The leaves and prices are falling this autumn!
You can find our colorful selection of special offers here in the shop. Get them now!
The offer is valid from September 23rd to November 28th, 2024 and only while supplies last!
Posts Tagged 'astrophotography'
Blog Archives
Vaonis Vespera I now 10% off
February 21 2024, Jan Ströher
The first Vespera model from vaonis is now available for the special price of € 1349.-, so a 10% discount on the regular price. This offer is only valid for item #74053 and of course while supplies last! A smart telescope combines modern telescope technology and sensor technology in an easy-to-use system.
Vespera combines the following characteristics in a highly portable telescope:
Quadruplet Apochromatic Refractor: Vaonis has designed a unique quadruplet lens of 50mm, formed by 2 groups of 2 lenses made with lanthanum glass. Vespera optics is one of the most accurate and powerful optical designs on the market with minimal distorsion, chromatic aberration or astigmatism.
Highly sensitive Sony sensor: Vespera uses one the lastest Sony sensors developed for extreme low light. Its back-illuminated CMOS sensor offers a 1/2.8 format and a 2.9um pixel size. Vaonis also developed their own electronic card to make sure that heat management stays optimal. A hot sensor means a lot of defects, so the sensor board is designed to dissipate the maximum amount of heat.
Singularity App: Your guide to reach the stars. Singularity is your control room, the place where you decide everything. Very intuitive and user friendly, you can easily access any stellar object of our catalog. You will get personalized recommendations on what to observe according to your geolocation and the astronomical calendar, and notes about the secrets of the Cosmos. Singularity guides you each step of the way on your journey to reach the stars.
Get your own smart observation station now with the special offer price for the vaonis Vespera I!
GEM45 – save now in our clearance sale!
November 9 2023, Jan Ströher
From 1st to 30th November (inclusive) we are offering iOptron’s GEM45 mount in our clearance sale for amazing prices. This mount is available in four different versions: GEM45G GoTo LiteRoc, GEM45 GoTo LiteRoc with carry case, GEM45-EC GoTo LiteRoc and, the basic version, the GEM45 GoTo LiteRoc.
The iOptron GEM45 is the next generation equatorial mount ! Due to its functionality and technology, it is a first-class, medium-sized mount.
iOptron GEM45 with LiteRoc tripod
The GEM45 is not just a pretty face…
The mount has a compact design and an extremely good weight-to-load ratio – the 7 kilogram mount can precisely and securely carry a load of up to 20 kilograms! With its built-in electronic polarscope (iPolar) correctly aligning the mount (polar alignment) is child’s play – even if the Pole Star is not visible. Thanks to their large clamping levers, the gears can also be easily loosened or tightened even when wearing gloves. Internal cable management prevents tangled cables or cables being torn out. The universal self-centring mounting saddle takes both Losmandy-style and Vixen-style dovetail rails. The mount uses a reliable stepper motor drive system with low energy consumption and a database of over 212,000 objects. The integrated GPS, as well as the large hand controls with optional WiFi, provide additional comfort.
You can only secure this excellent mount, providing you with decades of fun and reliability, at this amazing price during our clearance sale!
This offer is only valid on qualifying items from 01/11/2023 to 30/11/2023 and as long as stocks last!
Unistellar smart telescopes now with a free solar filter and backpack!
October 17 2023, Jan Ströher
The manufacturer Unistellar is running a special promotion until 05 November, in which its eQuinox 2 and eVscope 2 smart telescopes are being offered with a free solar filter and backpack.
With every purchase of one of the two models, you will get a solar filter worth €249 and a matching backpack worth € 359 completely free!
eVscope 2 and eQuinox 2 on special offer
This promotion is only valid for the above-mentioned Unistellar models and finishes on 05 November 2023.
Omegon polarscope additional light for Omegon MiniTrack mounts as well as EQ5, LX85, AVX etc.
October 5 2023, Achim Mros
We all know the problem – the black lines and crosshairs on a polarscope reticle can be difficult or impossible to see at night. Like a “Chimney Sweep at Night against a Black Background” (a painting by the German comedian Karl Valentin).
With this high-quality Omegon polarscope light, such problems are a thing of the past. The dimmable lighting unit brightens the polarscope’s field of view slightly, so that the crosshair is visible once again in front of your chosen section of the night sky, without outshining important stars such as, in this case, Polaris.
The Omegon polarscope light is made of high-quality CNC-machined aluminium, so it is not yet another flimsy plastic part. They are produced in the EU, more precisely in Portugal, by NIMAX Portugal.
What is particularly interesting, however, is that this supplementary illumination has a variety of uses. It fits all Omegon MiniTrack LX and Quattro travel mounts with optical polar finderscopes.
Attached to an Omegon MiniTrack polarscope
This device can also be used with mounts that do not have an illuminated polar finderscope unit, for example:
Skywatcher EQ5
Meade LX85
Celestron AVX
MON 2
EXOS II
and with other equatorial mounts with an optical polar finderscope.
Omegon polarscope light on a Skywatcher EQ5 mount
Special autumn promotion on the iOptron CEM26!
October 1 2023, Jan Ströher
iOptron’s sophisticated and mechanically excellent centre-balanced equatorial mounts (CEM) provide a very precise foundation for (mobile) astrophotography and observation. We are now offering you a special promotion with attractive prices on models in the CEM26 series from iOptron from 01 to 31 October. The CEM26 is the lightest and most compact model in the range. They are very transportable but can still carry up to 12kg payload. As with the larger CEM mounts, the CEM26 features the perfect relationship between weight and payload. The key to this optimised ratio is the centre-balanced equatorial mount (CEM) design developed by iOptron, which directs the combined mount and payload weight to the centre of the tripod to create a natural centre of gravity. Building on the product expertise gained from previous CEM models, the CEM26 has additional features to ensure maximum convenience during use. It also includes an integrated Wi-Fi system, as well as permanent periodic error correction (PEC).
CEM26 from iOptron
In terms of functionality, the CEM26 delivers precise pointing and highly accurate tracking of selected objects, setting new standards for compact, medium-sized equatorial GoTo mounts. Equipped with the latest Go2Nova® technology, it is one of the most powerful and accurate GoTo mounts on the market today!
Secure your preferred version of the CEM26 as part of our autumn promotion – choose from three models: all are available for immediate delivery from stock!
CEM26 in a carrying case
This promotion is valid on the selected models from 01 to 31 October or as long as stocks last!
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!
Back in stock: the StarAid Revolution autoguider
June 26 2023, Stefan Taube
StarAid Revolution standalone autoguider
Now back in stock: the latest ‘C’ version of the StarAid Revolution autoguiding camera
The new ‘C’ version no longer needs a splitter as power supply and data transfer both take place using a USB-C port.
What does the StarAid Revolution camera offer?
StarAid enables you to use your mount’s guided automatic tracking without the need for an additional laptop or PC. This means you can take long exposures of fainter celestial objects! This is known as autoguiding.
With the StarAid Revolution, this is unbelievably easy – autoguiding starts automatically as soon as the camera is connected to a power supply. Point the telescope anywhere in the night sky and the StarAid will find multiple stars which can be used for autoguiding.
Use the StarAid app and built-in WiFi for further interesting possibilities:
- Very simple mount orientation
- Mount initialisation using plate solving
- Special object guiding for comets: Take long exposures of these fleeting objects!
StarAid Revolution works best with a guidescope with a short focal length between 100 and 150 millimetres, such as the UltraGuide MKII 32mm.
You can find additional information about the StarAid Revolution camera here in our shop.
Hold the stars in your hand – the new Vaonis Vespera!
October 18 2022, Elias Erdnüß
The impressive Vaonis Stellina arrived on the market 3 years ago. With its fully-automatic alignment, autofocus, live stacking and app-based controls, it more than deserves the title of smart telescope!
Now the Vaonis is upping the ante… The new Vespera is a miniature version of the tried and tested concept. With a weight of just 5kg, this new observing station is more compact and more mobile than its alternatives. The Vespera can be taken anywhere quickly and at the drop of a hat. As with the Stellina, alignment takes place automatically using plate solving. Select your desired object for observation from the singularity app – the telescope finds the target and starts imaging. Watch on your smartphone or tablet as the celestial object becomes clearer, more colourful and more contrast-rich, minute after minute, whilst the Vespera collects more and more light using live stacking.
The Vespera also provides even better value for money than its predecessor thanks to its reduced size! Yet its optics still meet the highest possible standards. The in-built 50/200 (f/4) quadruplet apochromat in combination with the modern Sony IMX462 sensor provide high-quality astronomical images. Share these with friends and family!
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.