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Now available for a special price: Skywatcher 120mm EvoStar on EQ-3 mount

February 13 2017, Stefan Taube

For years this has been one of the most popular beginners telescopes: the AC 120/1000 EvoStar EQ-3 from Skywatcher. As of today, you can buy this telescope for a price of only EUR 489 instead of the previous EUR 599. You save EUR 110!

A tried-and-tested beginners telescope:

One reason for the popularity of this telescope surely is its classic form. This slim refracting telescope with a focal length of 1000 mm perfectly meets the idea you might have of a telescope. But it does not only look elegant; its power or capacity is also something worth mentioning. With its aperture of 120 mm this achromatic refractor already is one of the bigger telescopes of this design variant. With an aperture ratio of f/8.3 the colour errors have been corrected quite well. As a refractor it offers a particularly high contrast, which has a positive effect when looking at planets. Moreover, with the aperture of 120 mm numerous DeepSky objects, like the Ring Nebula and the far away Globular Cluster M13, are also visible.

EvoStarA solid base that can be retrofitted with motors:

The mount is a further development of the EQ-3. It provides a solid base for medium size optics and is most suitable for taking a stroll across the night sky.

If the equatorial mount is aligned with the North Star before starting a stargazing session, all that is left to do is to track one single axis – the right ascension axis, also referred to as hour axis – to keep the celestial object visible within the eyepiece. On telescopes with basic equipment this tracking is done by hand. However, you can, at any time, retrofit a battery-powered motor for the right ascension axis. RA drive motor for EQ-3-2 mounts.

If you would like to have both axes of the mount motorised, you should choose the EQ-3-2 motor set RA and DEC.

With such a motorised tracking system you can use this telescope to get started with astrophotography. The new EQ-3-2 motor set RA and DEC with ST4 even allows you to connect an autoguider – an advanced piece of technology in astrophotography.

The extremely robust and well-established telescope AC 120/1000 EvoStar EQ-3 can also be adapted to meet your requirements – and this even at a later date, after you have become familiar with the basics.

The portable telescope comes with complete basic equipment, which allows you to start immediately. The equipment includes 2 eyepieces and a relatively big finder scope with an aperture of 50 mm. Just unpack it, take it outside into your garden and start!

This offer remains valid as long as stock lasts – buy now!

 

Omegon APO 104/650 ED: these astrophotos show the beauty of space

January 30 2017, Marcus Schenk

We frequently receive beautiful photos of celestial objects from our customers. They are eager to show us, what they were able to achieve with their equipment. Very often we are over the moon, when we recognise the love of detail and the energy these astrophotographers have invested in these pictures.
Today we would like to present some very delightful astrophotos. The astrophotographer and filmmaker Sebastian Voltmer shows us beautiful impressions of space. These were taken, amongst others, with a Sony a7s and an ST-2000XM camera. The telescope used was a premium telescope: the Omegon apochromat 104/650 ED with field flattener.

Der 104/650 ED-Apo von Omegon
The Heart Nebula IC1805

The name of this nebula refers to its special shape: a red heart in the night sky. You find this nebula between the constellations Cassiopeia, Perseus and Giraffe. The heart is located approx. 4° east of the star ε Cas. An open star cluster, which illuminates the nebula, is embedded in the middle of the emission nebula.

ic1805_omegonapo

The Dumbbell Nebula M27

The Dumbbell Nebula M27 in the Vulpecula constellation is the second brightest planetary nebula and thus a beacon in the starry sky. The originator of this nebula at a distance of approx. 1400 light years is a white dwarf, a star that has reached the end of its life.

M27

Pacman Nebula NGC 281

The names of some nebulae clearly demonstrate that astronomers have a vivid imagination. NGC 281 is also known under the name Pacman Nebula. If you still can remember the time of the Commodore 64 etc., you will surely also remember the computer game. And this nebula with its dark clouds starkly resembles Pac-Man. The nebula is 9500 light years away from us and contains the twin star Barnhard 1. With a strong telescope, we can discover its four companions.

ngc281_omegonapo

Crescent Nebula NGC 6888

Crescent: a half-moon in the form of a nebula. NGC 6888 is also known under the name Sickle Nebula. It is located right in the middle of the Swan constellation, at a distance of approx. 2.5° from the central Swan star, Sadr. Despite its prominent position in summer, the Crescent Nebula is not easy to see because of its small size of 18×13’ and its brightness of 10 mag. Scientists assume that the nebula has been ejected by a Wolf-Rayet star in the later stages of its life. For successful observation you need a crystal clear sky and an OIII-Filter.

ngc6888_omegonapo
Solar flare

The picture gives you an impression of the size of a solar flare in comparison to Earth. This solar flare that appeared on the 15th of August 2016 had a length of approximately 13 Earths lined up.

prominence_2016-08-15_earth

Celestron Astro Fi: beginner telescopes with App

January 16 2017, Stefan Taube

It all started with the NexStar Evolution: Celestron had this telescope series equipped with WIFI. This enables you to connect your tablet or smartphone with the telescope. This not only gives you the opportunity to control your telescope without cables, you can also utilize all functionalities of the free-of-charge App Celestron SkyPortal: Your display screen uses an appealing planetarium view to show the current view of the sky and provides you with a lot of background information. The most popular objects are available as images and even an Auto-Guide (in English).

Celestron now offers this technology also for reasonable starter telescopes. At present this series Astro Fi consists of four different instruments:

Newton telescope N 130/650 AZ GoTo Astro Fi 130

Refractor N 90/910 AZ GoTo Astro Fi 90

Maksutov telescope MC 102/1325 AZ GoTo Astro Fi 102

Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope SC 127/1250 AZ GoTo Astro Fi 5

astro-fi-5

Our tip: The Astro Fi telescope with SC optics.

The model Astro Fi 5 mentioned last is particularly interesting. With its aperture of 5 inches it is already relatively fast. However, the telescope is very compact and thus only has a minor leverage effect on the tripod. The closed tube protects the main mirror against contamination. Moreover, SC optics show a high adjustment stability. Despite their compact design and the high focal length, SC optics are highly suitable for taking photos of moon and planets – a well suited camera is the NexImage 5.

As already described before, all four Astro Fi telescopes generate a WIFI for the control via the SkyPortal App. In contrast to the NexStar Evolution, Celestron delivers the Astro Fi without an additional manual control box.

Just like the bigger Celestron telescopes, the Astro Fi also come with the SkyAlign technology. This is a particularly simple technique for aligning the computer control to the actual night sky and your station. At the beginning of your stargazing session you must align the telescope to three bright celestial objects, that is all. The telescope uses the angles between the objects and the GPS-data from the smartphone or tablet to calculate the actual view of the sky. After this short procedure you can automatically approach any object that the SkyPortal-App shows you. All you must do, just touch the object on the touchscreen.

The special feature of this SkyAlign method is the fact that you even don’t need to know the names of the three bright objects you use for initializing the control. For beginners this is a great help, but it is also a useful feature for experienced stargazers, because at dawn the number of visible stars is often too low to assign the correct names.

The Astro Fi telescopes are equipped with a battery compartment. However, the best power supply method surely is the LiFePO4 powerpack from Celestron.

Celestron Inspire: New ideas for starter telescopes!

October 17 2016, Stefan Taube

My first telescope was a small, 60 millimetre refractor on a very wobbly azimuthal mount with a wooden tripod. Even though it was only a very simple piece of equipment, I had fun with it right from the beginning. I can still remember the fascination when looking at the Orion nebula for the first time. Even today I gladly use this simple achromatic telescope to watch sunspots – obviously through a solar filter!

However, such reasonable starter telescopes do not have to be wobbly! Telescope manufacturer Celestron shows that even budget-priced refractors on azimuthal mounts can feature exquisite product design. The new Inspire series features a few really innovative improvements.

Inspire

This starts with a solid steel tripod. The accessory plate, which also stabilizes the tripod, no longer needs to be unscrewed after a star gazing session (the screw required for this purpose will sooner or later be lost in the grass anyway). Just simply open the interlock instead and fold down the tripod including the accessory plate. It has never been more convenient to set up or disassemble a tripod!

Apart from this, the clamping screws for the extendable tripod legs point inwards to make sure that you will not accidentally get entangled with your trousers.

Stativ InspireFurther features of the Inspire series:

  • The newly developed red dot finder comes with target circles instead of an annoying centre mark.
  • The Amici prism ensures an upright image, so that daytime nature observations are also possible.
  • The focusing screws of the focuser are big and have a good grip to allow the use of gloves.
  • The dust protection lid for the eyepiece also serves as a smartphone adapter. All eyepieces included in the scope of delivery can be clamped into this lid, just like the smartphone. This allows you to use your smartphone to take magnified photos of the Moon and planets through the eyepieces.
  • The mount is equipped with an integrated red light lamp. The diffuse light of this lamp illuminates the accessories plate without dazzling the eyes. However, you can easily pull the lamp out of the mount to use it as a pocket torch.

Currently, Celestron offers three models of the Inspire series

Each of these three models is far better than my first telescope, but I still had a lot of fun with it!

 

Omegon apochromatic telescope 102 mm and 127 mm Triplet: The “People’s Apo” has been improved

October 10 2016, Marcus Schenk

Whoever looks through an apo for the first time is usually thrilled. Twin stars, star clusters or planets: for these objects, an apo – without any doubt – takes the pole position. The two best-sellers from Omegon are the 102 mm and the 127mm Triplet apos – part of our product range since 2010! Now they have been revised and considerably improved. And best of all: The price has not been changed.

Just learn what has been changed to make this equipment more impressive than ever for amateur astronomers:

1. Adjustable lens cell

In the past telescopes were obviously adjusted, but any re-adjustment was very difficult. At least, you really needed to know what you were doing. This has now changed! We have developed a completely new and temperature compensating lens cell, which makes adjusting as simple as riding a bike – okay, maybe almost as simple. Four adjustment and fixing screws help you to adjust the eyepiece. This is easily done with an open end spanner, using the North Star as a reference.

triplet-blog

2. Finder base

The finder base with double-T profile was swapped for a standard Vixen-style base. You can now mount almost any finderscope or LED finder. This gives you more freedom of choice, because in the past only a few models fitted correctly.

3. Suitable for binocular attachments

Not everybody uses them, even though they really elicit a WOW-effect during observation. Binoculars allow you to watch with two eyes and give you plastic impressions. They are particularly fantastic for watching the Moon and planets. For problem-free use of a binocular the tube has been slightly shortened to provide more focusing space for the connection. Now you can use a binocular with diagonal mirror.

4. Reinforced prism rail

During the constant assembly and disassembly of a telescope, the prism rail suffers a lot. The screws of the mount repeatedly dig into the soft aluminium and leave scratches and sometimes even deep notches. We have now reinforced the prism rail of your apo with a stainless steel plate, so that it can still be used for many years to come. Scratches and deep notches are a thing of the past.

5. Retractable dew-shield

The dew-shield is now extendable and retractable and no longer attached.

By the way: Each apo now comes with a measurement protocol as a standard. Furthermore, we check the adjustment of each telescope and include a test image of the adjustment. But did you know, that, on request, we will also check your telescope on our optical bench? From the star test in autocollimation up to the interferometric test.

 

Telescope configurator with new telescopes: 6 steps to your dream telescope

August 15 2016, Marcus Schenk

Optics, mounts and accessories: For two years you have been able to use the Astroshop.de telescope configurator to custom compile your own telescope, and now we have considerably extended the configurator’s functions. You can now choose from 12 different telescopes and adapt the telescope to even better serve your needs.

as-omegon-konfigurator-en

In the past, you have had to content yourself with the telescopes on offer. Why not switch things up and make buying a telescope a more personalised experience? This is what we at Astroshop.de thought, too, when we designed the configurator. We started with two Newton telescopes.

Now, the Advanced Telescope Series offers a full range of new reflectors and refractors:

Would you like to give it a try and take a look at the telescopes? This way to the telescopes!

How to start telescope selection

It’s fun to play with the configurator. What might my telescope look like? Which mounts and accessories are important to me? Do I prefer a simple or a more sophisticated eyepiece?

Simply click on this link and start configuring your dream telescope by first choosing the optics. The overview shows all available optics including basic prices. Step by step, you now make your way to mounts, focusers, eight different finderscopes, eyepieces and other accessories.

When it comes to accessories, you may even skip individual steps; for example, if you already have good eyepieces. This means that you are almost entirely free in your selection.
And the best part is: You can activate or deactivate your selection with a tick on the right. You can see in real-time how the prices change in the top right corner. This way, you not only choose each individual telescope component, but you also have full control over pricing.

Protection against unsuitable combinations

One of the most important prerequisites: the tubus needs to match the mount. How quickly do you accidentally place too large an optics on too small a mount. Using a 6” refractor, for example, on a small EQ-300 mount would be an unstable and shaky affair, as if you were using a telescope on a sailing ship in heavy seas. To avoid this, not every tubus can be combined with every mount. In this case you won’t see a tick but a cross next to the item.

No matter whether you’re a beginner or an advanced stargazer: For hobby astronomers, the telescope configurator is an alternative to the finished telescope sets. It simply gives you more control when purchasing your telescope.

Why not give it a try: configure your telescope now.

The AZ Pro mount from iOptron: GoTo made easy!

July 11 2016, Stefan Taube

iOptron simply calls it “level and go”, and refers to the very simple routine for aligning the AZ Pro mount in the sky. With this latest innovation, viewing the sky with a computer controlled mount is almost as spontaneously possible as it is with a Dobsonian telescope: No need to exert yourself by going through an arduous procedure, until you can finally start observing!

iOptron Mount AZ Pro GoTo

iOptron Mount AZ Pro GoTo

Just place the AZ Pro mount down horizontally – the integrated spirit level helps you to do so – and switch it on. With the integrated GPS and the sensors, the mount will automatically recognize date, time, location and orientation. Just give the computer approximately two minutes, the mount will then move to a bright object in the sky. Then centre the object in your eyepiece. There is even no need to know the name of the object, a fact that is particularly convenient in twilight. It goes to show how quickly and simply the mount is to align to the sky! You can now choose your observation targets from a huge database, to be sought out by the mount.

With its compact form, the retractable counter weight bar and the stable aluminium housing the AZ Pro mount from iOptron is an ideal travel mount. With the integrated GPS, the “level and go” routine can be executed at any point around the globe. The mount comes with an installed lithium-ion powerpack, suitable for 10 hours running. No need to take another power supply with you, which reduces any additional cable chaos.

Another positive aspect is the smooth and quiet running of the stepper motors. Your neighbours will be grateful!

The AZ Pro has admittedly been optimized for mobile use, but is still a high quality mount, able to carry large aperture telescopes for visual observation. For photographic purposes this mount can be used for moon and planet photography.

In the field of portable, azimuthal GoTo-mounts the AZ Pro from iOptron currently meets the highest standard.

Now available: Stargate Dobsonian with 508 millimetre mirror!

June 20 2016, Stefan Taube

With Dobsonian telescopes its the size that matters! These telescopes serve the sole purpose of observation and not photography. The size of the light gathering mirror surface therefore is the decisive criterion. Dobsonian Telescopes from Skywatcher have been very popular for years. The Stargate series from Skywatcher stands for giant Dobsonians with light tube in metal truss tube design.

Telescopes with a high WOW factor!

The first model of this series was the Stargate-450P-Dobsonian, which we can currently offer for €4599.-. You save € 400.- compared with the recommended retail price!

Skywatcher Dobson telescope N 458/1900 StarGate-450P DOB

Skywatcher Dobson telescope N 458/1900 StarGate-450P DOB

New to this series is the currently added GoTo variant Stargate-450P with ynscan and its big brother: The Stargate-500P with Synscana GoTo telescope with an 0.5 meter primary mirror! In order to be able to fully utilize this big opening, you should be mobile: Two stargazers will be able to conveniently transport and assemble this giant sky eye quickly under a dark sky.

Make use of the night!

The Synscan GoTo system helps you to quickly focus on the desired object without having to search for a long time. For this purpose you can choose from more than 42,000 sky objects in the extensive Synscan database! The motors not only move to the object, they also keep it in the eyepiece. Neither of the two  Stargate series Synscan models needs to be manually guided to follow the rotation of the sky.

“Freedom-Find”-Dual-Encoder

The possibility to move quickly from one object to the next and to make large panning movements in the sky is one of the major attractions of all Dobsonian telescopes. This is also no problem with the motorized Stargate models: Simply decouple the motor from the mount with a twist and you will be able tow slew the mount by hand: This is soundless, quick and prolongs the lifetime of the powerpack. Due to the installed Encoders the alignment will not be lost by such a manual movement. Even if you have moved the telescope by hand, the integrated computer will still know to which object the mirror had been aligned.

With the Stargate series Skywatcher offers portable Dobsonian telescopes in a new dimension. Use Stargate to enter into new galaxies!

Meade ETX: The camping telescope!

May 23 2016, Stefan Taube

The series ETX from Meade offers very compact travel telescopes with state-of-the-art technology. These are telescopes you would like to have with you on any journey. Especially during camping holidays we experience dark night skies, unknown to us from home. Wouldn’t is then be nice to have a small telescope with high-quality optics in your luggage?

Meade Maksutov telescope MC 90/1250 ETX-90 Observer AZ/EQ GoTo

Meade Maksutov telescope MC 90/1250 ETX-90 Observer AZ/EQ GoTo

The ETX telescopes are carried by a strong equatorial fork mount and are equipped with a modern computer control (GoTo), which makes the objects of the night sky also available for beginners. Electric power is provided by the integrated battery compartment.

The latest model of this series is the ETX-90: With its true colour representation at large focal lengths this compact reflector telescope is highly suitable for viewing the moon, the planets and also nature. With its 90 millimetre opening it is relatively big for a compact travel telescope and thus luminously strong enough to show you bright DeepSky objects.

For this instrument the handbox not only contains the GoTo control, but also the new AudioStar from Meade. AudioStar speaks to you in English through the integrated speakers and informs you about anything worth knowing with respect to the most popular celestial objects.

For even better transport of the ETX-90 the tube can be lifted out of the fork. The ETX-90 comes with a sturdy tripod with steel tube legs. The tripod can be conveniently transported in the attached bag.

If you are looking for an even more portable and reasonable telescope should decide on the model ETX-80. The telescope even fits into a transport bag. Since the ETX-80 is a refractor, there is no shading caused by a secondary mirror. With respect to its luminous intensity it is almost as good as the Maksutov. However, the colour-related fault and the small focal length of the refractor considerably impair the fun when watching moon and planets. For this reason and also because of its better tripod the ETX-90 is is far superior and really worth its money!