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Astronomical Easter: Gift ideas for astronomy fans, large and small

March 23 2018, Marcus Schenk

You look for suitable gifts for stargazers? These gift ideas will most definitely be appreciated.

If you order by Sunday 25 March, we ship promptly and your delivery will arrive by Easter (only stock items)!

1. Omegon N 76/700 AZ-1 telescope
A mere photograph can never replace actually looking up into the night sky. The 76/700 AZ-1 Newtonian telescope lets you experience the starry night sky ‘live’ with your own eyes. This small entry-level telescope can provide both children and adults with their very first experience of observing the Moon and planets. This telescope is just itching to give you your first view of the Moon – and now for 69.90€ instead of 99.00€.
Or alternatively you can order our extensive starter set, which additionally includes a star map, book and Moon filter – all for 99€ instead of 129€.

2. Omegon Universe2go hand planetarium
Experience the stars without needing a star chart or book – and still learn everything. This has become possible with the Universe2go star viewer. Download the app, insert your smartphone and you’ll see constellations, planets and galaxies – with pictures and names are superimposed onto the field of view. And your personal astronomy guide will tell you everything worth knowing about the night sky. You don’t need the holodeck on the Starship Enterprise if you have Universe2go with Augmented Reality! Get yours now: Buy Universe2go now for only 49.90 Euros – with FREE shipping worldwide.

3. Panoramic poster of the Milky Way
The Milky Way in your own living room or in your child’s bedroom – this poster lets you enjoy a view of our Galaxy in a panoramic view that is 150cm across. The poster is printed on both sides – one side lets you float into the remote distance, letting the starry night sky take you over, while the other side shows the same photograph but with constellations and labels included – making this poster not only beautiful, but also educational. Now only 24,90 Euro.

4. Kala antique design pocket sundial
A perfect gift for astronomers – a pocket sundial designed to look like an antique. When batteries fail in other devices, this instrument continues working perfectly. You only need the Sun for telling the time. This pocket sundial also looks really classy, seeming to date from a time before electricity or computers. It tells the local time extremely accurately. Now only 39,90 Euro instead of 42 Euro.

5. Genuine NWA 7986 Moon meteorite
Why not give someone an actual piece of the Moon as a present? – surprise friends, acquaintances and relatives. You have the chance here of acquiring a real piece of Moon rock NWA 7986. Sample sizes vary between 7 and 14mg. This rock was ejected from the Moon by a meteoric impact and subsequently fell to Earth (the NWA in its name means North West Africa), or more precisely, fell in the Sahara. Only about 40kg of lunar meteorites exist in total worldwide and only 1/3 of these are commercially available. Only 12.2g of NWA 7986 exists! We guarantee the authenticity of this Moon rock. Now only 24,90 Euro.

6. Sky Publishing Pocket Sky Atlas
Small, handy and full of detail – the Pocket Sky Atlas. Perhaps you have already observed the usual astronomical objects and are looking something new? This atlas will help you locate it. It includes more than 30,000 stars down to mag 7.6 and 1,500 deep-sky objects, including 675 galaxies. This atlas lets you really extend your knowledge and experience of the night sky – for visual observing away from the usual ‘run-of-the-mill’ objects. Now only 26,90 Euro.

7. GeoSafari motorised Solar System orrery
How does the Solar System actually work? Why do the inner planets orbit faster than the outer ones? This motorised solar system orrery will show children exactly how the planets move around the Sun. And what is really special is that, in no time at all, you can turn the model into a small planetarium that projects constellations onto the ceiling. Now only 38,00 Euro.

8. Könitz astronomy knowledge mug
Astronomy, physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics and many other subjects – Könitz ceramic ‘knowledge mugs’ from Germany combine fun with scientific facts. The lovingly and classically designed collection of facts combined with the large capacity of these mugs make them very popular with scientists and anyone interested in science. Now only 16,90 Euro.

9. Sega Toys Homestar Pro original home planetarium
See 60,000 glittering stars from the night sky on your ceiling – imagine that you could observe the night sky while sitting comfortably on the couch. The Homestar high-resolution 3 Watt LED home planetarium turns this dream into reality – it simulates the rotation of the night sky and faithfully reproduces how it appears over the course of a year. Two interchangeable projection discs are included that show the fixed stars of the night sky in the northern hemisphere as we see them in real life. Now only 119,00 Euro.

10. Daye Turner BETEIGEUSE men’s analogue silver watch – with dark brown leather strap
BETEIGEUSE in the ‘Love Planetary’ wristwatch collection is a classic design that harmoniously melds form and function. This multi-function watch is not only captivating with its dynamic and sporty look, but is also flexible and modern in its functionality. Men’s wristwatches from DAYE/TURNER have been lovingly developed in Germany with great attention to detail. The minimalist dial has its own specially developed typeface which defines the style of this brand. Now only 149,00 Euro.

If you order by Sunday 25 March, we ship promptly and your delivery will arrive by Easter (only stock items)!

Tags: Planetarium, universe2go, telescope, pocket sundial, moon rock, Sky Atlas, Solar System, Watch, Poster, mug, Omegon
Posted in Sale »

The new Atik Horizon is finally available!

March 20 2018, Elias Erdnüß

The new highly promising astronomy camera Horizon by Atik will be available very soon. This actively-cooled CMOS camera – available as a colour and mono version – comes with Infinity Live Stacking software, offering an easy introduction to astrophotography. At the same time, this high-performance camera has all the functions that experienced amateur astronomers could wish for. If you would like to take the bold step of taking up the fascinating hobby of astrophotography, with this camera, you have a product that will offer features that go way beyond beginner level.

The 16-megapixel CMOS MN34230 sensor by Panasonic is used. With an active chip diagonal of 22 mm, the sensor surface area is comparable with that of the popular APS-C format on SRL cameras. This large sensor, with a much high pixel density, is a great benefit compared with the well-loved Atik Infinity that comes under the same price category. The extremely low noise level of modern CMOS chips in conjunction with active cooling make the Horizon ideal for deep-sky photography.

If you have already gained experience in astrophotography with an SRL camera , the Atik Horizon is perfect for the leap to a specialist camera. The active cooling reduces not only sensor noise dramatically, it means that a stable sensor temperature can be obtained. You no longer have to shorten the valuable observation time just to take a few dark frames for image calibration. Thanks to the cooling, you can maintain the same sensor temperature throughout the day, thus collecting valuable dark frames for hours on end.

This camera is, however, not suitable for planet shots – for example, with a lucky imaging process – because you can only take around one image per second. If you are looking for a high-quality planet camera with which you can take lots of images per second, you need look no further than the models by ToupTek or The Imaging Source.

The company, Atik Cameras Limited, has made a name for itself in recent years with its high-quality CCD astronomy cameras. With this first step to rapidly improving CMOS sensor technology, a camera is being offered that should be considered by both beginners and professionals.

Tags: Atik, camera, Telescope Accessories
Posted in New Products »

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.

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

Tags: Dobson, Explore Scientific, telescope
Posted in New Products »

Infographic: Astronomy Highlights in Spring 2018

March 5 2018, Marcus Schenk

Many observers are tempted outside again when temperatures start getting milder. The night sky shows us a completely different aspect in Spring. But what is there to observe? What is there worth looking at?

Here is the astronomical calendar for the next three months – The new astronomical ‘Highlights in the Spring Night Sky’ infographic shows you at a glance what is happening in the night sky during the months of March, April and May.

March

03.05. Venus near Mercury

Venus greets us as the Evening Star again this month. We find it at dusk, deep on the western horizon. But another planet can also be seen in the first days of March – Mercury. This nimble planet keeps Venus company and is an opportunity for us to marvel at the two innermost planets.

11:03 Moon near Saturn

Most observers like to use the evening hours for observing the night sky. But anyone who does not get up early this month will miss a special show – The three planets Saturn, Mars and Jupiter all shining in the early morning sky. The Moon nears the gloriously ringed planet on the 11th of March, getting to only about 1.5°away. Observers will have a fantastic sight thanks to the waning crescent Moon.

11.03 Moon at apogee

The moon does not orbit the Earth in an exactly circular orbit, but rather in an ellipse. This means that in the course of a month it can reach a particularly close or an especially distant position. At 403,000 kilometres away, the Moon is smaller today than usual, with an apparent diameter in the night sky of about 29″.

15.03 Mercury at greatest western elongation

Mercury is the fastest orbiting planet in our solar system. But we do not often get an opportunity to observe it well as it always stays close to the Sun. On the 15th it will be at 18.4°away – its greatest angular distance to the Earth. It can be observed at a comfortable height above the horizon between 18:45 and 19:30.

18.03 A meeting of the Moon, Mercury and Venus

Mercury and Venus are now striking objects in the evening sky. And, on March 18th, an extremely delicate and only 1.6% illuminated crescent Moon joins them. An optimal opportunity for taking an atmospheric photograph at dusk.

26.03 Moon near the Earth

While the Moon was at apogee on March 11, it now reaches perigee – its nearest distance to Earth. And, at a distance of 366,000 kilometres, it also appears a bit larger.

29.03. Venus near Uranus

Both Venus and Uranus in the field of view? Few have probably seen this before. But today it is really possible. Then the two planets are only 42 arcminutes apart. Near enough together to observe both of them together in a 2″ wide-angle eyepiece.

April

02.04. Mars near to Saturn

Mars is the ‘star‘ of 2018. It is slowly preparing for its big show – its opposition in June. By now it is as bright as the brightest stars in the sky. We can find it on the left above the ‘teapot’ in the constellation of Sagittarius. The Red Planet meets with Saturn at the beginning of the month – on April 2 they are about 1° away from each other.

03.04 Moon near Jupiter

Jupiter competes with Venus with a brightness of -2.39 magnitude. Jupiter is one of the most striking objects in the sky even if it does not quite match Venus. The Moon is only at 5° away from it today.

16:04 Mars near Albaldah

It’s always nice to see two bright astronomical objects close to each other. Such alignments in the night sky are noticeable because they are particularly unusual. On April 16, Mars and the star Albaldah make such an alignment.

This star is occasionally occulted by a planet due to its location very close to the ecliptic – this will next occur on 17 February 2035 at 16:32 CET, when Venus will occult Albaldah. But this will not be visible from Central Europe as Venus is below the horizon by then.

24.04 Moon near Regulus

The Moon passes close to the star Regulus today. We can observe this tonight as the Moon approaches and then recedes from Leo’s brightest star. Regulus and the Moon are separated by 42 arcminutes at 21:00. At 23:00, they approach within 14 arcminutes, but an hour later the separation has increased again to 27 arcminutes.

22.04 Lyrids meteor shower

The Lyrids are a meteor shower, which reaches maximum at only 10 to 20 meteors per hour on the 21^st of April. But the optimal observing time is between 22:00 and 4:00 in the morning, when they can be observed undisturbed by the Moon. The shower’s radiant lies in the constellation of Lyra.

29.04. Mercury – greatest western elongation

Mercury orbits fast, whizzing around the Sun in just 88 days. At the beginning of the month it was at greatest western elongation to the Sun, which gave us a good evening visibility. At the end of the month it will reach its greatest eastern elongation. In such cases, Mercury can be seen in the morning sky. Due to the shallow inclination to the ecliptic, Mercury remains near the Sun and is not visible at dawn.

May

02.05. Venus near Aldebaran

Two bright objects shine at dusk close to the western horizon – Venus and Aldebaran. The red giant is 150 times brighter than the sun. At a distance of 67 light-years however it only reaches an apparent brightness of 0.85 magnitude as seen from the Earth. Even so, it is one of the brightest stars in the night sky. It makes a beautiful sight together with Venus.

05./06.05. Eta Aquarids meteor shower

We see again a meteor shower in the second half of the night. The Eta Aquarids appear to originate from the constellation of Aquarius and describe long, bright trails in the night sky. However, the Eta Aquarids do not ‘wake up’ until around 3 o’clock, which puts them only just above the horizon in Central Europe. There is still the chance of catching some bright meteors even so. The average rate is between 20 and 60 meteors per hour.

06.05. Moon near Mars

Another highlight in the early morning sky is a close encounter between the Moon and Mars. The two are separated by just 3° this evening. The 69% illuminated Moon first appears over the southeast horizon at about 1:30. The planet Saturn can already be seen by then to the right and above. The red planet follows the Moon about half an hour later, at 2:00. They can be observed almost exactly in the south until sunrise. A beautiful sight – The constellation of Sagittarius framed by three celestial bodies in the solar system.

09.05 Jupiter at opposition

When evening comes, the largest of all planets peeks over the horizon. Jupiter is today at opposition to the Sun. That means the Earth is exactly between Jupiter and the Sun. The gas giant can now be seen all night, reaching its maximum brightness and appearing particularly large – an optimal chance to admire it with binoculars or a telescope. Jupiter reaches its highest altitude shortly after 1:00 AM and crosses the meridian. The already low-lying planet is best observed now.

17.05. Moon near Venus

A delicate crescent moon and a radiant Venus at dusk – you can observe this beautiful event on 17 May. Today, the Moon moves past the Earth’s sister at only 5° away.

25.05. ‘Golden Handle’ on the Moon

Astronomy in the early evening! The ‘Golden Handle’ can be seen on the Moon tonight. Appearing like a ‘handle of light’, it ‘breaks out’ of the dark part of the Moon just beyond the terminator. The Sun is already illuminating the peaks of the Montes Jura surrounding the Sinus Iridum crater when this is still in the dark – visible between 16:30 and 20 o’clock.

27.05. Moon near Jupiter

The Moon is near to Jupiter this evening. It approaches to within just over 2.5° at 21:30. It is a meeting of two beacons – the Moon and Jupiter are now the brightest objects in the sky.

PDF here

Tags: Infographic
Posted in Observations »

The Imaging Source presents new astro cameras: The Signature Series.

March 2 2018, Elias Erdnüß

We are now introducing the new Signature Series by the camera manufacturer, The Imaging Source. For over 20 years, this company has been making professional cameras, mainly for industrial applications. The company’s products are, however, readily used in medical and scientific fields. The cameras meet above-average quality standards.

In 2007, The Imaging Source designed a series of cameras specifically for astronomy applications for the first time. The manufacturer quickly became well-known and popular among amateur astronomers and astro-photographers because the cameras it produced were of excellent quality while being affordable.

In recent years, the brand became quiet in the field of astronomy. Other manufacturers came to the fore and every year new products, due to the rapid and continuous improvement in the digital camera technologies, put older models in the shade. The Imaging Source continued to diligently make astro cameras: The well-known NexImage and Skyris models of the Celestron brand are being made by way of a collaboration between these two companies.

Now, The Imaging Source is, however, finally presenting its own series of astro cameras once more! The Signature Series features outstanding robustness, which is not surprising from a manufacturer that regularly has to meet the high standards of industrial customers. The series is also equipped with state-of-the-art CMOS sensor technology. The old wisdom that you can only use CCD sensors for astronomy has not held for a long time: CMOS sensors now feature low noise and very high sensitivity, so that leading manufacturers are no longer producing CCD chips any more. In the Signature Series, the latest Pregius and STARVIS CMOS chips by Sony have been incorporated.

The cameras are wonderfully suited to planet shots. They deliver high-resolution, uncompressed, low-noise images at high frame rates. This is ideal for lucky imaging techniques to show every planet detail that is caught by your telescope. These cameras are not, however, primarily designed for taking photographs of very faint galaxies and nebulae: Depending on the model, maximum exposure times of only a few seconds are possible.

The range of models in the Signature Series is very extensive, with almost 60 models. This means you buy exactly the camera that is suited to your own needs. It is, however, challenging to keep an overview.

You should know the following:

Each camera is available in three versions: DMK, DBK and DFK. DMK models are monochromatic cameras. Since they do not need Bayer filters (to capture colour information), they are most sensitive to light. The DBK and DFK models are colour cameras. They do, however, have the same structure, including an infra-red filter in DFK cameras. The built-in CMOS sensors are also sensitive to invisible infra-red radiation, but this can be filtered out if necessary. Many amateur astronomers want an infra-red-sensitive camera, however. If this is what you want, too, DBK cameras are right for you.

Furthermore, there are different connections on each model for data transfer: The 33U cameras can be connected to your computer via a USB 3.0 and the 38U cameras can be connected via USB 3.1. For all USB cameras, a USB cable can be used for the power supply. The 33G cameras have a Gigabit Ethernet (GigE) interface. This is particularly widespread in professional image processing applications. For GiGE cameras, you also need an additional power supply, and the power pack required for this is included.

The built-in CMOS chip can be seen on the model description. This determines, for example, the resolution and frame rate of the camera.

The following table can help you to find the right camera:

If you are interested in a recently developed and high-quality planet camera, the Signature Series should be on your shortlist.

Tags: The Imaging Source, camera, Telescope Accessories
Posted in New Products »

Sale: 20% off almost all Omegon eyepieces

March 1 2018, Marcus Schenk

Do you long for a fantastic new eyepiece? Or, do you happen to know exactly, what you are looking for? Then check this out! Get your hands on our Omegon eyepieces at a lower price – and save 20%.

There is something for everybody: Do you want to use the lens to observe planets? Or something larger – 2″ eyepiece with a 70° or 82° field of view?

The selection is huge! Save 20% on all eyepieces from the series Cronus , Flatfield, Flatfield ED , LE Planetary, Oberon , Ortho , Plössl, Recticle , Redline , Super Plössl , SWA, UWA , Zoom and on all Omegon eyepiece-sets.

It is a great time to act! With a new and better eyepiece, you can enjoy more contrast, details or even a larger field of view!

If you are still missing that special accessory, get your hands on your favorite lens and best order today!

The offer is valid until 30.06.2018.

Tags: Omegon, Telescope Accessories, Eyepiece
Posted in Sale »

50% Discount: Universe2go now only 49.90 Euro

March 1 2018, Marcus Schenk

A must-have in any astronomy household: The Augmented-Reality Planetarium Universe2go has never been so affordable!

The smart AR goggles show you and explains the night sky – all without hours of hovering over star charts and books. Simply download the Universe2go app, place your smartphone in the goggles and off you go! Universe2go shows you constellations, the Moon, planets, and even nebulae, accompanied by more than 3 hours of audio commentary. Sky & Telescope magazine was so convinced, that Universe2go received the prestigious award, Hot Product 2017.

Now is your chance to save 50% on the original price of Universe2go. Buy your Universe2go star viewer for 49.90 Euros instead of 99.00 Euros. You save more than 49 Euros.

Get yours now: Buy Universe2go now for only 49.90 Euros – with FREE shipping worldwide.

Would you like more information about Universe2go? Then read these fascinating blog posts:

5 Reasons, why Universe2go is Totally Different than Other Astronomy Apps

Tags: Omegon, universe2go
Posted in Sale »

Touptek: Which camera is right for me? How to find out – at a glance.

February 23 2018, Marcus Schenk

Imagine the following situation: You’re looking for the right camera.

The amateur astronomer stares desperately at the hundreds of cameras on the screen. The technical data gives him a headache. Gradually he loses sight of the big picture. Which camera should he buy then? He does not want to search for ever; he just wants to take beautiful photos.

In this post, you will find two aids that will make it easier for you to quickly find the right ToupTek camera for your needs.

1. A graphic that will give you an overview

The range of cameras is constantly increasing. How can you keep track of them?

Sensor size, pixel size and resolution are just a few of the key features. And you have to compare all the cameras with each other.

But the question is: Are they suitable for planets, deep sky or only for guidance?

Isn’t there an easier way to find out? Yes, we have wondered that, too; and have found the solution for ToupTek cameras. Here is the result: A graphic for a quick overview that also offers additional information. This saves you from having to constantly click all over the place. What can you see in this graphic?

Sensor size: At a glance, you can see the sensor size of ten different cameras. The frame sizes are matched accordingly.

Article numbers: Above every sensor, there is an article number in addition to the camera name. If you are interested in a camera, you can enter the number directly into the search function in the shop.

Coloured squares: Within the frame, you can see three small coloured boxes and/or a black and white box. It is actually self-explanatory: The boxes indicate whether the camera is available in a colour and/or in a monochrome version.

Number under the sensor: the sensor name is indicated, as IMX178 or AR0130, for example.

Pixel size (micron) and frames per second (fps): The cameras have been plotted on an X/Y graph. You will be able to see immediately whether a camera has small or large pixels, and whether the number of images recorded per second is very low or very high. Sensor size, pixel size and fps: These are all important pieces of information to help you decide which camera is right for your needs.

Planetary, focal length, guiding: Three coloured bars on the edge indicate for which purpose or telescope the camera is best suited. The more colourful the bar, the better suited for the respective area. These bars will tell you immediately which cameras are suitable for you.

Example: A high frame rate is suitable for planetary images, while a very large chip is not particularly well suited for just guiding. Chip size and pixel size will give you a clue about the appropriate focal length of the telescope.

2. How do I distinguish between different sensor sizes?

The sensor sizes of Touptek cameras range from 4.8 mm x 3.6 mm up to the large 20 MP sensor which measure 13 mm x 8.7 mm.

For planet images and guiding, smaller sensors are sufficient; for large moon shots or extended deep sky hosts, there should be more field.

A presentation of the various sizes is difficult, but it is important before making a purchase. That is why we have also created a graphic for you here and projected it on an image of the Galaxy NGC247.

The various frames with product numbers are marked clearly. Much better than an explanation could do, for example, you can see how much bigger the ToupTek EP3CMOS camera20000Kpa Deep Sky Color is than the ToupTek GPCMOS1200KMB Mono Guider.

With these two graphics, you’ll be on the safe side before you make your purchase and without many hours of searching. The best thing to do is take a look at the product pages of modern ToupTek cameras.

Tags: camera, Telescope Accessories, toupTek
Posted in New Products »

“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

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:

the relatively small mount Bresser EXOS-2
and the heavy mount, Losmandy G-11

Stargate Dobsons by Skywatcher

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

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

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

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.

Tags: Orion, Explore Scientific, Hot Product, Losmandy, Lunatico, telescope, Telescope Accessories, Mount, Skywatcher
Posted in New Products »

Telescope bundles: These telescopes will turn you into a “professional” astronomer

January 26 2018, Marcus Schenk

New astrographs and RC optics come as complete telescopes with mounts by Skywatcher and iOptron. Both manufacturers are known for their sturdy mounts that are loved by astrophotographers. Important principle: Having the right equipment is essential for quickly becoming successful in astrophotography. With these telescopes, you’ll be able to achieve that.

You, of course, also need practice: But with this equipment, your frustration will turn to a passion for the stars. Discover the new combinations with which you’ll shine at the next telescope meeting.

Our experienced astronomy experts have put together a telescope collection and combined both tube types with appropriate mounts. The benefit: Now, you can simply select your telescope in the shop without having to worry about getting the right mount.

There is a wide selection available: They range from small, transportable optics to large observatory telescopes. And you have everything together: They are so sturdy that they make astrophotography simply fun.

Omegon astrographs in 8 different versions

In the “Pro Astrograph” category, you can choose from four different astrographs with a diameter of 154 mm, 203 mm, 254 mm or 304mm. All optics have a super-fast f/4 aperture. This means: These Newton telescopes are fast. Short exposure times and large fields of view at reasonable prices are the main strengths of these optics.

There are eight different full telescopes to choose from, which means two different mounts per tube size.

Omegon RC telescopes in 11 different versions

Among the Omegon RC optics you can choose from six different tubes: three full tubes measuring 154 mm to 254 mm, and three-truss, wire-mesh tubes measuring 304 mm, 355 mm and 406 mm. This means we have the right telescope size for all astrographs.

You can, for example, use the smallest RC telescope with an EQ-6R Pro mount by Skywatcher. An ultra-sturdy combination that can also take other accessories. Or treat yourself finally to your dream observatory with a 16” truss RC on a 10-micron mount. By the way: We would also be glad to plan your entire observatory.

These telescopes look great, but are also a dream for all astrophotographers. For it’s possible to take better astrophotos with these “photo instruments”. Finally, it is no wonder that almost all professional observatories use RC telescopes.

Why not set up an astrophotography master in your own garden? Order now, or if you have any further questions: simply give us a call.

Tags: Omegon, telescope
Posted in New Products »