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Posts Tagged 'astrophotography telescope'

Meade LX200 Sale until June 30th

April 15 2024, Jan Ströher

The LX200 series of telescopes are among the systems most widely used by experienced amateur astronomers. There is a good reason for this: The LX200 series combines coma-free ACF optics with a stable fork mount and modern electronics. The system is so compact that the smaller models are ideal for mobile astronomy and the larger instruments suit relatively small garden or club observatories.

In addition to the advantages of the telescopes themselves, the LX200 series offers other useful features: the primary mirror lock prevents image shift and holds focus during long exposure times. The high-quality worm gear on both axes ensures smooth running at all speeds. Thanks to SmartDrive, the periodic worm error is permanently corrected (PPEC).

From April 15th up to June 30th, 2024, the models of the Meade LX200 series can be purchased at a special price! While stocks last…

Black Weekend Sale: prices slashed on over 200 products. This weekend only!

November 24 2023, Anita Maier

Are you looking for a good bargain for Christmas? Then take advantage of our Black Weekend sales. Among these special offers there is something for every astronomer and every budget. Prices apply from Friday 24th until Monday 27th November 2023.

 

Top Deals of Black Weekend!

 

Binoculars:

Omegon Binocular Hunter 10×42

Save 70 Euros now!

 

Omegon wide-field binoculars for star field observing 2.1×42

Save 40 Euros now!

 

 

Omegon Nightstar 20+40×100 Doublet binoculars with interchangeable eyepieces

Save 300 Euros now!

 

Telescopes:

 

Omegon Telescope N 150/750 EQ-3

Save 70 Euros now!

 

Meade Telescope AC 90/900 Polaris EQ

Save 200 Euros now!

 

Skywatcher

Skywatcher Telescope N 200/1000 Explorer 200P EQ5

Save 150 Euros now!

The sale is for a limited time only and while supplies last, for each article!

Seize the opportunity to save and order your Christmas presents this weekend!

Meade LX85 & LX200 on special offer

July 26 2023, Jan Ströher

From 15 July up to and including 31 August 2023, we are offering the following models in the LX85 and LX200 series from Meade at special summer-saver prices:

N 200/800 Astrograph LX85 GoTo for €2,799 instead of €3,299

This Newtonian is a compact, very fast device (f/4.0 focal ratio) for high-resolution astrophotography with short exposure times. It is especially suitable for large emission nebulae and galaxies. Despite the fast focal ratio and its optimisation for photographic purposes, it is also a pleasure to use for visual purposes – especially for deep sky objects! The large focuser with 1:10 fine adjustment ensures a bright image field and precise focusing. The secondary mirror struts are kept extra thin to cause as little obstruction in the light path as possible, which results in better contrast. With a generous 83.2 millimetre of back focus, there is enough working distance for other accessories, such as a coma corrector or filter wheel. Astrophotography with this fast focal ratio will definitely require a good coma corrector to obtain sharp and point-shaped stars across the entire field of view. A coma corrector may not be necessary for this Newtonian when combined with smaller camera sensors or for purely visual use.

The scope of delivery includes an 8×50 finderscope, a 35mm extension tube (important for visual use), a 26mm Super Plössl eyepiece, as well as a fan to ensure faster cooling for the primary mirror.

The LX85 mount is designed with mobile astrophotography in mind. With its powerful servo motors and Meade Smart Drive technology, it follows the rotation of the night sky and keeps the telescope aligned with the selected object for long exposure times – without the need for a meridian flip!

Meade LX85 Newtonian 200/800

 

ACF- SC 203/2032 UHTC LX85 GoTo for €3,669 instead of €4,580

With its Schmidt-Cassegrain design, this telescope leaves nothing to be desired: SC telescopes are suitable for all applications. No matter whether you want to observe planets, distant nebulae, or galaxies, whether purely visually or also for photography: anything is possible with a SC telescope!

The compact optics ensure low leverage stress on the mount and mean that the telescope is easy to transport. Focussing is carried out internally and is so adjustable that, even with astrophotography accessories attached, focusing is not a problem.

The LX85 mount is particularly lightweight and therefore ideal for mobile use either in the garden or at an observation location under particularly dark skies, and the GoTo AudioStar control helps you to correctly align the telescope and it automatically tracks your chosen observation object. This makes it ideal for beginners! The LX85 mount can be used with most commercially available telescopes up to 15kg in weight.

We have significantly reduced the prices of the following models from the  Meade LX200 series :

ACF-SC 305/3000 12″ UHTC LX200 GoTo without tripod for €6,399 instead of €7,999

ACF-SC 254/2500 10″ UHTC LX200 GoTo for €5,279 instead of €6,619

ACF-SC 305/3000 12″ UHTC LX200 GoTo for €7,679 instead of €9,589

Meade ACF-SC 203/2000 8″ UHTC LX200 GoTo telescope

 

ACF-SC 203/2000 8″ UHTC LX200 GoTo for €5,119 instead of €6,419

ACF-SC 203/2000 UHTC LX200 GoTo without tripod for €4,479 instead of €5,590

ACF-SC 254/2500 UHTC LX200 GoTo without tripod for €5,269 instead of €6,190

The LX200 series of telescopes are among the systems most widely used by experienced amateur astronomers. There is a good reason for this: the LX200 series combines coma-free ACF optics with a stable fork mount and modern electronics. The system is so compact that the smaller models are ideal for mobile astronomy and the larger instruments suit relatively small garden or club observatories.

In addition to the advantages of the telescopes themselves, the LX200 series offers other useful features: the primary mirror lock prevents image shift and holds focus during long exposure times. The high-quality worm gear on both axes ensures smooth running at all speeds. Thanks to SmartDrive, the periodic worm error is permanently corrected (PPEC).

All models covered by this summer sale are available from stock! This promotion is valid until 31 August 2023 only while stocks last!

Tecnosky OWL – magnificent, sharp focusing apochromats

January 27 2022, Jan Ströher

A few years ago the Italian company, Tecnosky, started producing their new, own-brand triplet apochromats known as “OWL”. The first model in the series was the OWL 80/480 apochromat, which was released in spring 2021. The OWL 90/560 was hot on its heels, with the OWL 130/900 SLD soon following in autumn. Soon the range will be blessed with new 70mm and 125mm aperture models. All OWL telescopes are based on a triplet lens design with FPL53 fluoride glass. However, the soon-to-arrive 125mm OWL will be an ED doublet.

The OWL 90/560 triplet

These features, combined with fully multi-coated lenses, blackened lens edges and a lens hood on the tube guarantee Strehl ratios upwards of 0.95! An optical interferometric certificate is attached to every single OWL telescope. Every specimen, therefore, undergoes a detailed quality check before distribution.

Optical test report (certificate) for OWL devices

These compact apochromats are great devices for astrophotography and also offer first-class, pure-colour image quality and joy for observing. Tecnosky also supplies reducer-flatteners calculated to suit the optics for each model. This means that OWLs, with their aperture ratios of f/6 – f/7, are ideally suited to photography.

Aesthetically, these “owls” also make an impression – they are all manufactured from high quality materials, are multi-coated, elegantly manufactured and have a white, black and red colour scheme to complete their look.

OWL 80/480 with FPL53 fluoride glass

All OWL models come with compatible prism rails, pipe clamps, Vixen viewfinder shoe, carry handle and retractable dew shield. These are this apochromat’s main features alongside the rotatable focuser with 1:10 reduction and locking mechanism, as well as a sturdy carry case. All in all, you get a first-class telescope with numerous great features for a reasonable price for this size category. The OWL 70 and 125 models will be available in our shop from spring 2022.

Discover the Tecnosky OWL series and sharpen your view of the night sky – elegant design included!

The new RedCat 71 from William Optics

December 15 2021, Jan Ströher

The time-proven and much loved RedCat 51 by William Optics has a new big brother – the RedCat 71. The same Petzval design with corresponding high-quality optics using FPL53 and FPL51 optics. With its 71mm aperture, the new “Cat” is a lot more powerful than the RedCat 51. The result is a pure-colour, corrected image field with a diameter of over 45 millimetres – ideal even for full-frame cameras! The fast f/4.9 aperture ratio facilitates short exposure times. At 3kg, the 335mm-long RedCat 71 weighs only slightly more than its smaller brother.

Once again, focusing is helical, adjusted by turning a ring on the lens tube.

The telescope comes with a protective carry case, as well as a Bahtinov mask specially designed for the RedCat. This mask aids focusing and is permanently and precisely fitted in the lens adapter.

The RedCat 71 is also perfect for deep sky astrophotography and offers not only impressive optical performance, but also William Optics’ attractive trademark design.

The new RedCat 71

 

To use the RedCat 71 for astrophotography you need a mount with a load capacity of at least 7kg due to its weight. The new iOptron mounts CEM26 or GEM28 are ideally suited for this.

Reckon you will soon be a “Cat” fan?

Discover the new RedCat 71 and William Optics’ ”Cat” series.

Experience astrophotography with the Radian Raptor

November 3 2020, Jan Ströher

Under its own brand, Radian, the American telescope retailer OPT is now launching a high-performance, top-quality, and super-portable apochromat with triplet lens design, which has already created a great deal of enthusiastic anticipation among astrophotographers. The Radian Raptor is a light and compact photo machine which, with an aperture ratio of f/4.5, will, above all, ensure amazing deep sky images. With a shorter design and weighing just 1.8kg, the telescope can be attached to photographic tripods and travel mounts such as the Skywatcher Star Adventurer or the iOptron SkyGuide without any problem. This makes it a perfect travel companion that can be easily transported in the padded backpack supplied and fits in any hand luggage.

OPT has thought of everything you might need for successful astrophotography in this triplet apochromat:

A fast aperture ratio of f/4.5 allows short exposure times, ensuring that the Radian Raptor stands out as a fast wide-field device – ideal for images of emission nebulae, galaxies and star clusters.

The use of premium glass, coupled with multi-coated surfaces, results in this triplet apo’s colour-true, high-contrast and very sharp imaging capabilities. An already built-in corrector flattens the entire field of view, shows needle-sharp stars right up to the edges and so makes the use of full-frame sensors a pleasure. In addition, there is no need to purchase an additional flattener or reducer.

With a focal length of just 275mm, you have an ultra-compact telescope for extensive wide-field images: objects such as the Veil Nebula or the Horsehead Nebula in the constellation Orion fit completely into the field of view of a full-frame sensor. Here is an image of the California Nebula captured by the 61mm Radian Raptor:

A solid, rotatable 2.5″ rack and pinion focuser with a high load capacity and the 1:10 fine focusing ensure a stable connection to your camera and precise focusing. The hexagonal tube clamps have differently-threaded holes to attach various accessories and integrated cable channels in the clamps reduce cable clutter. Especially for astrophotography, other equipment such as guidescopes, dew heaters, control modules or remote controls are usually required in addition to the telescope itself. The Radian Raptor is designed by astrophotographers and takes all possible applications into account. The recommended back focus of 55mm can be achieved and precisely adjusted with the adapters included.

Another treat is the inclusion of two bars for attaching to your mount: a 4″ Vixen dovetail bar and a 6.5″ universal Losmandy bar with a correspondingly-wider surface area. Both bars also have threads to attach the Raptor to a photo mount. With these you have compatibility with all mounts/dovetail clamps.

Finally, you get a waterproof and padded backpack to safely store the Radian Raptor, which also offers space for a CMOS camera and other small items.

Experience a new chapter in astrophotography and optimise your equipment with the Radian Raptor**!

(**available from mid-November 2020 from us here at Astroshop!)

Now in stock: The Vaonis STELLINA smart telescope!

November 6 2019, Elias Erdnüß

Vaonis STELLINA: innovative control, top-quality design, high-tech

Observing the starry sky through a telescope is an unmatchable experience. However, observing some targets can be an anti-climax or even a disappointment: faint nebulae and galaxies are often only visible as shadowy undefined spots of light.

Beautiful details and colours are usually only possible with the help of astrophotography, where the light captured by the telescope is collected and accumulated over long periods of time, creating stunning images of these faint deep sky objects.

Astrophotography however is a hobby with an extremely steep learning curve. For a beginner it can be many months before the first beautiful picture is produced. Even after mastering the first steps in astrophotography, it takes many hours of processing the images before the nebula or galaxy is revealed in all its beauty.

The fully automatic STELLINA smart telescope from the French start-up company  Vaonis  promises to combine the advantages of astrophotography with the direct experience of live observing. This is done in as user-friendly a way as possible since the telescope has no eyepiece, but instead has an integrated camera. This means that images are continually being collected and processed. Using a smartphone or tablet you can watch live as, over the course of a few minutes, more and more details of the target become visible.

The control and operation of the telescope is revolutionary and simple. At the push of a button, STELLINA orients itself completely independently using visible stars. The desired observing target is then selected using a smartphone or tablet. The telescope travels to the correct location in the sky – that’s it!

M83, the Southern Pinwheel Galaxy – with STELLINA, details and colours are clearly visible in the spiral arms.

Of course we at Astroshop were also curious whether  STELLINA  actually keeps its promises. Luckily, we have already been able to test it. As a matter of fact, we have never seen a GoTo telescope that can be controlled so intuitively and easily without prior experience. Even after a short time, the resulting pictures show an incredible amount of detail compared to what is expected from a conventional telescope. Although the quality of the images is not quite comparable to those from a professional astrophotographer, (here an automatic process can’t yet replace the expert), the images are almost immediately visible, not only after hours of processing. Therefore STELLINA is perfect for shared observing with friends and acquaintances.

Until now this telescope was only available by pre-order. From now on  Vaonis STELLINA is in stock and directly available. The ideal high-end Christmas gift!

Tip: A guide for photographers on how to get started with simple astrophotography. Read also the article „A Beginners Guide to Astrophotography“ on the pixpa blog.