Telescopes by Taurus have recently been added to our shop. The Dobson T300 with a 12-inch aperture is the first model that we would like to present to you. Other models will follow in coming days. The  Dobson T300 telescope has a wire-mesh tube, which means it’s easy to transport and can be set up without tools in just a few minutes. The entire system weighs just 15.9 kg, and the heaviest part weighs only 9.6 kg.

Unlike what you can see in the picture, the telescope does not come with a finder or an eyepiece. It does, however, come with a scattered light protector. It also comes with a high-quality 2” Crayford eyepiece holder with support.

The Dobson telescopes by Taurus are developed and made in Poland. We are pleased to be able to offer these telescopes to you now!

 

  1. Vixen AP 81/625 SD81S apochromatic refractor

Vixen SD81S

For those who prefer to take photographs, instead of exploring the night sky with their eyes alone, should make use of an apochromatic lens. The Japanese manufacture, Vixen, is offering three new models that have different lens diameters: SD81S, SD103S and SD115S.

The recently designed lens element with FPL-53 glass reduces chromatic aberrations to such an extent that they are barely detectable, ensuring an extremely clear and sharp picture! These three APOs are ideal for photography with DSLR cameras with full-format sensors.

 

  1. DayStar ST 60/930 SolarScout Carbon H-Alpha chromosphere solar telescope

DayStar SolarScout 60

The American company, DayStar, specialises in instruments for observing the sun. With the SolarScout 60, DayStar is adding another solar telescope to its SolarScout series. The telescope has an integrated QUARK H-Alpha filter.

When you buy this telescope, you are getting a finely tuned system that comprises optics, etalon filter and helical focusing with which you can enjoy observing and photographing the sun in H-Alpha light without risk!

Thanks to the light carbon tube, you can place SolarScout telescopes on a small mount. The integrated solar finder will help you to effortlessly and safely align the optics with the sun.

 

  1. Atik Horizon mono camera

Atik Horizon

This is the first camera by Atik with a CMOS sensor – the future of sensor technology. In this case, it is a 16-megapixel Panasonic MN34230. The small pixel size of 3.8 µm means high resolution and makes the camera interesting for short focal length apochromatic lenses and photo lenses. The integrated cooling system brings the camera down to 40° C below the ambient temperature. With the quiet electronics and the USB 3.0 port, the Atik Horizon is ideal for shots of weak nebulae with long exposure times.

Like the Atik Infinity, the Atik Horizon is also ideal for live stacking. This significant trend ensures more fun doing astrophotography and publicity work at observatories.

You will, of course, receive both an Atik Horizon and a colour camera. This colour variant saves you from having to use colour filters.

 

  1. iOptron CEM120 GoTo mount

iOptron CEM120

We have had good experience with the mounts by iOptron in recent years. They are long-established in the USA, and are now becoming more popular across the pond. iOptron is now putting a mount on the market that features a load capacity of over 50 kg for observatories: The CEM120 GoTo mount.

The design is reminiscent of the tried and tested CEM60 GoTo that has a load-bearing capacity of half that. The polar wedge of both mounts is supported in the centre of gravity, thereby achieving a high level of stability with low weight.

For those who are planning a garden observatory or a new acquisition for a club observatory, the CEM120 GoTo should be seriously considered. Speak to us, and we’ll be happy to advise you!

MEADE telescopes with a discount of up to 29%!

December 19 2017, Stefan Taube

We are now offering a large selection of MEADE telescopes at an extra special price!

LightBridge Dobson

LightBridge-12-Zoll

With Dobson telescopes in the LightBridge series, the grid tube structure became really popular. Thanks to the grid structure, the tube can be taken apart, i.e. you can take the telescope to a dark sky and set it up there. The main mirror in Dobson telescopes is, however, not exposed, and so it’s protected from dew.

Our offer:

 

Bracket mounting SC telescopes: LX90 and LX200

LX200-10-Zoll

MEADE is more well-known for its SC telescopes than for its Dobson models. The Schmidt-Cassegrain optics make it possible to have a very short tube with a high focal length. In combination with the bracket mounting, these optics offer astonishingly compact and sturdy full systems. The LX200 mount is fitted with computer control (GoTo).

The SC optics was further developed by MEADE: ACF stands for Advanced Coma Free – This means that you get pinpoint star images up to the edge of the field of view.

Our offer:

  • ACF-SC 254/2540 10″ UHTC LX90 GoTo currently at €2,550.00. You save €830.00.
  • ACF-SC 203/2000 8″ UHTC LX200 GoTo currently at €2,815.00. You save €735.00.
  • ACF-SC 254/2500 10″ UHTC LX200 GoTo currently at €4,009.00. You save €890.00.

 

LightSwitch: Telescopes with in-built astronomers

LS-8

Do you need a little bit more assistance? The telescopes in the LightSwitch series not only have GoTo control to find the stars, they carry out the necessary initialisation fully automatically at the start of the observation: You don’t have to enter the station, date or time; nor do you have to align the telescope to the stars in the sky. And there’s even more good news: LightSwitch telescopes have audio controls (in English).

Our offer:

  • ACF-SC 152/1524 LightSwitch 6 GoTo currently at €1798.00. You save €452.00.
  • ACF-SC 203/2000 LightSwitch 8 GoTo currently at €2120.00. You save €770.00.

 

Starlook LX600: Telescopes with autoguiders

LX600-12

The idea of equipping a telescope with a fixed camera for control reached its peak with the LX600 series. The camera is integrated into the telescope tube optics, with which the telescope remains very precisely oriented towards an object. This process, called autoguiding, is important for astrophotography.

Our offer:

  • ACF-SC 254/2032 Starlock LX600 currently at €5,609.00. You save €981.00.
  • ACF-SC 355/2845 Starlock LX600 currently at €9,120.00. You save €2080.00.

Both LX600 telescopes are assembled azimuthal. With the polar wedge they can, however, be set up parallactically for astrophotography too, with long exposure times. This wedge is also suitable for LX200 telescopes.

This offer remains while stock lasts – order now!

By the way: We don’t just do good deals; we offer the entire MEADE range, including an extensive array of accessories.

Good value set offer: Meade N 150/750 LX70 telescope

December 19 2017, Stefan Taube

The telescopes in the LX70 series by Meade have proven over many years to be good models for beginners. The basic set offered by Meade includes telescopes without motors and without pole finders.

So, we have put together a set that contains all these accessories: The Meade N 150/750 LX70 telescope set for only €699.00.

You save €279.00  compared with if you had bought all the items individually!

Meade_LX70

For this set, we opted for the Newton telescope with a 150-millimetre aperture, because we think that these optics make the ideal combination with this mount.

The LX70 telescope with Maksutov optics is over the budget of many beginners. The refractor has a very deep eyepiece for the LX70 mount. The Newton telescope with a 200-millimetre aperture  is a little heavy for the LX70 and has a relatively large leverage effect.

The N 150/750 LX70 telescope, however, is a well-matched system at a decent price! You can very easily use a camera for photographing the moon and the planets on this system. We are pleased to be able to offer the telescope as an entire package with really useful accessories at a very good price at the moment!