ATT Volume 16 Issue 4

ASTRONOMY

TECHNOLOGY TODAY Your Complete Guide to Astronomical Equipment

BUDGET ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY • VIXEN SLV EYEPIECES THE AVALON M-ZERO SINGLE-ARM MOUNT

THE SKY-WATCHER USA EVOLUX 82ED REFRACTOR

Volume 16 • Issue 4 $6.00 US

Omne Trium Perfectum

Paramount MX+ 45 kg / 100 lb $10,195

Paramount ME II 109 kg / 240 lb $17,595

Paramount MYT 23 kg / 50 lb $7,295

Mount capacities exclude counterweights Paramount ME II large dovetail sold separately

You deserve the best, right now. And, if not now, when?

Paramount™ robotic telescope systems combine precision mechanics, advanced control-system electronics, and TheSky™ Imaging edition to achieve unmatched performance, reliability, and productivity.

Its included TPoint™ telescope modeling software provides professional pointing accuracy while its ProTrack™ assisted tracking ensures pinpoint stars with long exposures.

Whether you choose the portable MYT, the transportable MX+, or the legendary observatory-class ME II, make a Paramount the foundation of your digital imaging pursuits.

And thanks to our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, we can typically deliver the model you want without the long wait.

Make a Paramount yours today.

Superior imaging solutions for astronomy and space applications. © 2022 Software Bisque, Inc. All rights reserved. Bisque.com

Contents

Cover Article - Page 57

ASTRONOMY

Our cover article features Dr. James Dire’s review of Sky-Watcher USA’s newly introduced Evolux 82 ED Refractor. The background astro image was taken with telescope and is of Markarian’s Chain.

In This Issue 57

THE SKY-WATCHER USA EVOLUX 82ED REFRACTOR I had a lot of fun imaging with this telescope, it is well made, has a great focuser and is easy to use.

by Dr. James R. Dire

71

BUDGET ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY Overall astrophotography doesn’t have to break the bank. There are ways to do it cheaply. The main thing is to go out and give it a shot with whatever you got!

by Paul Temple

TECHNOLOGY TODAY Your Complete Guide to Astronomical Equipment

Industry News/New Products 12 IOPTRON HEM27 and HEM27EC Mounts

BUDGET ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY • VIXEN SLV EYEPIECES THE AVALON M-ZERO SINGLE-ARM MOUNT

THE SKY-WATCHER USA EVOLUX 82ED REFRACTOR

In This Issue

16 BERLEBACH Recent Tripod Releases 18 ZWO ASI533MM Pro

Volume 16 • Issue 4 $6.00 US

20 NPAE Ruby Eyepiece Turret 20 EXPLORE SCIENTIFIC ReflexSight Non-Magnifying Finder

22 ORION EON 90mm ED Triplet 24 CELESTRON StarSense Explorer Dobsonians

79

VIXEN SLV EYEPIECES High quality, flat field eyepieces.

by Erik Wilcox

93

THE AVALON M-ZERO SINGLE-ARM MOUNT The Avalon M-Zero is a multipurpose mount, a veritable Swiss Army knife…

by Mark Zaslove

28 ASKAR FRA300 Pro Astrograph and Universal Dovetail Rails 32 PEGASUS ASTRO NYX-101 Harmonic Gear Mount

Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

3

Contributing Writers James Dire has an M.S. degree in physics from the University of Central Florida and M.A. and Ph.D. degrees from The Johns Hopkins University, both in planetary science. He has been a professor of physics astronomy at several colleges and universities. He is the president of Methodist College in Peoria, Illinois. He has played a key role in several observatory projects including the Powell Observatory in Louisburg, KS, which houses a 30-inch (0.75-m) Newtonian; the Naval Academy observatory with an 8-inch (0.20-m) Alvin Clark refractor; and he built the Coast Guard Academy Astronomical Observatory in Stonington, CT, which houses a 20-inch (0.51-m) Ritchey Chrétien Cassegrain.

Contents

Industry News/New Products 34 AGEMA OPTICS Super Doublet Agema SD-180

36 IMPPG Image Post Processing Software 38 WAITE RESEARCH 20" F/3.0 Telescope Mirror

Stuart Parkerson has been the publisher of Astronomy Technology Today since its inception in 2006. While working primarily in the background of the company’s magazine and website business operations, he has recently taken a more active role in contributing content covering industry news and other company centric topics.

Paul Temple is a pastor and operates the Temple Research Observatory (TRO) and website – www.templeresearchobservatory.com. Paul has been a speaker for the American Association of Variable Star Observers and has presented papers at Mid-America Regional Astrophysics Conference, AAVSO Conferences and a Poster at the Kepler Science Conference among other activities.

Erik Wilcox lives off the grid on the Big Island of Hawaii and has been observing for over 25 years. When he’s not viewing from his dark backyard skies, he spends time hiking, kayaking, snorkeling and playing music.

Mark Zaslove is a two-time Emmy Award winner and recipient of the coveted Humanitas Prize. Mark is a born-again astro noobie, who once had an Optical Craftsman scope as a kid, and is now recapturing his youthful enthusiasm (with a digital twist) and having a lovely time doing it.

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Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

40 VERNONSCOPE Dakin Barlows and 2" Gold Coated Diagonal 42 ATIK Apx26 CMOS Cameras

44 PLAYER ONE ASTRONOMY Saturn SQR Cameras 48 IOPTRON 8x50 Right-Angle Correct Image Finder Scope

48 APM New 8 x 56 MS ED Binoculars 50 RIGEL SYSTEMS wifi-Aline Collimation Tool

Spend less time annoyed and more time imaging.

And enjoy the now included Gaia Star Catalog.

Have you ever blown an entire evening trying to get one or more of your imaging devices to work?

If you have, you’re not alone.

Our new imaging edition of TheSky™ can help you become more productive by letting you control all your imaging devices with a single amazing software application, and from one very reliable software developer.

TheSky Imaging edition provides world class 64-bit device control, including cameras, mounts, focusers, filter wheels, autoguiders, and rotators, all right out of the box.

You'll enjoy lightning-fast renderings of the sky with amazing detail based on your preferences.

Point to your object and start imaging.

With its integrated TPoint™ telescope modeling, you’ll spend less time hunting and more time imaging. You can now polar align your telescope without needing any pole stars, which is great when relatively small patches of sky are visible.

TPoint also detects and compensates for any flexure in your telescope. And its extreme pointing accuracy is legendary — and unrivaled.

Available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, you can migrate operating systems without losing TheSky’s familiar look and feel.1 If you already own TheSky software, you might be eligible for a discount with a current subscription.2 Spend more time imaging with TheSky Imaging edition.

1

Access all OS versions with our $149 Multi-OS and Six-License Module.

2 Upgrade accommodations vary, please visit Bisque.com for details.

Superior imaging solutions for astronomy and space applications. © 2022 Software Bisque, Inc. All rights reserved. Bisque.com

Plug in your equipment, power up, and start imaging.

For $1,895, allow TheSky Fusion™ to change your life.

Losing a precious clear night of observing is incredibly frustrating, especially when it’s due to something as benign as an operating system update. Faulty updates can render imaging systems inoperable and require hours of often exasperating troubleshooting to recover.

Introducing TheSky Fusion, a more dependable imaging system.

Its computer integrates equipment control software, but not just any software: it’s TheSky™ Imaging edition.

That means you’ll enjoy superior planetarium functionality; extensive camera, focuser, and additional device support; and unequaled TPoint™ telescope modeling capabilities — all in a single application from a single company.

(For details, please see preceding ad.)

TheSky Fusion’s Linux-based operating system provides exceptional stability with more up-time, night after night.

Without knowing it, you may already use Linuxbased embedded systems (think cars, smart televisions, and microwave ovens). As with these devices, you don’t have to learn Linux in order to operate TheSky Fusion.

TheSky Fusion lets you wirelessly operate your entire imaging system from just about any Wi-Fi enabled computer equipped with a Web browser. That includes most tablets, smartphones, laptops, and desktops.

Since TheSky Fusion performs most of the heavy lifting, even older machines should be up to the task of advanced astronomical imaging.

Speedy performance comes from multi-threaded software architecture that takes full advantage of TheSky Fusion’s powerful 64-bit, six-core CPU and hardwareaccelerated graphics.

TheSky Fusion includes 200 GB of storage for your astrophotos, which can be conveniently transferred to another computer or the cloud wirelessly, or through its high-speed USB or Ethernet port.

Instead of needing a power supply for each of your devices, TheSky Fusion powers them all. Eight durable Anderson Powerpole® connectors provide the voltages your equipment needs, using inexpensive, off-the-shelf power-supply cables. TheSky Fusion is also equipped with four expandable high-speed USB 3.0 ports.

To minimize setup time and ensure optimal mount performance, the integrated GPS determines your location and maintains accurate time.

And, its status display even keeps you in the loop during imaging runs.

Make your clear skies more productive with TheSky Fusion. You deserve it!

Superior imaging solutions for astronomy and space applications. © Software Bisque, Inc. All rights reserved. Bisque.com

The Supporting

CAST

The Companies And Organizations That Have Made Our Magazine Possible!

We wish to thank our advertisers without whom this magazine would not be possible.

When making a decision on your next purchase, we encourage you to consider these advertisers’ commitment to you by underwriting this issue of Astronomy Technology Today.

AAVSO www.aavso.org page 30, 31

Explore Scientific www.explorescientificusa.com Page 80, 81

New Mexico Skies www.nmskies.com page 36, 40, 41, 90, 91

Alpine Astronomical www.alpineastro.com page 9, 101

Eyepieces Etc www.eyepiecesetc.com Page 47

PreciseParts www.preciseparts.com page 32, 86

APM Telescopes www.apm-telescopes.net/en page 49, 77

iOptron www.ioptron.com page 27, 37

Rigel Systems www.rigelsys.com page 69

Astro Hutech www.hutech.com page 25, 39, 56

iStar Optical www.istar-optical.com page 87

RSpec www.rspec-astro.com page 89

Astronomik www.astronomik.com page 12, 52, 53

Jack’s Astro Accessories www.waningmoonii.com page 54, 55, 79

SkyShed Observatories www.skyshed.com page 10, 11, 23, 59

Astro Physics www.astro-physics.com page 8, 15, 38

Kendrick Astro Instruments www.kendrickastro.com page 59

Sky-Watcher www.skywatcherusa.com page 19, 21

Astrozap www.astrozap.com page 29

Khan Scope www.khanscope.com page 84

Stellarvue www.stellarvue.com page 51

Avalon Instruments www.avalon-instruments.com page 45

Knightware www.knightware.biz page 72, 85

Software Bisque www.bisque.com page 2, 5, 6, 33

Baader Planetarium www.baader-planetarium.com page 9, 101

Live Skies www.LiveSkies.org page 95

Unihedron www.unihedron.com page 43

Bobs Knobs www.bobsknobs.com page 42

Lunático Astronomia www.lunatico.es page 13, 75, 88

Woodland Hills Telescopes www.telescopes.net page 35, 70, 73, 87

Celestron www.celestron.com page 17

MallinCam www.mallincam.com page 54, 55, 79

Wood Wonders www.wood-wonders.com page 96

TO ADVERTISE CONTACT advertise@astronomytechnologytoday.com

ASTRONOMY

TECHNOLOGY TODAY

Volume 16 • Issue 4

Publisher Stuart Parkerson

Managing Editor Emeritus Gary Parkerson

Art Director Lance Palmer

Web Master Bandwise

ACCESSORIES TO COMPLEMENT YOUR FAVORITE TELESCOPE

Astro-Physics is renowned for quality, reliability and service throughout the world. Many of our products can be used with telescopes and mounts that you may already own.

Suite 45322, 4727 E. Bell Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85032 info@astronomytechnologytoday.com www.astronomytechnologytoday.com Astronomy Technology Today is published bi-monthly

by Parkerson Publishing, LLC. Bulk rate postage paid at Dallas, Texas, and additional mailing offices. ©2012 Parkerson Publishing, LLC, all rights reserved. No part of this publication or its Web site may be reproduced without written permission of Parkerson Publishing, LLC. Astronomy Technology Today assumes no responsibility for the content of the articles, advertisements, or messages reproduced therein, and makes no representation or warranty whatsoever as to the completeness, accuracy, currency, or adequacy of any facts, views, opinions, statements, and recommendations it reproduces. Reference to any product, process, publication, or service of any third party by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not constitute or imply the endorsement or recommendation of Astronomy Technology Today. The publication welcomes and encourages contributions; however is not responsible for the return of manuscripts and photographs. The publication, at the sole discretion of the publisher, reserves the right to accept or reject any advertising or contributions. For more information contact the publisher at Astronomy Technology Today, Suite 45322, 4727 E. Bell Rd., Phoenix, AZ 85032, or e-mail at info@astronomytechnologytoday.com.

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Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

www.astro-physics.com • 815-282-1513

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NEWPRODUCTS/INDUSTRYNEWS

IOPTRON HEM27 and HEM27EC Mounts

The HEM27 and the HEM27EC are iOptron’s new hybrid harmonic drive mounts. These light weight, high payload mounts weigh in at 8.15lbs with a payload capability of 29.74lbs, without a counter weight or shaft.

As the iOptron team notes, “We are pleased to introduce a revolutionary new mount family of equatorial mounts, the HEM27 and HEM27EC hybrid harmonic drive mounts.

HEM27s do not need a heavy counterweight nor cumbersome shaft, ushering in a new era of portability. The mount’s weight of just over 8lbs is all one needs to support a payload of nearly 30lbs

12

Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

(plus a tripod of course, we offer the new carbon fiber 8061 to fill this role). The initial response from dealers has been tremendous, we anticipate the same from the amateur astronomy community.”

They continued, “The HEM27EC features a high resolution RA axis encoder that delivers incredible tracking accuracy, enough that many will choose to image “sans” guiding.”

Utilizing state of the art harmonic drive technology for the RA movement in tandem with a backlash free DEC worm/belt drive design, the HEM27s deliver a desirable weight to payload efficiency. Its black anodized all metal CNC machined design offers a rugged platform that will perform at the highest level for many.

Unique features such as an electronic friction break and power down memory allow the mount to safely stop and resume a GoTo slew or continue tracking even after an abrupt power loss (No need to realign and start from the beginning).

Highlights of the iOptron HEM27 and HEM27EC Mounts include: • Advanced harmonic drive technology

• Payload capacity of 13.5 kg (29.7 lbs.) with the mount weight of 3.7 kg (8.15 lbs.)

• CNC machined and cast metal body • Unique friction brake to safely stop movement during a planned or unplanned power interruption • 360 second gear period • Permanent periodic error correction (PPEC) • Go2Nova® hand controller with • 212,000 object database • iPolar electronic polar scope for easy and accurate polar alignment • Cable management system, no hanging exterior cables to moving parts • Dual saddle (Vixen and Losmandy-D styles) • Built in zero position search and locator • Power down position and location memory • Integrated ST-4 autoguiding port • Built-in Wi-Fi (via hand controller) • USB port for firmware upgrade and computer control • Soft carrying case • Two year warranty Specifications of the iOptron HEM27 and HEM27EC Mounts include: • Mount: Hybrid Equatorial Mount • RA Gear system: StrainWave 17 Continued on page 14

CLOUD DETECTION

With our permanent and portable cloud detection and sky condition options, you’ll be in the know wherever you go!

FOCUSER CONTROL

With our Seletek family of controllers every conceivable option is covered – including autonomous control!

OBSERVATORY CONTROL

Our Dragonfly observatory controller system offers the ultimate remote observatory control!

HUMIDITY CONTROL

Our ZeroDew system offers state of the art control for conquering dew!

OBSERVATORY MONITORING

Use our Good Night System (GNS) to let your smartphone supervise the observatory while you sleep!

MOUNTING SYSTEM

Unique in the industry, our DuoScope system offers unparalleled weight reduction with rock solid performance!

NEW FOR 2020

Just introduced! The Seletek Limpet is the new standard in streamlined focus control with WiFi and USB connectivity!

INTRODUCTORY PRICE - ONLY $149!

NEWPRODUCTS/INDUSTRYNEWS

IOPTRON

Continued from page 12

(RA)/worm gear (DEC) • DEC Gear system: Backlash-free worm/belt system • RA reduction ratio: 120 • Payload w/o CW : 29.14 lbs.

(13.5kg) • Mount weight: 7.49lbs (3.4kg) w/o dovetail saddle, 8.15 ls (3.7kg) with dovetail saddle • Payload/Mount weight: 3.65 • Period: 360 second • Drive motor: Stepper motor • Structure Material: All metal, CNC machined • Exterior finish: Anodized black • Polar Scope: iPolar electronic polar scope

14

Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

• PEC: Yes, Permanent PEC • Latitude adjustment range: 15º ~ 65º • Azimuth adjustment range: ± 5º • Level indicator: Level bubble • Control system: GOTONOVA/Commander • Hand Controller: Go2Nova® 8409 with ~212,000 objects database • Tracking: Automatic • Maximum slew speed: 6º/sec • Power consumption: 0.5A(Tracking), 1A(GOTO) • Power Requirement: 12V DC, 5A • AC adapter: 100V ~ 240V

(included, indoor use only) • Power off brake: Electronic friction brake • Power-down memory: Yes • Wi-Fi: Built-in • Communication port Yes (Wi-Fi and USB) • Autoguide port: Yes (ST-4 compatible) • Firmware upgrade: Yes • Tripod: Optional • Operation temperature: -20ºC ~ 50ºC (hand controller -10ºC ~ 40ºC) You can learn more about the iOptron HEM27 and HEM27EC Mounts at www.ioptron.com.

MACH2GT DEDICATED TO CRAFTSMANSHIP

"The Single Most Important Item For The Imager Is The Mount. Next Comes The Mount.

Then Comes The Mount.... Get The Picture?" ~ Roland Christen

MACH2GTO

www.astro-physics.com 815-282-1513

NEWPRODUCTS/INDUSTRYNEWS

BERLEBACH Recent Tripod Releases Among the Berlebach tripod releases include the Report Anniversary Edition Tripod and Graviton Tripod.

Report Anniversary Edition Tripod On the occasion of Berlebach’s 120th anniversary, the company has produced a limited edition of 120 of this high-grade tripod made of high-quality walnut wood and hand-polished brass fittings.

The tripod has a double tripod leg extension and a 37 cm center column.

Despite the high-grade finishes this tripod offers state-of-the-art performance and is flexible and expandable by the magnesium mounting head modular system.

The lightweight magnesium mount-

ing head is the module base for 14 different uses. It is possible at any time to change the module insert by the means of a special wrench. The fixation of the cone ensures a positive-locking, backlash-free connection of the components.

With the stop system, the leg spread of 20 °, 40 °, 60 °, 80 ° and 100 ° can be adjusted by the means of a wing lock.

The stop system is designed in that way so that the specified load of the tripod is guaranteed, even at maximum spread of the tripod legs.

The Report Anniversary Edition Tripod specifications include: • Weight: 2.60 kg/5.73 lbs.

• Packed length: 68 cm/27 inches • Minimum height: 40 cm/16 inches • Maximum height: 166 cm/65 inches • Load tolerance: 8.00 kg/17.64 lbs.

Graviton Tripod With the development and production of the Graviton Tripod, Berlebach offers the possibility to be mobile even with very large and heavy mounts. This astronomical high-end tripod stands out in many areas.

The CNC-manufactured metal parts ensure precise guidance, secure, powerful clamping and attractive design. A tray and spread stopper are included.

The Graviton Tripod offers the best vibration damping of all the company’s tripods through its use of massive leg segments made of high-quality ash wood.

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Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

The lever arm of the clamping element is extendible for force optimization and the innovative leg clampings with a flat spring compensates for the hygroscopicity of the wood.

The Graviton Tripod has a 100% stability trough integrated toothed rack in 5 mm steps. The fine levelling function in the foot tips offer an adjustment path of 20 mm. The spread stopper can be mounted at different heights, so that leg spreads of approximately 20-30° are possible.

The Berlebach Graviton Tripod specifications include: • Weight: 23.00 kg/50.71 lbs.

• Packed length: 91 cm/36 inches • Minimum height: 86 cm/34 inches • Maximum height: 135 cm = 53 inches • Load tolerance: 220.00 kg/485.01 lbs.

You can learn more about these Berlebach tripod releases online at www.berlebach.de.

CELESTRON PREMIER SELECT DEALERS B&H Photo – 800.947.9970 – bhphotovideo.com High Point Scientific – 800.266.9590 – highpointscientific.com Optics Planet – 800.504.5897 – opticsplanet.com

Astronomics – 800.422.7876 – astronomics.com OPT Telescopes – 800.483.6287 – optcorp.com Woodland Hills – 888.427.8766 – telescopes.net

Adorama – 800.223.2500 – adorama.com Focus Camera – 800.221.0828 – focuscamera.com Agena AstroProducts – 562.215.4473 – agenaastro.com

NEWPRODUCTS/INDUSTRYNEWS

ZWO ASI533MM Pro The ZWO ASI533MM Pro is a cooled monochrome camera that comes with an impressive full well of 50,000e and a large 9.05MP sensor.

The size of the sensor gives this camera a 14 bit dynamic range and provides astrophotographers with crisp clear images. This camera offers high-quality features like high QE and high frame rate and also comes with no amp glow, readout noise as low as 1.0e, a 3.76μm pixel size, and 2-stage TEC cooling technology.

The ZWO ASI533MM Pro camera has a body design equipped with an AR-coated window and an electronic shutter with no vibration. The square back-illumination means this camera has a relative QE of up to 80%.

The cooling technology comes in the form of TEC Cooling and is a two-stage regulation with a thermal delta of up to -35°C. The 2-stage thermoelectric cooler greatly reduces the dark current and improves the signal-to-noise ratio, even during long exposures made up of hundreds of seconds.

The ZWO ASI533MM Pro incorporates the Sony IMX533 Sensor which is back-illuminated to help improve sensitivity and noise reduction. The ASI533MM Pro sensor uses zero amp glow circuitry, meaning you have no reason to worry about amp glow, even when using high gain, long exposure imaging.

Sony's IMX533 sensor comes complete with 3.76 x 3.76 micron pixels and a diagonal of 15.99 mm. This 1" sensor gives excellent performance -

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Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

comparable to SCMOS and EMCCD sensors - and has a resolution of 3008 x 3008. With a sensor of this size, you will be able to image entire star clusters without losing the details of single stars within the cluster. The 14 bit digital output of the Sony sensor allows for a possible readout signal of 9m effective pixels at a high speed of 20 frames per second. The ASI533MM sensor works for images that required high and low noise.

The ASI533MM Pro Camera comes with USB3.0 compatibility, meaning that you will have a high frame download speed while avoiding any data loss during downloads. The included USB2.0 hub comes with two USB2.0 ports that can be used for the connecting to the driving chamber.

You'll never miss a frame with 256MB DDR3 internal memory, you can be

sure that you data is safe, even when using the USB2.0 outputs. ZWO has ensured that the camera is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux.

The ZWO ASI533MM Pro specifications include: • Pixel Size: 3.76 μm • ADC: 14 bit • Sensor: IMX533 Square BackIlluminated CMOS • Resolution: 3008 x 3008 • Sensor Size: 11.31 mm x 11.31 mm • Max FPS at Full Resolution: 20 FPS • Read Noise: 1.0e-3.8e • Full Well: 50,000 e• QE Peak: >80% • Exposure Range: 32 μs - 2000 s You can learn more about the ZWO ASI533MM Pro at www.astronomy-imaging-camera.com.

For information on all of our products and ser vices, or to find an authorized Sk y-Watcher dealer near you, just visit w w w.sk y watcherusa.com.

Don’t forget to follow us on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram!

© 2 0 2 2 S k y-Watcher. S pecific ations and pricing subjec t to change without notice. 2 0 -2 2 010.

S k y-Watcher, the gala x y mar k , and S k y-Watcher green are trademar k s of S k y-Watcher.

T h e re i s s o m e d e b at e at S k y-Wat c h e r H Q w h e t h e r c o m p o un d t e l s e s c o p e s s h o ul d b e c a ll e d re f re c t o r s o r re f l ac t o r s . W h at d o y o u t hin k ?

NEWPRODUCTS/INDUSTRYNEWS

NPAE Ruby Eyepiece Turret The new nPAE Ruby Eyepiece Turret holds six 1.25” accessories. The Ruby Turret offers parfocal locks that keeps all the eyepieces in the same focal plane. Each lock has parfocal ring that can be adjusted to add between 0 to 6mm of additional backfocus, or the parfocal ring can detached to remove 5mm in one step. The back focus of the Ruby Turret is 96mm, so the parfocal ring can adjust that figure to between 102mm and 91mm.

The clamping mechanism of the Ruby Turret locks are via a brass compression ring which is closed with a thumbscrew and an M4 flat point screw.

They are 120° apart with the flat point screw towards the rear. With the Ruby Turret you can engage the flat point screws and remove the thumbscrews entirely when needed so your eyepieces

will remain secure. The nose filter thread allows a filter to be attached to the Ruby Turret which will cover all the eyepieces.

The thread will take most 1.25” filters.

The Ruby Turret incorporates aircraft design engineering with 5 axis CNC machining. Made from 6083 aluminum the turret offers high tensile strength, high durability, anti-corrosion, dimensional accuracy and fine surface finish.

The interlocking bezel halves allow fully integrated locks and the ability to open up the Ruby Turret to facilitate easy cleaning of the mirror.

The nPAE Ruby Eyepiece Turret specifications include: • 6 x 1.25″ eyepiece sockets • Parfocal locks • Dual position locks with removable

thumbscrews for outreach • 1.25″ filters fit the threaded nose • 1/4 wave mirror • 5 axis CNC machined from 6083 aluminum • Weight: 911g / 2lbs You can learn more about the nPAE Ruby Eyepiece Turret at www.npae.net.

blocking stars in the field. The ReflexSight fits on common “dovetailstyle” viewfinder bases which will allow the user to attach the device on almost any telescope without modification to the telescope itself. Its coated lens offers maximum reticle projection performance in a compact size.

The 1/4 x 20 threaded adapter is built into the base to allow the device to attach onto a variety of devices such as piggyback camera adapters, photo tripods, etc. The smooth body style eliminates sharp corners and reduces snagging.

Among the features of the Explore

Scientific ReflexSight are an easy to access battery compartment, optical cover and low power draw from the AAA batteries which provides long continuous operating time.

The Explore Scientific ReflexSight offers large, continuously adjustable brightness and a smooth-head, control knob with knurl, that can be operated with gloves on. It features rear-facing, no-tool, three-point parallax smoothhead adjustment knobs with knurl, that can be operated with gloves on.

You can learn more about the Explore Scientific ReflexSight at www.explorescientificusa.com.

EXPLORE SCIENTIFIC ReflexSight Non-Magnifying Finder The Explore Scientific ReflexSight is a new “multi-dot” reticle design in standard 4.0 degree, 2.0 degree, and 0.5 degree circular patterns that prevents

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Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

THE E MOSTT IMPO P RTTA AN NT THING WE BUILD Since our beginning, Sky-Watcher has been building the kind of astronomy company that the industry and the hobby can trust. A company that’s driven, innovative, and dedicated to developing the finest products and services.

To build that company, we’ve relied on three fundamental elements that we believe are essential to any lasting success. They are:

Qualityy. We stake our good name on the materials and craftsmanship that go into our products.

Our dedicated engineering and design team are constantly developing new ideas – or new ways of looking at old ideas – to bring you the most substantial and innovative instruments we are capable of.

© 2 0 2 2 S k y-Watcher. S pecific ations and pricing subjec t to change without notice. 2 0 -2 2 0 0 6.

S k y-Watcher, the gala x y mar k , and S k y-Watcher green are trademar k s of S k y-Watcher.

I f you’re par t of the S k y-Watcher communit y, please share with us on our so cial media. We’d love to hear from you.

Service. The best products don’t mean anything without a structure to support them. We pride ourselves on providing excellent assistance before and n after you’ve chosen a Sky-Watcher product.

Our technical support staff is available to answer questions, offer advice, and share their experience in the hobby. In the rare instance that your scope isn’t 100%, we have a comprehensive program that makes fixing a small problem not a big deal. If it’s something you can fix yourself but need a part (even if you’re not the original owner), just contact us. If you can’t fix it, we will. And if we can’t fix it, we’ll replace it. With a minimum of hassle for you.

V lue. From experience, we know that value and cost are not the same thing. That’s why we strive Va to make every Sky-Watcher product as affordable as possible while maintaining the strict standards we’ve set for ourselves. It’s our goal to facilitate beginners’ entry into the hobby without breaking the bank, and for our seasoned customers to relax knowing that their investment in Sky-Watcher instruments will grow with their skills and achievements.

But none of that means anything without the real fundamental ingredient in any company’s success: you. Sky-Watcher is nothing without the talented and dedicated industry experts, observers, dealers, astroimagers, and the astronomy loving public. From our What’s Up? Webcast on YoouTube, to our brand ambassadors and social media channels, to our presence at tradeshows, outreach events, and star parties, we know it’s not enough to just build good products.

The most important thing we build is community.

For information on all of our products and ser vices, or to find an authorized Sk y-Watcher dealer near you, just visit w w w.sk y watcherusa.com.

Don’t forget to follow us on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram!

NEWPRODUCTS/INDUSTRYNEWS

ORION EON 90mm ED Triplet The Orion EON 90mm ED Triplet Apochromatic Carbon Fiber Refractor is the newest in the company’s line of popular EON "apo" refractors.

The fully multi-coated 90mm (3.5") triplet lens assembly has a focal length of 540mm, for a f/6 focal ratio. One lens element is made from FCD-100 extra low dispersion "ED" glass by Hoya (Japan), which does a masterful job of minimizing chromatic aberration.

Contrast is maximized with multiple internal knife-edge baffles that prevent off-axis reflections.

The Orion EON 90mm ED Triplet offers a glossy carbon fiber optical tube which provides high tensile strength and thermal stability as the temperature changes. It is accented with red and black anodized machined aluminum fittings.

The extendable dew shield thwarts moisture build-up on the lens and blocks unwanted off-axis light. When the dew

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Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

shield is retracted the telescope measures just 17-3/4" in length. It fits perfectly in the included hard carry case.

The Orion EON 90mm ED Triplet includes a 2.5" dual-speed, hybrid rackand-pinion focuser with 10:1 fine focus control. As the company notes, ‘In our tests the focuser was able to hold 19.5 lbs. of payload without drawtube slippage - so it will definitely hold even a heavy imaging train.” The focuser has 90mm of drawtube travel and a backfocus distance of 147mm from the 2" accessory collar - sufficient to accommodate a camera and the component accessories in an imaging train.

The focuser can be rotated in two places, allowing camera framing to be set independently from positioning of the focus knobs at the desired orientation.

Both the 2" accessory collar and 1.25" adapter feature a twist-tight locking mechanism. The focuser is also equipped with a dovetail finder scope base that accommodates optional Orion finder scopes and guide scopes.

The company also noted, “We tested the EON 90mm ED Triplet with the

Orion Field Flattener for Small Telescopes and were pleasantly surprised how flat the field was even with a fullframe camera. Only slight star elongation was evident at the edges of the 36mm x 24mm frame. With an APS-C camera sensor you'd be hard-pressed to see any.”

The EON 90mm ED Triplet comes with two CNC-machined hexagonal tube rings with multiple threaded holes on the sides for extra accessory mounting possibilities. A carry handle is bolted to the top of the tube rings, which doubles as an accessory rail. The included Vixenstyle dovetail mounting bar is 9.6" long and fits any compatible mount saddle.

The solidly built EON 90mm ED Triplet weighs in at 9 lbs., 12.4 oz. So it is easily supported by a mid-sized mount.

In addition to its imaging capabilities, if you choose to swap out a camera for an eyepiece and diagonal for some real-time observing you'll find that it makes a fine instrument for wide-field visual examination of nebulas and other deep-sky fare. Add a Barlow lens to boost the power and you will also enjoy crisp, vivid views of the major planets and the lunar surface.

You can learn more about the Orion EON 90mm ED Triplet at www.telescope.com.

NEWPRODUCTS/INDUSTRYNEWS

CELESTRON StarSense Explorer Dobsonians Celestron is expanding their smartphone-compatible telescopes with the new Celestron StarSense Explorer Dobsonians. Joining the StarSense Explorer LT and DX telescopes are 8” and 10” Dobsonians which are the ideal option for anyone interested in exploring amateur astronomy.

Thanks to the Celestron StarSense app’s user-friendly interface and detailed tutorials and the easy-to-use classic Dobsonian OTA design, even experienced amateur astronomers will appreciate the 8” and 10" Dobsonians which offer satisfying aperture and fun technology that puts your smartphone to work.

The Celestron StarSense Explorer Dobsonians telescope system uses your smartphone as a self-contained plate-solving system. Simply put, plate solving is used to determine the current pointing position by extracting star pattern data from images of the night sky. Celestron’s StarSense Explorer is the first app designed to use the power of plate solving to figure out a smartphone's current pointing position.

When coupled with the specially designed smartphone dock on a Celestron StarSense Explorer telescope, you have a manual telescope system that has the ability to capture an image of the night sky, process that image, extract the star pattern data and determine the center coordinates, all by itself, without Continued on page 26

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Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

with “T TAKUMI” AKUMI” Spirit

Hinode Solar Guiderr

The Astro Hutech Solar T Tracker rackerr, Hinode (”Sunrise” (” ”Sunrise” in Japanese) SG, is the first autoguider designed for solar viewingg as well as imaging. Enjoy Solar astronomy without worrying about losing the th Sun in your telescope!

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NEWPRODUCTS/INDUSTRYNEWS

CELESTRON

Continued from page 24

requiring telescope alignment from the user.

The StarSense Explorer dock isn’t a normal, off the shelf smartphone holder for your telescope. It has a specially designed integrated mirror that works in conjunction with your smartphone’s camera to gather star pattern data for the StarSense Explorer app. A built-in shade keeps stray light from reflecting off the mirror and messing with the data. X-Y adjustment knobs allow the dock to hold many different smartphone sizes and oftentimes the case can be left in place.

The StarSense Explorer Dobsonian telescopes work with a wide range of smartphones, including the iPhone 6 or higher and Android 7.1.2 smartphones that were manufactured in 2016 onward and have a camera, gyro, and accelerometer sensor. You can find the app download in the Apple App Store or Google Play.

When you launch the app for the first time you’ll follow a simple two-step process that aligns your smartphone's camera with the telescope's field of view. Once set up, the app displays a scene of the night sky and a bullseye to show you where it is currently looking. Then it is up to you to decide what you want to look at.

The easiest and fastest way to do that is simply to choose from the “Tonight's Best” observing list, which is automatically generated to show

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Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

you popular objects that are currently visible from your location. Depending on the time of year, your location, and the time of night, the list might include planets like Jupiter or Saturn, galaxies, nebulae, star clusters, and more.

Equipped with XLT reflective coatings, both the 8”and 10” models offer good light throughput and offer primary mirrors with low-expansion material which provides more optical path stability during fluctuating temperatures. The thin veins for the secondary mirror holder ensure there are minimal diffraction effects. The OTA body is silver in color, matching the other StarSense Explorer series telescopes, and on the side of the optical tube, you will find a convenient carry handle for easy transport to star parties or your favorite observation spot. Celestron has included a panning knob for an ergonomic grip when pointing the telescope, preventing the introduction of heat from your hands into the optical system.

The alt-azimuth StarSense Explorer Dobsonian base includes many features that will make your viewing sessions easy and enjoyable.

Both sturdy and aesthetically pleasing, the Dobsonian base is made from CARB compliant particle board with melamine surfaces and edge trim. For smooth up-and-down motion, this base has large 6" diameter altitude bearings.

Integrated into the base is an alti-

tude "brake" system. This system gives variable tensioning of altitude axis motion, meaning you get ultra-smooth motions, even with slight imbalances. Unique to this base are the braces for the side panels that provide extra stability and rigidity. These types of braces are usually reserved for larger Dobsonians and do a great job to ensure the stability of the StarSense Dobsonian series setup.

The StarSense Explorer Dobsonian base includes an easy-togrip carry handle to make travel easier. You can also remove the eyepiece rack during times of travel and then put it back once you need a handy place to put extra eyepieces during your observation sessions.

Both the 8" and 10” Dobsonians include the StarSense Explorer dock and code card, a 25 mm 1.25" Omni Plossl eyepiece, a Star-dot finder (for initial alignment if desired or daytime use), and a collimation cap. They also come with a high-quality 2” Crayford focuser. The Crayford design provides precise and smooth movements without focus shifting. It also includes a 2” to 1.25” adapter and a 2” extension tube, so you can use virtually any 1.25” or 2” telescope eyepiece with your StarSense Explorer Dobsonian.

The focuser also features a thumbscrew so you can lock in the sharpest focus.

You can learn more about the Celestron StarSense Explorer Dobsonians at www.celestron.com.

NEWPRODUCTS/INDUSTRYNEWS

ASKAR FRA300 Pro Astrograph and Universal Dovetail Rails Askar FRA300 Pro Astrograph

The Askar FRA300 Pro is the latest in the Askar FRA line of short focal ratio astrographs.

The Askar FRA300 Pro, is the smallest in the line offering a 60mm F/5 Petzval astrograph with the fastest native focal ratio in the FRA series with a focal length of 300mm. At the center of its field of view, the RMS radius can reach 2um.

The FRA300 Pro offers excellent full-frame performance and supports 44mm imaging. Compared with f/6 or f/7, f/5 can effectively reduce the exposure time, helping you get the same exposure in less time. In addition, the entire OTA is compact, making it the portable choice for field photographers.

The FRA300 Pro's objective lens adopts a quintuplet fully air-spaced structure, including one piece of ED glass. It also adopts a fully-multi-coating to effectively remove stray light. In particular, the rear group lens adopts the two pieces of far-separated refractive lenses, which improves both the star quality and the aberration correction performance, and has a very good control of full-frame peripheral light reduction. Thanks to the native Petzval design, the user does not need to calculate the backfocus, as long as the focus is within a certain range in the optimal position.

Mechanically, the Askar FRA300 Pro is assembled with high-quality

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Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

CNC-machined components, wrapped with smooth spray coating and light oxidation process, both beautiful and practical. The tube ring design is equally lightweight and stylish.

The focuser is a solid 2.5" rack-andpinion focuser which is designed with dual-speed hand knobs, twin knobs for coarse adjustment and a fine adjustment knob to accurate the focus, equipped with a universal M48X0.75 thread adapter. There are also two separate M54X0.75 and M48X0.75 adapters in the standard kit for easy access to a variety of imaging equipment and accessories. The end is equipped with a 360 degree rotator, which is convenient for users to rotate at any angle when shooting.

FRA300 Pro also comes standard with a multi-function handle and a 300mm Vixen-style dovetail plate, which can be directly connected to various mounts and accessories. The multi-functional handle can also be connected to the universal Vixen-style finder base.

The 300mm dovetail plate allows the astrograph to maintain balance on the mount.

The Askar FRA300 Pro specifications include: • Aperture size: 60mm • Focal length: 300mm • Focal ratio: f/5 • Objective len: Quintuplet fully air-spaced Petzval APO (including one ED glass) • Image circle: 44mm full-frame • Maximum accessory connection (with the focuser fully retreated) in imaging mode: 71mm (from the base of M42×0.75 male thread); 67mm (from the base of M48×0.75 male threadand ; 71mm (from the base of M54×1male thread) • Total length: 303mm • Net weight: 2.26kg • Gross weight: 3.12kg • Rear-end thread: M48*0.75 male thread

Askar Universal Dovetail Rails

Askar universal dovetail rails in Vixen and Losmondy styles are now available.

Many dovetail plates have only a few holes and slots for attaching your astronomy accessories. But these high-quality dovetail plates from Askar include plenty of connection points and give you many options to securely attach your tube rings, guiding rings, and cameras. The premium plates are made from lightweight aluminum alloy with an attractive scratch-resistant anodized finish that looks great with all astronomy equipment.

Askar’s Vixen-style dovetail rail is available in 3 lengths (150mm, 200mm, and 300mm). The plate includes holes at the front and back end. Simply thread a M4 screw into each hole before placing the dovetail plate on your equatorial mount. This helps protect your system from accidental slipping and damage.

The Askar Losmandy-style dovetail rail is available in 2 lengths (200mm and 300mm). The plate includes four halfthreaded holes tapped close to the edge of width, two on each side respectively.

When you put four screws from the bottom, the screws will prevent the dovetail plate from accidental slippage when placed on an equatorial mount.

You can learn more about these and other Askar products at www.askarlens.com.

Telescopes and Accessories ries QUALITY Y, INNOV VA ATIVE DESIG DESIGN N AT ITS BEST Astrozap is a leading manufacturer of flexible and aluminum dew w shields, with a large selection to match just about every telescope on the planet. Astroza ap is also your source for telescopes, accessories, mounts, solar filters, dew controllers, lig ght shrouds, eyepiece trays and other innovative products for the Modern Astronomer that are proudly udly handcrafted in the USA, and has been internationally recognized for their quality of workma anship and customer service.

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NEWPRODUCTS/INDUSTRYNEWS

PEGASUS ASTRO NYX-101 Harmonic Gear Mount The Pegasus Astro NYX-101 Harmonic Gear Mount is a portable EQ/ALT-AZ mount that incorporates high precision strain wave (harmonic) gears. The company is in final development of the mount and will be displayed the mount at the Advanced Imaging Conference 2022. The Nyx-101 mount weights 6.2Kg and is capable of driving 20+ Kg of equipment .

Pegasus Astro will be releasing final specifications of the NYX101 mount when it is available later this year. Initial specifications and features will include: • Lightweight Design • Harmonic Drive on Both Axis (zero backlash) • No counterweight is required (however counter-weights can be installed for high photographic loads – compatibility with Skywatcher’s countweights / shaft.

• DC 12 Volts Operation • Secure power GX12 plug, Usb connection at the back (non-movable part) • Equatorial or Altazimuth Mode Selection • Electronic assistant on rough polar (N or S) alignment • Pressure/Atmospheric Guiding Corrections • WiFi and USB2 Connectivity • Safety Electronic Brake on RA axis to prevent back-sliding after power-off • Adapter in front (included) to install Polemaster for precise

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Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

polar alignment • Saddle Plate included (compatible with Vixen & Losmandy) • ASCOM, INDI, Sky Safari Support • LX200 Compatibility • Mobile (Android & I0S) Control • Carbon Fiber/Aluminum Tripod available (optional) • Adapter (optional) to install mount on Skywatcher’s (N)EQ6 Tripod You can learn more about the Pegasus Astro NYX-101 Harmonic Gear Mount www.pegasusastro.com.

Experience uninterrupted horizon-to-horizon imaging.

The best time to image objects is when they’re at their highest in the sky crossing the meridian.

Of course, that’s also when meridian flips can be required with traditional German equatorial mounts.

Meridian flips require you to stop imaging for a few minutes to reacquire your object, check your camera’s focus, and compensate for any detected flexure. Autoguided long-exposure imaging heightens the need to plan around meridian flips.

With a Paramount Taurus™ equatorial fork mount, you’ll never need to perform another meridian flip.

Its dual-tined fork provides exceptional stability for your instruments.

And, if you enjoy visual observing, you’ll appreciate the far easier access to your eyepiece.

Taurus equatorial fork mounts can shoulder between 150 pounds (68 kg) and 400 pounds (180 kg), depending on the model.

While absolute digital encoders are optional with the gear-driven Taurus 400, they come standard with the direct-drive 500, 600, and 700 models. (The 500 model is shown above.)

All models are equipped with TheSky™ Imaging edition, which is compatible with macOS, Windows, and Linux operating systems — and it lets you control all your imaging equipment, even your dome, from a single convenient application.

Its included TPoint™ technology provides extreme pointing accuracy while its ProTrack™ assisted tracking ensures pinpoint stars over long exposures.

Designed and manufactured at our state-of-theart facility in Golden, Colorado, components are precision-machined to the highest tolerances to ensure optimal performance.

Make your observatory more flexible and productive with a Paramount Taurus.

Paramount Taurus pricing ranges from $17,595 to $52,495.

Superior imaging solutions for astronomy and space applications. © 2022 Software Bisque, Inc. All rights reserved. Bisque.com

NEWPRODUCTS/INDUSTRYNEWS

AGEMA OPTICS Super Doublet Agema SD-180

Agema Optics offers Super Doublet Apochromatic Refractors that provide an optical design calculated to provide highcontrast star and planet viewing and great color correction. They deliver diffractionlimited images for the visual spectrum and allow both visual observation and digital imaging.

The company has announced that it will start producing its Agema SD-180 this summer with a production time of 18 months. The introductory price is $16,500US and includes rings, plates, a finder and a handle. A 50% deposit is required to place an order.

Agema reports that it uses the highest quality optical materials for lens production, including glass that never undergoes secondary molding or annealing, and fluorite with optimal crystal orientation and uniform internal structure. Its complex lens cell eliminates the risk of deforming the optical components and protects them during telescope transportation.

The cell design allows for fine adjustment of the lenses without disassembly.

Agema also reports it uses fluorite with unique dispersion properties, resulting in an optical system with high correction of chromatic aberration. Agema reports an amplitude of residual deviation

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Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

2.5 to 3.0 times smaller than the Abbe criterion for apochromatic lenses. The system’s Polychromatic Strehl Ratio exceeds 90 percent for the entire 430- to 700-nm visual range. Strehl Ratio graphs are provided for each model.

The company states that through carefully selecting its glass and fluorite and using the refractive index data from the actual glass melt, it produces optics precisely fabricated to the calculated design. Its polishing process provides a high-quality surface, and in combination with the low light scattering of fluorite, it delivers excellent contrast images. Each lens is individually controlled during manufacturing and again at final assembly. All optical elements have broadband anti-reflection coating.

A field flattener, which improves the image quality in a larger field of view (a 60-mm clear aperture ensures a nonvignetting field for a 24-mm x 36-mm area/42-mm diagonal) is also available.

The field flattener is designed to guarantee diffraction quality over the entire field of view without disturbing color correction.

The aluminum tube of Agena’s Super Doublet apos has internal baffles with knife edges that suppress indirect

stray light. The tubes are equipped with extendable dew caps that reduce the entry of stray light and the chance of dew on the front lens. The inner surface is matte black; the exteriors are powder coated for a durable finish.

All Agema telescopes are equipped with a 3.5-inch focuser (draw tube size).

The focuser has a 2-inch adapter with a collar-lock mechanism for attaching eyepieces, diagonal mirrors, prisms and other equipment. The field flattener can be installed by attaching it to the mating draw tube and securing it with the coupling nut.

The focuser has 125 mm of travel and dual-speed operation with an approximate ratio of 1:10. The backlashfree motion mechanism accomplishes a reliably smooth operation you can count on. Fixing the movable tube in any position is achieved with the drum-type brake conveniently located directly on the pinion shaft. This prevents damage to the rack if accidentally forced without releasing the brake. The focuser has all the necessary adjustments, including friction control that provides the ability to support different equipment weights.

You can learn more about the Agema SD-180 www.agemaoptics.com.

We Bet You Didn’t Know!

We Buy Used Equipment Did you know we buy your used equipment?

Yes we do!

We want to turn your used gear into new equipment or cash! Email farah@telescopes.net with your equipment and we take it from there!

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Clearance and Pre-Owned Did you know we have a huge inventory of new and pre-owned equipment?

Yes we do!

We are bursting at the seams with trade-ins, used, clearance, demos, close-outs, floor models, open box and more!

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Equipment Rentals Did you know we offer telescopes and astroimaging cameras for rent?

Yes we do!

Check our website for current availability. Don't see something you want? We are expanding our selection so drop us a call a 818.347.2270 and we will be happy to hear your requests!

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NEWPRODUCTS/INDUSTRYNEWS

IMPPG Image Post Processing Software

ImPPG is an image post processing program that performs Lucy-Richardson deconvolution, unsharp masking, brightness normalization and tone curve adjustment. It can also apply previously specified processing settings to multiple images. All operations are performed using 32-bitfloating-point arithmetic.

A new version of the software has recently been released with new features including improving combinations of system language and regional settings.

ImPPG Supports input the following formats: FITS, BMP, JPEG, PNG, TIFF (most of bit depths and compression methods), TGA and more. Images are processed in grayscale and can be saved as: BMP 8-bit; PNG 8-bit; TIFF 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit floating-point (no compression, LZW- or ZIP-compressed), FITS 8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit floating-point.

ImPPG can also align an image sequence, with possibly large and chaotic translations between images (aligned output images preserve number of channels and bit depth). This can be useful, for example, when preparing a solar timelapse animation, where subsequent

frames are offset due to inaccurate tracking of the telescope mount. Other possible applications are smoothing out of terrestrial landscape time-lapses or preparing raw frames (with serious image jitter) for stacking.

ImPPG is free and open-source, licensed under GNU GPL v3 (or later).

Building from source code (C++) requires Boost, wxWidgets and (optionally) FreeImage & CFITSIO libraries and is possible on multiple platforms. Windows executables (32- and 64-bit) can be downloaded. See the README file for details on usage and building.

You can learn more at www.greatattractor.github.io/imppg.

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Your Complete Guide to Astronomical Equipment

Your Complete Guide to Astronomical Equipment

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Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

NEWPRODUCTS/INDUSTRYNEWS

WAITE RESEARCH 20" F/3.0 Telescope Mirror A Waite Research 20" f/3.0 telescope mirror has been made available for immediate delivery. The 20" f/3.0 mirror is on a 1.625" Supremax-33 substrate which was molded and annealed by United Lens and is a one-off, premium telescope mirror. It is coated, center spotted, and has never been mounted in a telescope.

As Gordon Waite notes, “This is a terrific mirror and I am happy to send this one to a new home for $8,900 plus shipping. And your big benefit is that we can ship this mirror out in one business day. You won't have to suffer the 18month wait to have a new mirror made!

Custom 20" f/3.0 mirrors retail for well over $10k so this one will save you a bundle of cash.”

The Waite Research 20" f/3.0 telescope mirror offers a 60" focal length so you will never need a ladder and you will be able to do all of your observing with

both feet on the ground. As Gordon Waite notes, “The wide field of view is just spectacular. It's easy to find objects, especially with a longer-focus eyepiece.

See the Andromeda Galaxy, M110 and M32 all in the same field of view! And the 20" mirror with such a short focal length gives you tight, bright stars for beautiful views of clusters and rich star fields. Note that you will probably want to use a coma corrector with this short focal length primary.”

This mirror weighs 36 pounds. The included FigureXP reports from the Foucault test show that this mirror has a great figure. FigureXP rates the mirror at better than 1/20-wave P-V, with a Strehl Ratio calculated at 0.99 on the report. As Gordon Waite comments, “You should understand that FigureXP is often optimistic with its calculations. In the past we have had mirrors independently tested via

interferometry and they are usually rated at around 0.96 or 0.97 Strehl, and better than 1/10th-wave P-V.” You can learn more about the Waite Research 20" f3.0 telescope mirror at www.waiteresearch.com.

THE 1100GTO GERMAN EQUATORIAL MOUNT • Image Past the Meridian (up to the full 6 hours) • Through-the-Mount Cabling • Portability (R.A. & DEC. Axes Separate) • 0˚ to 78˚ Latitude Range • Built-in Precision-Adjust Rotating Pier Base • Keypad and/or Computer Control • Pre-programmed with PEMPro™ • ASCOM Compatible with Fully Supported Driver • Operate with 12V Battery • Ideal for 8” Refractors, 14-16” Cassegrains, Ritchey-Chrétiens and CDKs

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Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

Japan’s MORE BLUE products are now available in US through Astro Hutech

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Fully CNC-machined alluminum alloy %HDXWLIXO ³&RRO *UD\ 6DWLQ 0HWDOLF´ ILQLVK 9DULRXV DFFHVVRULHV IRU 7DNDKDVKL WHOHVFRSHV LQFOXGLQJ PLFUR IRFXVHU NLW FDPHUD URWDWRUV

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NEWPRODUCTS/INDUSTRYNEWS

VERNONSCOPE Dakin Barlows and 2" Gold Coated Diagonal

Dakin Barlows A change to the Vernonscope Dakin Barlows has been announced by the company as it has updated its 2” 2.4X Dakin Barlow design.

Image 1 - The 2" 2.4x Dakin Barlow assembled for use with a 2" eyepiece.

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Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

The 2" Vernonscope 2.4X Dakin Barlow can be used with telescopes that accept 2” eyepieces. This Barlow is made with very high quality glass lens that gives sharp contrast. It holds a 2” eyepiece or 2" to 1.25" adapter with a brass compression ring, a screw insert, and a stainless steel set screw.

It also can be unscrewed at the center, and the bottom portion containing the Dakin Barlow lens screwed onto a standard 2” eyepiece.

When the bottom half is screwed directly into an eyepiece, the magnification is approximately 1.5X.

Image 2 - The 2" Dakin Barlow shown with the top of the 2.4X Barlow unscrewed from the bottom. The Barlow glass is in the bottom portion,.

The Barlow was designed to be placed between the draw tube of a scope and a diagonal. In-travel will need to be longer when separated and screwed into an eyepiece.

As the company notes, “Image 1

Image 3 - The 48mm Brandon attached to the optical cell of the Barlow.

NEWPRODUCTS/INDUSTRYNEWS

the Barlow has the optical glass elements. The thread of the optical section is designed to receive 2" eyepieces.”

They continued, “Image 3 shows the 48mm Brandon attached to the optical cell of the Barlow.

Giving approximately 1.5X magnification,he 48mm's effective focal length is changed to a 32mm. The top section would not be used in this configuration. Just insert the eyepiece with the optical cell into a 2" diagonal or a 2" draw tube.”

Image 4 - The 2" Dakin Barlow shown with the top of the 2.4X Barlow removed and the bottom screwed directly into a Brandon 48mm eyepiece, resulting in an approximately 32mm EFL.

shows the Barlow in it's normal configuration. The top receives the 2" eyepiece and the bottom has the optical cell. The magnification of an inserted eyepiece is 2.4X. Image 2 shows the Barlow separated from the top section where the 2" eyepiece would attach. The bottom section of

warm cast, reduction of blue/violet, amazing contrast, and extremely sharp images The mirrors are guaranteed to have interferometry results of at least 1/20th wave PV (Peak to Valley Measurement). Each quartz piece has a serial number and comes with an interferogram with the results of the surface testing for the quartz in your diagonal.

The 2" diagonal will take 2" eyepieces or 1.25" with an adapter.

You can learn more at www.vernonscope.com.

Vernonscope 2" Gold Coated Diagonal The Vernonscope 2" Gold Coated Diagonal has been re-issued in honor of the James Webb Space Telescope.

The Gold-coated 1/20th Wave Quartz Star Diagonal is built around a quartz flat with reflective coating and a protective quartz overcoat. The gold coasting provides a Image 5 - Vernonscope 2" Gold Coated Diagonal

Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

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NEWPRODUCTS/INDUSTRYNEWS

ATIK Apx26 CMOS Cameras The Atik Apx26 is the latest addition to the Apx series and Atik’s growing portfolio of CMOS sensor cameras. The camera will be available this summer and will offer innovative features such as in situ levelling and a built in USB hub, while seamlessly integrating with Atik’s advanced software solutions.

The Sony IMX 571 full frame sensor offers the perfect balance of versatility and quality as the 26.11 megapixel sensor is perfect for large format, wide field views with outstanding detail, while remaining compatible with a wide range applications and telescopes. The sensor has low read noise, high quantum efficiency, and 16-bit analogue to digital conversion, perfect for a wide range of applications and telescopes.

The advanced Sony sensors used in the Atik Apx series are well known for their ‘no glow’ quality with outstanding detail. The camera has a 512MB memory buffer to prevent image artefacts and dropped frames. Furthermore, the Apx26 comes with a built-in USB hub, high performance cooling, anti-condensation and anti-reflection optics, as well as easy chip adjustment.

The Atik Apx26 specifications

include: • Image sensor: Sony IMX571 CMOS sensor • Pixel array (resolution): 6244 x 4168 • No. of pixels: 26.11 MP • Pixel size (µm): 3.76 x 3.76 • Sensor size: 28.3mm diagonal (27.7mm x 22.3mm)

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Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

• Full well: TBD • ADC: 16bit • Digitization (MBPS): Limited by USB 3 speed • Readout noise: TBD • Cooling delta: -35°C • Regulated cooler: Yes • Max. Exposure: 24 hours • Min. Exposure: 10 ms • PC Interface: USB 3 full speed • Power Requirements: 12VDC, 5A • Backfocus Distance: Default = 17mm ±0.5; Without levelling plate = 9.5mm ±0.5 • Thread on front: M54 x 0.75 • Weight: 1.1kg • Overall dimensions: 89mm x 152mm • Mono or color: Either • Trigger in/out: Optional You can learn more about the Atik Apx26 at www.atik-cameras.com.

“Find “F d Out Ho How Goood You Yo r Nigh Niigh ht Sky ky Really R ly IIs! Is!”

SQM

SQM-L

SQM-LU

An versatile handheld Sky Quality Meter for measuring sky brightness and more

Handheld d Narrow Field-of-View Sky Qualiity Meter

USB connected Narrow Field-of-View Sky Quality Meter

SQM-LU-DL

SQM-LE

SQM-LR

Datalogging Sky Quality Meter with Narrow Field-of-View

Ethernet co c nnected Sky Quality Meterr with Narrow Field-of-View

RS232 connected Sky Quality Meter with Narrow Field-of-V View

Uses and Features s • Find out how good the nigghht or site REALLLY Y is.

• Compare the sky brigghtness aatt diff ffer erent sites quantitatively.

• Document the evolution of ligghht pollution in yo your area.

• Set planetarium dome illumination to mimic the skies people are likely to experience elsewhere in the city.

• Monitor sky brigghtnes e s througgh the night, nigghht-to-nnighht, and year-tto-y o year.

• Help provide local ground truth ffoor fu future sky brigghtness prediction with the Clear Sky Clock.

• CCD users can make a correlation between the SQM reading and w whhen the background reaches some ADC level.

• Sky brightnesss reported in visual magnitudess per square arcsecond.

• Inffrared blocking filter restricts measuremennt to visual

• Determine w whic hich niggghhts show the greatest promise ffoor finding the ‘fainntest ffuzzies uzzies’!

bandpass.

• Sensor tempera e ature, model number, and serial number

• Calibrate the eff ffeect of sky brightness on qualitative measures such as the Bortle Scale.

are provided.

• Precision readdings at even the darkest sites.

• Investigaate how sky brigghtness correlates with the solar cycle and month-to-month sunspot activity.

• Field-upgradeeable firmware.

• Open protocool document.

Unihedro on - www..unihedro on.com

NEWPRODUCTS/INDUSTRYNEWS

PLAYER ONE ASTRONOMY Saturn SQR Cameras Designed for Lunar, Solar mosaic and DSO imaging the Saturn SQR cameras from Player One Astronomy feature the Sony IMX533 CMOS image sensor offering high image quality, high resolution and a square format with virtually no amp glow.

The Saturn-C and Saturn-M SQR camera’s IMX533 sensor is based on Sony STARVIS technology with a 1” square format pixel array and approximately 9M effective pixels. This sensor incorporates a maximum 36 dB PGA circuit and 14-bit A/D converter. The 14-bit digital output makes it possible to read out the signals of 9.07 M effective pixels at high-speed of 26.9 frames/s in still picture mode. It realizes 12-bit digital output at high-speed of 63.6 frames/s. The 3.76um pixel size accommodates a well depth of 73Ke with a total of 9MP (the resolution is 3008*3008), and the diagonal is 16mm.

The Saturn SQR cameras can run 43FPS under RAW8 mode and offer dual sampling modes. Normal mode has a faster fps and is more suitable for planetary imaging. LRN (low readout noise) mode has lower readout noise and higher dynamic range and is more suitable for DSO imaging.

The Saturn SQR Cameras from Player One Astronomy have DPS (Dead Pixel Suppression) technology. The DPS analyzes many dark frames to find fixed abnormal pixels and record the map in camera memory. With each exposure frame, the position of dead pixels will be given a median value according to the active pixels around that abnormal pixel.

The cameras also utilize a DDR3

44

Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

cache which helps stabilize and secure data transmission, helping to effectively avoid frame dropping and greatly reducing read noise. With the DDR3 cache, the camera does not have high demands on computing needs and will offer excellent performance even if it is connected to a USB 2.0 port.

When the camera is connected to the USB3.0 interface and full-resolution preview is used, it can reach 43 FPS in RAW8 mode (10bit ADC). When recording images, since the actual writing speed will be affected by the writing

speed of the hard disk itself, when the hard disk writing speed is slow, the recording may not reach the theoretical speed. It is recommended that you use a high-quality solid state drive to record data to give full play to the performance of the camera.

The ST4 guide cable provides the ability to connect the camera to the auto guide port of an equatorial mount to do guiding.

You can learn more about the Saturn SQR Cameras from Player one online at www.player-one-astronomy.com.

NEWPRODUCTS/INDUSTRYNEWS

IOPTRON New SkyHunter Mount

The iOptron SkyHunter mount offers the ultimate in Grab N’ Go functionality with GoTo and built-in Wi-Fi for control from your smartphone. It has to be one of the lightest, most compact and portable full function mounts ever introduced on the market.

Fifteen years after releasing the innovational Cube AZ/EQ GoTo mount, the iOptron SkyHunter mount takes the next step in its evolution. Weighing in at only 2.9 lbs (including internal rechargeable battery), the SkyHunter is capable of supporting an 11 lb payload in both equatorial and alt-azimuth modes.

The iOptron SkyHunter mount features four tracking rates, 1X or sidereal, 1/2X for sky and landscape combined, Solar and Lunar. All 4 tracking rates work in both northern and southern hemispheres. The SkyHunter mount can be controlled by an iOS or Android SmartPhone/tablet, an optional 8410 hand controller, or a computer via

46

Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

ASCOM, INDI or embedded drive.

When you choose the complete iOptron SkyHunter portable GoTo AZ/EQ system with iPolar, you get a complete a comprehensive Grab N’ Go solution. Starting with an EQ wedge to enable alt-azimuth and equatorial functionality, also included is a well mated steel tripod pier as well as an available carbon fiber upgrade. A pier extension is included for additional clearance which prevents attached equipment from coming into contact with the legs of the tripod.

The complete package also includes a counterweight and shaft as well as a MiniUSB charging cable. The built-in, rechargeable Li-Poly battery allows for up to 10 hours of continuous operation.

The complete iOptron SkyHunter mount package also includes the iPolar electronic polar scope. With iPolar, accurate polar alignment has never been so simple. All you have to do is place the plus symbol over the graphical representation of the celestial pole's location.

When these two symbols are aligned they represent a precise polar alignment, allowing you to get the best performance possible from your SkyHunter mount.

With the built-in WiFi adapter its easy to control the SkyHunter mount with iOS or Android devices, ASCOM drivers, iOptron Commander, Sky Safari, or with an optional 8410 hand controller (sold separately).

The specifications for the iOptron SkyHunter mount complete system include: • Specialized Grab N’ Go GoTo EQ/AZ mount • Mount weighs 2.9 lbs (1.3kg) • Payload 11 lbs (5kg) (balanced, exclude CW) • Dual-axis servomotors with optical encoders

• Tracking speed: Solar, Lunar, 1X, 1/2X, S/N • Operation in both northern and southern hemisphere • Vixen dovetail saddle • Built-in rechargeable battery for up to 10 hours of operation (20°C) • Built-in WIFI adapter for full ASCOM, iOptron Commander and Sky Safari control • USB port for firmware upgrade and computer control • Optional Go2Nova 8410 controller with Advanced Go2Nova GoTo technology • iPolar electronic polar scope • Counterweight Shaft: Φ20X200mm with 3/8” thread, stainless steel • Counterweight: 3 lbs (1.35kg) • Attaches to a camera tripod with 3/8” or 1/4” threads • 1.25" Stainless steel tripod • Optional carbon fiber tripod • Pier-extension You can learn more about the iOptron SkyHunter mount at www.ioptron.com.

NEWPRODUCTS/INDUSTRYNEWS

DO YOU HAVE AN ARTICLE IDEA FOR US? ASTRONOMY

TECHNOLOGY TODAY Your Complete Guide to Astronomical Equipment STAR HOPPING WITH PS ALIGN PRO PUSH-TO • EXPLORE SCIENTIFIC 127 FCD100 EXPLORE SCIENTIFIC 2" 17MM AND 92° EYEPIECE • FORNAX 52 MOUNT NO-MAR, NO-DEFLECTION GUIDE-SCOPE ADJUSTMENT

ASKAR FRA 400 TELESCOPE

Volume 14 • Issue 8 $6.00 US

IF SO, EMAIL US AT info@astronomytechnologytoday.com.

Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

47

NEWPRODUCTS/INDUSTRYNEWS

ORION 8x50 Right-Angle Correct Image Finder Scope The Orion 8x50 Right-Angle Correct Image Finder Scope has a big, multi-coated 50mm objective lens assembly and provides 8x magnifying power. Its field of view is 5.5 degrees and it offers single crosshairs for easy, precise centering of objects.

The aluminum tube has a gloss black finish on the outside and is painted flat black on the inside to prevent internal reflections. The rotatable front cell holds the objective lens assembly and acts as a dew shield. It is cut internally with baffle threads to prevent reflections and ensure excellent contrast.

The Orion 8x50 Right-Angle Correct Image Finder Scope comes with a cast-aluminum bracket with a dovetail foot that fits the finder scope base on most Orion telescopes. Alignment of the finder scope with the main telescope is easy and intuitive by virtue of two perpendicular nylon thumbscrews and an opposing spring-loaded pin.

The finder scope's focus can be adjusted by loosening the knurled lock ring just behind the front cell, then rotating the cell either way as needed until focus is reached. The lock ring is then retightened against the cell.

You can learn more about the Orion 8x50 Right-Angle Correct Image Finder Scope at www.telescope.com.

easily focus your binoculars by adjusting each eyepiece individually, perfectly matching your own vision.

The new APM 8x56 MS ED Binoculars join the APM 6×30 MS ED Binoculars which were introduced at the end of last year.

The hallmark of the APM Magnesium Series are their weatherproof and waterproof design, offering ultimate performance. But of course, waterproof and weatherproof Magnesium construction matters little if not matched to optics of equal quality, and here APM’s MS Binos shine, featuring a high-specification BAK-4 Porro-prism optical system, along with ED objective lenses.

The APM Magnesium Series binocular line is designed to offer an impressive wide field view. The compact, sturdy and easy-to-use design makes these binoculars the ideal field companion for daytime and nighttime use. The fully coated FMC optics and the solid

mechanics allow true color image reproduction.

These instruments are designed specifically for outdoor use – the entire line features waterproof construction and are fully nitrogen purged for use in the rain or left unprotected on a tripod during showers without the worry of water infiltration. In addition to waterproofing, the binoculars are protected with durable natural rubber covering.

You can learn more about the new APM 8x56 MS ED Binoculars at www.apm-telescopes.net.

APM New 8x56 MS ED Binoculars The new APM 8x56 MS ED Binoculars are the latest in the APM Magnesium Series and will soon be available r, according to Markus Ludes with APM Telescopes.

The APM 8 x 56 MS ED Binoculars will offer: • Real FOV: 7.5 degree • Apparent FOV: 60 degree • Eye relief: 23 mm • IPD: 56 mm to 74 mm • Waterproof • Weight armored version: 1450 grams All APM Magnesium Series binoculars bodies are constructed with lightweight Magnesium. Not only is Magnesium the lightest of the metal elements, it is also extremely strong and is resistant to corrosion. The body of each binocular is fitted with a rubber armor, which serves to both protect it from damage while also giving providing a lightweight, slip-resistant grip. You can

48

Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

New Product Store We Carry Over 90 Different Manufacturers in Addition to Our High End APM Products

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Your Headquarters For: Binoculars • Telescopes • Observe the Sun • Mounts & Tripods • Eyepieces • CCD / Astro Photography Optical Accessories • Mechanical Accessories • Other Accessories • Domes Observatories • Secondhand • Used Zeiss Products • Oldtimer & Antique APM Telescopes Quierschieder Weg 38 66280 Sulzbach GERMANY Phone: +49 (0) 6897 92 49 29-0 Fax: +49 (0) 6897 92 49 29-9

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NEWPRODUCTS/INDUSTRYNEWS

RIGEL SYSTEMS wifi-Aline Collimation Tool The wifi-Aline collimation tool from Rigel Systems has been updated with new adjustable focus and other new features.

The wifi-Aline enhances the accurate collimation of Dobsonian and Newtonian telescopes by sending a real-time video stream of the telescope optics wirelessly to a tablet, phone or computer’s display. It does not require any additional apps, applications, or other software downloads for use on computers, tablets or phones.

The wifi-Aline collimation tool offers a new generation ESP32 processor that wirelessly serves up webpages to the Safari, Edge, Firefox, or Chrome web browser on your computer, tablet, or phone for complete control of all functions and viewing the real-time video stream of your telescope’s optical elements.

As an additional assist, wifi-Aline superimposes 3 coaxial target rings and a crosshair that, once carefully offset to align with the primary mirror edge, guide the collimation adjustments for the secondary and other optical elements to bring them into accurate collimation with the primary mirror.

The wifi-Aline collimation tool internally surrounds the camera lens with an ultra-bright micro-prism retro-reflector, lit by the light gathered by your primary to brightly delineate the centerline of your optics. Focus can be adjusted by screwing the lens in/out.

50

Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

The wifi-Aline is fully self-contained requiring only power from an external (not included) USB power pack through its (provided) USB power cable. The Wi-Fi range is greater than 20 feet easing the collimation task on large Dobs or Newts where the collimation screws for the primary and secondary mirrors are

some distance from the focuser.

Inside, the wifi-Aline collimation tool surrounds the camera lens with an ultra-bright micro-prism retroreflector, lit by the light gathered by your primary to brightly delineate the centerline of your optics.

You can learn more online at www.rigelsys.com.

From begin nners to advanc a ed amateurs to iinstitution ns…

Visual Filters Astronomik Visual Filters are correctly optimized for naked eye visual observation allowing g each object to be viewed with maximu um contrast through your eyepiece. The e transmission curves of the filters are dessigned so that you gain maximum con o trast and brightness while retaining the e subtlest gradations in each object. Astronomik filter transmission curves are op ptimized fo or telescopes with an aperture ratio of f/4 to f/15.

Photog grraphic p Narrowb bandb d Emissionline Filters The Astronom mik MFR Narrowband-Emis wband Emissionline Filterrs are per fectly matched to the requirements of astronomical Deep-Sky imaaging. For the three most important em mission lines of Oxygen (OIII), Hydrogen (H--alpha) and Sulfur (SII), you may select your o filters either with 12nm or 6nm Bandwid dth (FWHM).

De Co

Astr desi perf Astr ben with ima con

Inf

Astr 742 offe nee elim spec con

UV+IR Blo B ck Filters

Ne

Astronomik off o ers a range of UV+IR blocking filte ers that are critical for removing unwanted UV and IR wavelengths. These include the MC-clear Filter; OWB-CCD Typ 3; Luminance Filters L-1, L-2 and L-3; UV-IR Blocker; and IR Blocker.

The emi very mat astr fast

www.astron

…including the ESO an nd NASA, Astronomik filters are setting n new standards in astronomy observation and d photography. Our customers appreciate our uncompromising pursuit and dedication n to never-ending improvement to meett and surpass the highest quality standards. Astrronomik filters are "Made in Germany"- and a include wide range of fi finely tuned filters to meet nearly all nee eds.

eep p-Sky RGB olor l Filtter Set

Light Pollution Filters L

ronomik Deep-Sky RGB filters arre igned for maximum deep sky im maging formance with CCD cameras. Using s ronomik Deep-Sky RGB filters w will efit your imaging and will proviide you h the highest-quality data ffor or am amazing mazing ges with unsurpassed sharpnesss, trast and vivid colors.

Astronomik Light Pollution Filters for viisual and imaging purposes block the lig ght of the spectral lines of mercury and so odium-vapor lamps and lets the largest paart of the visible light and H-alpha em missions pass. All the important emission lines, as well as the spectral region th hat the very well dark adapted eye can se ee, can pass through the filters.

frared Pass Filters

Clip-Filter System

ronomik ProPlanet 642 BP P,, ProPlanet and ProPlanet 807 infrared pass filters er three unique choices to match h your ds to enhance non-visible light and minate the visible portions of the e ctrum that contribute to poor im maging ditions.

Th he Astronomik Clip-Filter offerings are hugely popular with DSLR camera owners fo or astro imaging. Ingenious in their de esign, these custom-made filters fit in nside the housing of the camera, just be ehind the lens or T-ring. No tools are ne ecessary to use them, as they just pop in an nd out.

ew MaxFR Filters

L-RGB Color Filter Set

new MaxFR Astronomik Filters ssion line filters are suitable up to y fast focal ratios and are perfectly tched to the requirements of onomical deep-sky imaging witth optical systems.

nomik.com

Th he Astronomik L-RGB Color Filter Set is esspecially designed for astrophotography with CCD cameras. These filters provide a w naatural color reproduction of planets, sttars, emission- and reflection nebulas.

THE NEXT EVOLUTION

IN VIDEO CAMERAS FROM MALLINCAM The Mallincam

SkyRaide y r DS26c/mTEC is Here!

This is the big one!

With a 16 bits A/D converter, the New MallinCam m SkyRaider DS26c/mTEC is a video imager with a high QE never seen beforee in its class. Equipped with the new Sony Industrial 26.1 megapixels, back iilluminated IMX571BQR-J, APS-C size, 28.3 mm (1.8 type) diagonal, 80% QEE high performance CMOS sensor, sensitivity has now been made possible to surpass CCD sensors on the market today.

Having 3.76 X3.76 microns pixels with no amp glow, g this new deep sky camera is a must to own for those who want to take t advantage of mere seconds of exposure to get their favorite deep sky s targets live on the screen and to capture video of their observation ns with the widest field of view possible. And the DS26c/mTEC excels ass an imager as would be expected with a camera of this sophistication n.

The unique cooling system is the same as our other ther SkyRaider cooled cameras. MallinCam has successfully design a cooling ooling chamber called refrigeration cooling - which subjects the CMOSS sensor to cooling inside a triple sealed vacuumed sensor chamber controlled with a heating element mounted around the internal optical window w to control and avoid dew formation on the optical window and d surroundings. A vacuumed sealed chamber is used to eliminate the use of desiccant material and keep dew free environment permaanently.

The Sony IMX571BQR-J Class 1 CMOS sensor is industrial ndustrial grade and made to work at 100% duty cycle making this CMOS sensor run all night with top imaging performance. It is available in a color version as well as a monochrome edition for those purissts who demand mono performance and increased sensitivity. It is powered with a diagonal of 28.3 mm (Type ( yp 1.8)) CMOS active pixel p type yp so olid-state image g sensor with a square pixel array and 26.11 M effective p pixels. This chip features a rolling shutter with variable charge-integration time.

Each camera is subjected to a 24-hour burn-in prior p to being ready for shipment to insuring proper operation. It is thesse details and more that set MallinCam apart from everyone else.

The camera is now in limited production don’t wait to get yours today!

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S K YR AI DE R DS 2. 3P L U S —2. 3 Megapixel T he S k yR a ider DS 2. 3P L US video/im a ger /a utoguider is the newes t in the S k yR a ider fa m il y of a s tr onom ica l video/im a ging ca m er a s . I t inc l udes the ver y l a tes t S ony E Xm or C MOS s ens or to del iver the inc r ea s ed s ens itivity needed for a s tr onom ica l obs er va tion a nd im a ging. T he new S k yR a ider DS 2. 3P L US is r ea dy for the m os t dem a nding a ppl ica tions in video/im a ging a s tr onom y, excel l ing a t l ive obs er ving of both deep- s k y a nd s ol a r s ys tem objec ts . T he Ma l l inC a m S k yR a ider DS 2. 3P L US is the m os t ver s a tile video/im a ging ca m er a ever c r ea ted for com puter us e.

As tr onom ica l objec ts ca n be obs er ved l ive while im a ges a r e ca ptur ed or video is being r ecor ded.

Features: S ta r r egis tr a tion s ys tem for l ive s ta c k ing on the fl y I dea l for a l l m otor ized a l t- a z m ounted teles copes S uppor t inc l udes ful l tr igger m ode B uil t- in m em or y Gl oba l s hutter C DS (cor r el a ted double s a m pl ing) 2. 35- m ega pixel C MOS cer a m ic col our s ens or

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13. 4m m dia gona l (WUXGA m ode) N um ber of effec tive pixel s : 1936 (H ) × 1216 (V)) WUXGA m ode Tr a ns fer m ethod: a l l - pixel s ca n F ul l H D H a nd- s elec ted s ens or c l a s s 0 s c ientific gr a de S ea led m ul ticoa ted optica l window F P S /r es ol ution: up to 30 @ 1936 x 1216 (com puter per for m a nce dependent) P r ogr es s ive s ca n, gl oba l s hutter

P ixel (+m ): 5. 86 s qua r e C onnec tivity US B 3. 0 S ens or ga in: va r ia ble to 50x S ens or G s ens itivity: 1000m v @ 1/30s with I R fil ter S ens or G s ens itivity without I R : 2000m v B inning: 1 x 1 S ens or : 2. 35M/I MX302 col our s ens or 1936 x 1216 S i z e ( m m ) 1/ 1. 2" ( 7. 20 x 4. 5) WUXGA m ode Guiding: S T 4 s ta nda r d pr otocol

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Al l - a l um inum cons tr uc tion, pr ec is ion C N C m a c hining H a ndc r a fted elec tr onic s a s s em bl y One US B 3 ca ble oper a tion 1. 25" a da pter 5- m etr e- l ong (16 feet) US B 3 high- gr a de ca ble

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T he Ma l l inC a m S k yR a ider DS 16C util izes a 16. 3 effec tive m ega pixel cer a m ic C MOS gr a de 1 s ens or. T he new s ens or m ea s ur es 22m m dia gona l ly.. T he ca m er a del iver s high- r es ol ution im a ges us ing a l l teles cope types fo or thos e s pec ta c ul a r l a r ge a s tr onom ica l objec ts . T his s ens or ha s s ignifica ntly im pr oved s ens itivity in the nea r - infr a r ed l ight r egion, a nd it util izes s qua r e 3. 80 +m unit pixel s with high s igna l - to- nois e r a tio.

Features: Gl oba l s hutter 12 bits S ta r r egis tr a tion s ys tem for l ive s ta c k ing on the fl y I dea l for m otor ized a l t- a z m ounted teles copes S uppor t inc l udes ful l tr igger m ode B uil t- in m em or y C DS (cor r el a ted double s a m pl ing) 16. 3- m ega pixel C MOS cer a m ic col our s ens or 22m m dia gona l N um ber of effec tive pixel s : 4656 x 3518 ( 16, 379, 808)

Tr a ns fer m ethod: a l l - pixel s ca n P r ogr es s ive s ca n F ul l H D s uppor t H a nd- s elec ted s ens or c l a s s 1 s c ientific gr a de S ea led m ul ticoa ted no I R optica l window w P ixel (+m ): 3. 80 x 3. 80 s qua r e C onnec tivity US B 3. 0 (US B 2 com pa tible) S ens or ga in: va r ia ble to 20x S ens or G s ens itivity: 2413m v @ 1/ 30s B inning r es ol ution: 4640 x 3506, 2304 x 1750, 1536 x 1168 S ens or : P a na s onic v Ma icovicon s er ies s uper high per for m a nce

S i z e ( m m ) 4/ 3" ( 17. 6472 x 13. 3228) 4K 2K s uppor t F ul l s ca n, a ny s ize c r opping As pec t r a tio: 4: 3 Tota l num ber of pixel s : 16, 845, 920 Guiding: S T 4 s ta nda r d pr otocol Al l - a l um inum cons tr uc tion, pr ec is ion C N C m a c hining H a ndc r a fted elec tr onic s a s s em bl y One US B 3 ca ble oper a tion 5- m etr e- l ong (16 feet) pr em ium US B 3 ca ble

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THE SKY-WATCHER USA EVOLUX 82ED REFRACTOR

By Dr. James R. Dire

There are a lot of doublet refractors on the market now containing one element of extra-low dispersion (ED) glass. In this article, I review SkyWatcher USA’s 82mm entry into this market. They also have a 62mm refractor in this series. I suspect they both perform similarly.

Before I jump into the telescope review, I should explain the types of refractors. Simple convex lens do not focus all colors of light at the same focal point (Image 1). This is an imperfection known as chromatic aberration. Early refractors used two lenses in the objective (called a doublet). The two lenses are designed to bring two wavelengths of light to the same focus point. Such telescopes are called acromats.

These early acromatic refractors had very large focal ratios; the ratio of the focal length to the objective diameter. Focal ratios are sometimes called f numbers (f/#). The larger the f/#, the less of a problem exists from chromatic aberration. Thus, refractors from the 17th century through most of the 20th century were large f/# acromats.

I have often used the 8-inch f/12 Clark refractor at the U.S. Naval Acad-

Image 1 - Single convex lenses suffer from chromatic aberration where different wavelengths do not come to focus at the same point. This is why refractors are made with two or more lenses. emy. I have never seen chromatic aberration on bright objects such as the Moon or Jupiter, and my photographs through this instrument are aberrationfree.

Some telescopes use three lenses in the objective (a triplet). The three lenses ensure that three wavelengths of light all focus at the same point. These

telescopes are called apochromats (Apo for short). Apochromats eliminate most of the chromatic aberration. Although, I have seen a few Apo’s in my day with smaller f/#s that suffered from chromatic aberration.

Amateur astronomers don’t use 8foot or longer telescopes these days.

Most refractors now in use have small

Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

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THE SKY-WATCHER USA EVOLUX 82ED REFRACTOR

Image 2 - The Evolux 82ED refractor comes in an aluminum hard case.

Image 3 - The Evolux 82ED refractor fits securely in the case with an ample supply of foam. Pre-perforated cutouts will allow storage of eyepieces and other small accessories in the case.

Image 4 - The author tested the Evolux 82ED refractor using a Image 5 - The object end of the Evolux 82ED refractor.

Celestron CGEMII mount. f/#s and would suffer severely from chromatic aberration if made with crown flint glass. But, modern telescopes now incorporate at least one element with ED glass in the objective.

Triplets with one ED element haves essentially zero chromatic aberration. In doublets, the use of ED glass drastically reduces the chromatic aberration inherent in short f/# refractors.

So why would someone buy a doublet over a triplet. The answer has to

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do with cost. Not only is there 50% more glass in a triplet over a doublet, but it is more costly to make a matched triplet objective than a doublet objective. Fortunately, ED doublets perform reasonably well over refractors that don’t use ED glass. Some perform nearly as good as an Apo. The Evolux 82ED came shipped in a very nice metal storage case (Image 2) inside a well-padded cardboard box.

Most scopes in this class do not come

with a metal case, if any case at all.

This is a nice feature provided by SkyWatcher! With the dew shield retracted, the optical tube assembly (OTA) fits securely in the case (Image 3). There is plenty of room the in case for a few eyepieces, and or a red dot finder, once some of the precut foam is removed! One could probably fit a 1.25-inch diagonal in the case, too.

The telescope comes with the OTA, caps on each end, a clamshell

THE SKY-WATCHER USA EVOLUX 82ED REFRACTOR ring system, and a Vixen-style dovetail plate colored green to match the telescope’s trim. Atop the clamshell bracket are two mounting shoes for finders or guiders. That’s it. I have my own arsenal of telescope accessories, so I was ready to roll night one out (Image 4).

The Evolux 82ED is an 82mm f/6.45 refractor (Image 5). The telescope has a 530mm focal length. The OTA with everything attached to it in the case weighs a mere 6.5 pounds.

The telescope has a 2.4" dual speed (11:1) rack & pinion focuser that operates quite smoothly!

In the case the telescope is 16.375 inches long. With the dew shield fully extended, the length is 22.25 inches.

This telescope has the longest dew shield I have ever seen on a telescope of this size. It will do a most excellent

Image 6 - The author attached a Canon 600D DSLR camera to the telescope for lunar photography.

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THE SKY-WATCHER USA EVOLUX 82ED REFRACTOR

Image 7 - Image of a nearly full Moon captured with the Evolux 82ED refractor and a Canon 600D camera.

Image 8 - The author zoomed in and cropped the left side of the Moon from Image 6 to show the ever so slight hint of false color on the edge of the Moon.

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job keeping condensation off the optics when not pointed near the zenith.

The first clear night after the telescope arrived was the day before the Full Moon. That didn’t stop me from running my initial tests on the scope. I attached a 9x50mm finderscope and a two-inch diagonal to do some lunar observing with Tele Vue 26mm Naglar (20x) and 13mm Ethos (41x) eyepieces. I mounted the OTA on a Celestron CGEM II German equatorial GOTO mount as seen in Image 4.

The two-inch focuser has two thumbscrews to hold the two-inch diagonal. One problem I immediately noticed was when I hand tightened them as tight as I could, it still wasn’t tight enough for the weight of my diagonal and large eyepieces. The diagonal would come loose due to the gravity torque of the eyepiece.

A bright full Moon is the ultimate test to spot chromatic aberrations.

There wasn’t much false color except for a faint green ring of light on the edge of the Moon. I pointed the scope at the brightest stars above the horizon, Capella and Vega. No false color was seen on these bright stars.

I next attached a Canon 600D camera to the telescope. This configuration is shown in Image 6. I used a cable released with the camera’s mirror lock up feature to image the Moon. A sample picture appears in Image 7.

Image 7 was taken prime focus and is uncropped. I was very pleased at the quality and sharpness of the image.

One has to zoom in to the edge of the Moon considerably to see any hint of chromatic aberration. Zooming Image 6 on the edge of the Moon (Image 8) shows the faint hint of the false color I

saw at the eyepiece. Regardless, the telescope takes a pretty darn good picture of the full Moon!

Besides the Moon, this telescope would be perfect for taking images of sunspots or solar eclipses. All that would be needed is an appropriate solar filter.

I waited two weeks for a clear moonless night to do my second round of testing. On this night, I did more visual tests as well as some CCD imaging with a SBIG ST-2000 single-shot, color camera. I decided to use a 1.25inch diagonal with my 8.8mm and 5mm 82° eyepieces. Image 9 shows this configuration, although for the telescope mount setup, I used the shown 25mm Plössl eyepiece to center my alignment stars. Image 8 also shows both a finderscope and red dot finder mounted atop the OTA. The 1.25-inch diagonal and eyepieces are much lighter in mass and worked much better with this than the two-inch accessories I used for the night of lunar viewing.

The 8.8mm eyepiece provided a magnification of 60x, perfect for resolving star clusters and many double stars. The 5mm gave a 106x magnification. This magnification works great for planets or very closes binary stars.

The Dawes limit for this size telescope is 1.4 arc seconds. So if the seeing cooperates, very close binary stars can be split with this telescope.

I pointed the telescope at many Messier objects such as clusters M35, M36, M13, M3, M4, and galaxies M51, M81 and M82. All Messier objects are within reach of this telescope.

Some will be faint. I could resolve M13 into myriad stars at the higher power.

THE SKY-WATCHER USA EVOLUX 82ED REFRACTOR

Image 9 - The author conducted visual test of the Evolux 82ED refractor using a 1.25-inch diagonal with two high quality 1.25 inch eyepieces.

Open star clusters were especially a treat!

An 82mm refractor is a great sized telescope for CCD imaging. So I attached a CCD camera to the telescope to test its imaging capabilities (Image 10). Although I used a single shot color CCD camera, one with RGB filters would work just as well, if not better since exact focusing with each filter will completely eliminate any minimal chromatic aberration.

Sky-Watcher makes a field flattener for this scope, which is necessary for imaging. The field flattener also slightly reduces the focal length by 0.9x (Image 11). Three objects appear in Image 11. On the right is the field flattener. On the left is a ring that threads onto the focuser in place of the one use to hold diagonals. This ring has the threads to accept the field flattener. The camera end of the field flattener has M48 threads. My camera equipment uses M42 threads. In the

middle of Image 11 is an adapter ring I purchased to convert from M48 to M42 threads.

Image 12 shows a side view of the camera and field flattener attached to the telescope. The field flattener requires 55mm spacing between the field flattener and the CCD sensor. As can be seen in Image 12, I added a few M42 spacer rings between the camera and field flattener to achieve the 55mm spacing. This spacing is crucial to eliminate all the field curvature inherent in a small f/# refractor.

Before I could start imaging, I had to balance the telescope camera system on the mount. As can be seen in Image 13, due to the weight of my CCD camera, I had to slide the clamshell ring all the way towards the focuser end of the OTA to achieve balance along the declination axis. Tracking and guiding were no problem once balance was achieved.

My first target was M35 and its

Image 10 - CCD imaging with the Evolux 82ED refractor was conducted with a SBIG ST-2000XCM CCD camera. This image provides a good view of the two piggyback shoes on the clamshell ring: one holding a red dot finder and the other holding a 9x50 finderscope. neighbor cluster NGC 2158. Both cluster just fit into a one-degree span of the sky. The 80-minute exposure is shown in Image 14. The telescope resolved myriad stars in the tiny NGC2158. Next I captured M13 (Image 15), the largest globular cluster north of the celestial equation. On the upper left hand side of this image, the faint galaxy NGC6207 is clearly visible! The M13 image was a 60minute exposure.

Next I wanted to see how smaller and fainter globular clusters would fare. Image 16 captured M53 and the much fainter cluster M5053 in the same field of view. The exposure was 70 minutes. M53 is on the upper right and NGC5053 on the lower left. I sus-

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THE SKY-WATCHER USA EVOLUX 82ED REFRACTOR

Image 12 - The CCD camera, M42 spacers and Evolux 82 focal reducer/field flattener attached to the telescope. Note the graduations in inches and millimeters on the focuser drawtube.

Image 11 - Left to right: 1) an accessory to attached the Evolux 82 focal reducer/field flattener to the focuser, 2) the author’s M48 to M42 adapter to use the SBIG camera with the telescope, and 3) the Evolux 82 0.9x focal reducer/field flattener. All of these items are purchased separately from the telescope.

pect if I doubled the exposure, I would have captured enough of both clusters for a decent image.

My next target was Markarian’s Chain, an arcing swath of 10 or so galaxies crossing the boundary between Virgo and Coma Berenices. A twohour exposure was perfect for capturing this galaxy chain. Image 17 contains the galaxies, while Image 18 has them all labeled. The Evolux 82 is ideal for taking these type of images!

The last image I attempted was of the Western Veil Nebula (NGC6960) centered on the star 52 Cygni (Image 19). In one hour, I was able to capture enough of the nebula to see it snaking from north to south passing behind 52

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Cygni. At darker sites, I have captured more of this nebula in one hour with this CCD camera. There was just enough light pollution at this site to drown out the nebula. However with a much longer exposure, the results would have been more satisfying.

After a long night of CCD imaging, I removed the camera equipment and put the 5mm eyepiece back into the scope to view Saturn, which had just risen above the tree line in the southeast. At 106x, the rings and planet were beautiful. The seeing at that altitude was poor, but I could still resolve the Cassini division. I would have liked to pop in a 2x Barlow to view Saturn at 212x. But Saturn would not have been high enough in the sky

Image 13 - The weight of the camera required balancing the telescope by sliding the clamshell ring all the way towards the focuser end of the telescope tube. The camera and all the accessories used threaded connections, safely securing them to the telescope. that morning before sunrise to view it through a small enough air mass to hold that power.

All of my images had pinpoint stars throughout the frames attesting to the quality of the optics, including the field flattener. The small star sizes also confirm the lack of appreciable chromatic aberration!

I had a lot of fun imaging with this telescope. The telescope is well made, has a great focuser, and is easy to use.

The aluminum case makes it easy to transport.

Image 14 - Galactic star clusters M35 and NGC2158 taken with an 80-minute exposure.

THE SKY-WATCHER USA EVOLUX 82ED REFRACTOR

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Image 15 - Globular cluster M13 from a 60-minute exposure.

THE SKY-WATCHER USA EVOLUX 82ED REFRACTOR

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Image 16 - M53, upper right, and NGC5053, lower left, from a 70-minute exposure.

THE SKY-WATCHER USA EVOLUX 82ED REFRACTOR

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Image 17 - Markarian’s Chain was captured with a two-hour exposure.

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Image 18 - The ten brightest galaxies in Markarian’s Chain are labeled here.

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Image 19 - The Western Veil Nebula was faintly captured with a one-hour exposure.

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BUDGET

ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY

By Paul Temple

The term budget and astrophotography don’t usually go together. Often advice is given by “experts” on forums that real astrophotography can’t be done until you spend $5,000 dollars or more in equipment and software. Today’s article will show how it can be done with an outlay of way less than a $1,000.

In 2009 I purchased an Orion ST80 telescope to use as a large guide scope with my Celestron 6” refractor. With the 6” and ST80 the old Celestron ASGT mount was laboring but still gave me good enough images to get a start in doing science imaging (photometry). It would track fine for 3-4 frames then have an exposure or two that would have out of round stars. For those of you who do photometry, you know, out of round stars are not usually a dealbreaker like it is for astrophotography. Overall, it still whetted my appetite for doing science with the equipment I had at the time.

Fast forward through three moves, economic recovery from the crash of 2008, a couple of job changes and a worldwide pandemic, to the winter of 2022. The Orion ST80 telescope sat unused in the garage for a number of years. It had seen service on Temple 28, an 11” Celestron CPC telescope but had been retired because its size made it difficult to balance the CPC tube.

Unfortunately, in the space of 6 months, the 11” needed serious work, the Meade 8” LX200 completely broke and my Explore Scientific AR102 refractor (which had become my main imaging scope) had to go back to the factory for an update. Now I was down to an Astro-Tech ED70 and the ST80 to image with.

The AstroTech ED70 did an amazing job! Clear clean images with little sign of chromatic aberration. Most of my regular imaging is done with a photometric filter. These are a single color filter, so you only have to focus on one color at a time. This negates issues with chromatic aberration in refractors and makes

Image 1 - Orion ST-80, Sony NEX-3N and Meade LXD-75 mount.

it possible to get great results from a poorly color corrected refractor like the ST-80.

The AT ED70 is designed to have minimum chromatic aberration so when used without a filter the images were relatively color free. Though this article is primarily about using the inexpensive and available to use Orion ST-80 for color imaging, Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

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BUDGET ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY this little AstroTech ED 70 is a real bargain for doing budget astrophotography.

Even using this telescope it still brings the total cost below $1,000 dollars.

Before Christmas of 2021 I bought a broken Sony NEX-3 mirrorless camera for 25 dollars on E-bay to experiment with. You could take pictures with it, but after 1 exposure the screen would go black and you had to restart the camera to take the next. Still this camera worked good for imaging. The biggest negative was no built in intervalometer or connection for an external one. With an APS-C CMOS sensor it gave better images than my Canon T5 for some reason and was easier to use.

After doing some research I bought a inexpensive, used Sony NEX-3N camera.

Unlike the NEX-3 this one has a port to add an external intervalometer. However, you could just use the “C3” setting for a 10 second delay with 3 images in a row.

Image 2 - The Pleaides or M 45.

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BUDGET ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY

Image 3 - This one even shows the red color coming out of the center of M 82!

Not as good as an intervalometer but is workable.

You can also use any DSLR or mirrorless camera to obtain good images. An inexpensive point and shoot camera using a SLR Camera Adapter will also work.

These adapters were hot items back when digital cameras were just getting started.

They allowed you to affix a bar onto the eyepiece tube to attach a camera. In fact I used one of these with a Meade ETX 90 RA, to image an annular eclipse of the sun.

By in large, these SLR adapters have been replaced by cell phone adapters. You can use a cell phone adapter to do quality work, especially if you have a phone with a premium camera. The premium camera phones allow you more control of your camera, especially to do long exposures.

Just a note, I used an old windows phone, a Lumia 640 XL, to image planets and the Sun through an achromatic refractor so

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Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

just about any phone, or telescope for that matter, can be pressed into service for imaging with a little work.

A few years ago, I bought an old Meade LXD-75 mount to use for a travel mount. So just for fun one night I set up the ST80 on the LXD-75 with the NEX3N camera attached. It was attached with a Sony adapter and T-Ring.

Even with lousy polar alignment and no guiding, the results blew me away. The images were good! Magazine good? Not quite but still pleasing. This was the first time I had seriously tried to do color astrophotography. In fact, I was so pleased I had a 16X20 canvas made of M 42 and put it in my office. Several times I had attempted to take a color image with a planetary color camera but never really tried it seriously or had much success. So it was exciting to get such good images with a first effort.

The images shown in Images 2 – 4

were taken without any filters. However, you can get better results on a short focal length achromatic refractor by using Minus V and UV/IR cutoff filters stacked together. The Minus V does a good job eliminating chromatic aberration for visual viewing. But when you use it with a camera you find that it does not work as well. There is a UV and IR light leakage above and below visual range. Your eye can’t see it but your camera can. So when you couple the Minus V with the UV/IR cutoff filter it virtually eliminates just about all of the chromatic aberration.

The images were stacked with Deep Sky Stacker in RAW format. They were processed in RawTherapee 5.8 a freeware program with similar features to Adobe Lightroom. Surprisingly enough, I like using RawTherapee 5.8 to do postprocessing better than Lightroom. However, Lightroom has much better capability to eliminate the blue/purple

BUDGET ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY

Image 4 - M 42. Lightroom was used to eliminate the false color after adjusting the levels with RawTherapee 5.8. This is the one that I had made into a 16X20 Canvas.

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BUDGET ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY

Image 5 - The two small holes on either side of the silver knob contain set screws. You adjust these to take the play out of the focuser. When you get it adjusted, it works well, eliminating the need to buy an aftermarket focuser more expensive than the telescope itself!

fringing of CA than RawTherapee, plus it is easier to do.

To help the performance of the ST80 there are several things you can do. The first is to adjust most of the play out of the focuser. There are two small set screws on the top of the focuser that can be adjusted to eliminate most of the image shift in the focuser. They are located on both sides of the silver set screw on top of the focuser.

The second is to use a Cheshire eyepiece to collimate the scope. Since there are no adjustment screws in the objective cell you must use a different procedure.

Place the telescope, objective down, on a table. Slightly loosen the screws holding the focuser on the tube. Put a flashlight to the hole in the side of the eyepiece and adjust the tube around until it is as collimated as possible. Tighten the screws to its new configuration. Mine is not perfect

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BUDGET ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY

Image 6 - Here is an image of M 42 using the Minus V and UV/IR cutoff filters. The tracking on the mount went bad but you can see the color difference. Unlike modern mounts the LXD-75 goes bonkers every once in a while and you have to “retrain” the drives.

but it is acceptable.

So how much did all of this cost? The telescope was $100, the mount $300, the camera was $120 and the adapter to attach the camera to the telescope was $25.

Since I already had the computer, Cheshire eyepiece and compact flash card for the camera these were not included in the calculations. I did purchase a $40 used finder that would fit the finder mount on the ST-80. So for an outlay of $585 dollars I was able to do a credible job of color imaging. The Meade LXD-75 mount is temperamental but these old mounts work well when you get them adjusted correctly.

Want to just play around with what you have now? The secret to good astrophotography is learning how to use your equipment. Many amateurs have tel-

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Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

escopes and mounts that would work to get started in astrophotography but they are often told they need to buy “more” or “better” equipment.

For example I have read in forums that you “can’t do astrophotography” with a Meade ETX 90. This is not true. For planetary it is amazing, often better than an apochromatic refractor. The poor drive system is still workable for planets, Sun, Moon and even bright stars or double stars. If you want to take long timed shots of very dim galaxies, or wide field nebula, then you will need a different set up. So look at what you already have, do a little research and give it a try before you buy something else.

With some patient shopping on the used market, or experiments using your own setup, you can do low cost color as-

trophotography. It’s not as quick or as easy as using a more expensive setup, but it can be done. Often you have to learn new skills to post process your images. It also takes time and experimentation to understand your equipment’s limitations.

Here’s a warning! Astrophotography is often called going to the “dark side.”

You take a couple of good images and the next thing you know your hobby has become an obsessive money pit! You find yourself with a box of cameras, numerous mounts and telescopes but with the tracking number for the latest and greatest new gear that you just bought!

Overall astrophotography doesn’t have to break the bank. There are ways to do it cheaply. The main thing is to go out and give it a shot with whatever you got!

THE NEXT EVOLUTION

IN VIDEO CAMERAS FROM MALLINCAM The MallinCam SkyR aider

DS10c

MallinCam introduces a new addition to the SkyR aider Video Camera Series. The DS10c has a 10.7- megapixel, back- illuminated, Sony IMX294 Class 1, hand- selected CMOS industrial sensor that has no amp glow. The DS10c has four gigabits DDR internal memory, enabling a smooth and effective image transfer and easing the resources on the computer’s USB 3 connection. Fan- assisted passive cooling keeps the CMOS sensor’s temperature stable. No Peltier cooler is needed, as the software can eliminate the noise and the hot and warm pixels that occur during live- viewing and imaging sessions. The sensor supports full 4K resolution for high- resolution live images in full colour.

The case was designed for use with HyperStar- compatible optical systems—perfect when a smaller obstruction is needed. The large- diameter, highly sensitive sensor will satisfy the most demanding video imager. The MallinCamSKY software makes the DS10c a highly desirable camera to own. The software includes conversion gain, dark- field correction, flat- field correction and digital binning up to level 4x4. This increases sensitivity to levels never before achieved in a large- format CMOS sensor.

The DS10c is fully compatible with the MallinCam Universe T- mount 0.5x focal reducer.

The MallinCam SkyR aider DS10c comes fully equipped with a 5- metre (16.4 ft) USB 3 high- grade cable, 2- inch to T- mount adapter and 2- metre (6.5 ft) guiding cable. Software can be downloaded from the MallinCam website.

Introductory price

$949.99USD :

The MallinCam SkyR aider

DS287

There are few things in life where one must “see it to believe it.” The new MallinCam DS287 is one of them. Never has an astronomical camera had so much sensitivity that instant live views could be achieved. Fitted with the Sony IMX287 industrial CMOS sensor (which dominates the market of high- sensitivity, low- noise, high signal- to- noise- ratio sensors), this camera is designed to offer unmatched performance at a reasonable price. We offer a colour or monochrome version (c/m).

The MallinCam SkyR aider DS287c/m is perfect for outreach programs at schools, colleges, universities, planetariums, museums and astronomy clubs or for the ultimate in live personal observing. It comes with MallinCamSKY software, which allows live stacking (either averaged or additive), dark- field correction, flat- field correction, gain adjustment and much more for fine- tuning the image on the computer screen. This camera performs with stunning sensitivity with very short exposures.

All components are industrial Grade 1 throughout the circuitry, and the Sony IMX287 CMOS industrial sensor is Class 1. Included are a 1.25- inch eyepiece adapter, a 2- metre (6.5 ft) guiding cable and a premium 5- metre (16.4 ft) USB 3 heavy- duty cable. The camera can achieve 525+/- frames per second (FPS), making the SkyR aider DS287c/m the ultimate planetary, lunar, solar (with proper solar filtration) and deep- sky camera.

B e ready to be impressed! It’s a MallinCam, the pioneer in live- video astronomy.

A GR EAT GALAXY- HUNTING CAMER A—IDEAL FOR YOUR SUPER NOVA SEAR CH!

Introductory price: $389.99USD

All MallinCam products are high-performance video CCD/CMOS cameras and the most desired astronomical observational video systems available. ALL PRICES IN U.S. FUNDS

MallinCam.com SEE THE UNIVERSE LIVE AND IN COLOUR 56-5450 Canotek Rd., Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1J 9G4 Tel: 613-749-7592

Available in the U.S.: Jack’s Astro Accessories, Louisiana. http://mallincamUSA.com In Canada: Khan Scope Centre, 3243 Dufferin St., Toronto, Ontario. www.khanscope.com Focus Scientific, 911 Carling Ave., Ottawa, Ontario. www.focusscientific.com

Explore The Universe EYEPIECES Offered with apparent fields ranging from 68 degrees to an astonishing 120 degrees!

MOUNTS The PMC-Eight represents a new and unparalleled approach to robotic precision motion control for telescope mounts.

2020 Explore Scientific® All rights reserved. Purchase information and authorized dealer locater available at our website.

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TELESCOPES Our extensive line of telescopes include our ED Air-Spaced Triplet APO Refracting Telescopes offering true triplet apochromatic performance and just as extreme value.

ACCESSORIES We offer a full line of visual, imaging and general accessories that can take your astronomical game to the next level.

ASTRONOMY

TECHNOLOGY TODAY Your Complete Guide to Astronomical Equipment

LOOKING BACK SERIES - Vol. 8 -

2014 Issue 3

VIXEN SLV EYEPIECES –High-Quality, Flat-Field Eyepieces In his review, Erik shows how the Vixen SLV eyepieces are great all around eyepieces capable of providing excellent views of a wide array of objects, day or night.

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Vixen SLV Eyepieces High-Quality, Flat-Field Eyepieces

By Erik Wilcox

The Vixen SLV eyepieces feature high-grade lanthanum glass with fully multi-coated optics and seven lens elements in four groups. Having used some older Vixen lanthanum (LVs) eyepieces with excellent optics in the past, I was very excited to try the SLVs out.

I was immediately impressed with the overall build quality and attention to detail. It’s easy to see that Vixen did their homework in designing these eyepieces.

The twist-up eye guards have multiple individual click-stops, which makes it easy for the observer to quickly adjust the eyepiece to their exact setting without a lot of fuss. The chrome barrels feature blackened interiors that are threaded for filters and rubber eyepiece caps which fit securely (a big pet peeve of mine).

What I also found to be very clever was the outside shape of the barrel – instead of a standard round barrel, it is hexagonal shaped and has a nice rubber grip. This, of course, prevents the eyepiece from rolling away if it’s set on

its side on a flat surface such as an observing table. It’s the little things like this that make real differences under the stars.

Other specifications include 20 mm of eye relief and an all-metal body. One thing I found particularly useful was the large numerals designating the focal

lengths on the sides of the eyepiece barrels (“25”, “10,” etc.) – very easy to read at night!

My testing was done with three telescopes: a 16-inch f/4.5 truss-tube Dob sonian equipped with a coma-correcting device; an 8-inch f/5 Newtonian reflector also equipped with a coma-correcting deAstronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

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VIXEN SLV EYEPIECES

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VIXEN SLV EYEPIECES vice, and an 80-mm f/7 ED refractor. In the latter telescope, I used a turret device for quick comparisons. I compared the 25-mm SLV to a premium 24-mm wide-field eyepiece; the 10-mm SLV to a 10-mm Plössl eyepiece and a premium 9mm wide-field; and, finally, the 5-mm to an inexpensive 6mm widefield and a premium 6-mm wide-field (as I didn’t have another 5-mm eyepiece handy).

I often use optics for daylight observing, so my first comparison was simply looking at some Ohia Lehua trees in my backyard through the 80-mm refractor. I could see very little difference in comparing the 25-mm SLV to the pricier 24mm wide-field. The two eyepieces were nearly parfocal with each other, so it was easy to go back and forth with the turret device for quick and easy comparisons. Both eyepieces performed admirably, with excellent color correction and good contrast. I felt the twistup eye guard on the Vixen was more convenient for daylight use than the flipup (one position) rubber eye guard on the 24-mm wide-field.

Things were a bit different with the 10-mm SLV. It showed noticeably better contrast than the 10-mm Plössl and was much more comfortable to use due to the better eye relief and previously mentioned twist-up eye guard. Comparing the 10-mm SLV to the 9-mm wide-field was a bit more of a challenge due to differences in magnification and apparent fields of view (AFOV), but the 10-mm SLV performed just as well.

Regarding the difference in contrast – specifically what I saw that set the 10-mm SLV apart from the 10-mm Plössl – was deeper and more vibrant red color on the Lehua flowers and greener greens on the Ohia leaves. This difference wasn’t apparent when comparing the 10-mm SLV to the 9-mm wide-field but was quite noticeable compared to the 10-mm Plössl. The 10-mm Plössl is advertised as multi-coated, and I’ve always considered it an eyepiece of acceptable quality, so was a bit surprised at the rather noticeable difference in performance.

The 5-mm SLV is an eyepiece that really stood out. Although it was difficult to compare to the 6-mm eyepieces due to the differences in magnification, the SLV was clearly better than the inexpensive 6-mm wide-field. The SLV snapped into focus better, had better color correction, and was much more enjoyable to use. It had rained the night before and the raindrops that were collecting on the Ohia leaves were noticeably more vibrant and pleasant to look at through the 5mm SLV. By comparison, the views through the inexpensive

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VIXEN SLV EYEPIECES 6-mm wide-field looked rather dull and uninspiring. There was less of a difference when comparing the 5-mm SLV to the well-known 6-mm wide-field, but I still preferred the SLV due its ease of use for daylight observing and slightly better contrast.

I was finally able to do some comparisons at night after some unseasonably frequent rainstorms cleared up.

Observing from Mauna Kea State Park at 6500-feet elevation with the 16-inch Dob and the 80-mm refractor under a waxing crescent moon, I quickly found the SLVs to be exceptionally good eyepieces. I saw no ghost images, stray reflections or false color with the SLVs when observing the Moon. The 25-mm and 10-mm SLVs snapped to focus very well (the 5-mm was a bit too much magnification in the big Dob on this particular night) and showed crisp images and a wealth of detail and shadowing in the

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craters. Again, I found the twist-up eye guards to be convenient and easy to use.

There was very little kidney beaning or blackout, even on the Moon; I was very pleased as I find that this aberration can be very annoying.

I looked extensively at the edge correction of the SLVs when observing stars with the 16-inch. The 10-mm and 5mm SLVs have perfect edge correction; there was no visible field curvature, astigmatism, or other aberrations right up to the field stop through either telescope.

The 25-mm SLV showed a vague hint of field curvature through the 16-inch right at the field stop, but this didn’t hurt the overall views. I found the edge correction and color correction to otherwise be perfect. The faint field curvature was something I had to search for and probably wouldn’t have even noticed had I not been looking for it.

On Jupiter, the 10-mm showed bet-

ter contrast than the 10-mm Plössl through the 16-inch Dob at 210x. The cloud belts stood out better and had slightly more color. The disk also stood out a bit more against the background sky, and the sky was slightly blacker through the 10-mm SLV. While this difference didn’t seem as apparent when compared to the more expensive 9-mm wide-field, it was difficult to compare due to the slight difference in magnification. The 9-mm wide-field is about double the price of the Vixen SLV, so the Vixen performed very well. The ease of use with the 10-mm SLV stood out here as well when compared to the 10-mm Plössl, which was difficult to look through.

The 5mm SLV performed very well on Jupiter, Saturn, and the Moon through the 80-mm refractor. At 140x, Jupiter’s moons were crisp pinpoints that defocused into perfect spheres, and

VIXEN SLV EYEPIECES Jupiter’s disk showed three cloud belts clearly with excellent color and contrast.

This was not the case with the inexpensive 6-mm wide-field I used for comparison, which showed a good amount of scatter and internal reflections.

The SLVs also fared well on deepsky objects. I generally prefer wide-field eyepieces of 70 degrees or more due to the fact that all my scopes are un-driven.

Despite this limitation, I enjoyed using the Vixen SLVs very much, and the 50- degree AFOV provided excellent views. From my backyard at 4500-feet elevation, I had several great nights of observing to use and compare the SLVs with various other eyepieces in my collection.

Observing Omega Centauri through the 16-inch Dob presented my eyes with an array of stars that filled the 25-mm SLV eyepiece at 84x. Stars were resolved right to the core and had excellent color

and sharpness. The views were equally strong with the 10-mm SLV at 210x, although the object didn’t fit into the entire field of view.

After midnight, I was able to get some excellent views of M22 as well as various nebulae (Lagoon, Trifid, Swan) in Sagittarius with the 16-inch. M5, M13, and the Ring Nebula also showed excellent detail through the 25-mm and 10-mm SLVs. I attempted to view the central star in M57 with the 5-mm at 421x but was unable to on this particular night due to the sky conditions.

On the other side of the sky, M51 was high enough to get some nice views and the 25-mm SLV performed well on this object. I could clearly see both components of M51 with direct vision and the contrast was very impressive.

Time and time again, the SLVs outperformed the 10-mm Plossl and inex-

pensive 6-mm wide-field on planets and deep-sky objects. The SLVs were also equal in performance to the more expensive eyepieces I compared them to, and in many cases were more comfortable to use.

Overall, I am very impressed with just about everything that the Vixen SLVs offer. They are well designed and have excellent build quality, exquisite optical quality, are extremely easy and comfortable to use, and offer good value.

Despite the intricate seven-element lens design, the SLVs are lightweight and won’t cause balance issues. The Vixen SLVs would be an excellent purchase for someone seeking to upgrade from standard Plössls or other eyepieces of similar quality. For anyone seeking great allaround eyepieces capable of providing excellent views of a wide array of objects, day or night, I would highly recommend the Vixen SLV eyepieces.

Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

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ASTRONOMY

TECHNOLOGY TODAY Your Complete Guide to Astronomical Equipment

LOOKING BACK SERIES - Vol. 8 -

2014 Issue 5

THE AVALON M-ZERO SINGLE-ARM MOUNT Sexy Is As Sexy Does As Mark note’s “If you’re in the market, give the Avalon M-Zero some real thought; it does NOT disappoint!”

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The Avalon M-Zero Single-Arm Mount Sexy Is as Sexy Does

By Mark Zaslove

Ferrari. The name conjures beauty, power, red and cost. Big cost. But with a car like that, one also envisions European super-models, posh restaurants and paparazzi. Oh, and Italian. Now take a look at the Avalon M-Zero mount. Beauty.

Power (for its size). Red. Cost (sorta, but not really; we’ll get to that later).

Oh, and also Italian. Is a Ferrari worth it?

Is an Avalon M-Zero worth it? You bet!

But only if you enjoy luxury and fine craftsmanship.

I get it, I get it, I get it: there are ways to get to the grocery store cheaper than in an F12berlinetta. And, there are ways to view and take pics of the stars cheaper than with an M-Zero. But those other ways…they lack a certain something.

First things first. The Avalon M-Zero is a multi-purpose mount, a sort of Swiss Army knife that is super-light for the load capacity and can be used as a no-meridian flip EQ mount for smaller/shorter scopes, a regular EQ mount up to its weight capacity, an Alt/Az mount for those nights you just feel like visual with a scope or binoculars, and a panorama camera mount for landscape/time lapse photography.

Oh, and in these configurations, built-in double mounting capacity. That’s like four different mounts with eight different configurations. Hmm, that’s a lot of bang-for-buck. Maybe that price isn’t

Image 1 - The Avalon M-Zero screams luxury and fine craftsmanship in every detail.

Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

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THE AVALON M-ZERO SINGLE-ARM MOUNT

Image 2 - Three configurations demonstrate the versatility of the M-Zero. The mount is easily reconfigured by repositioning the three-position arm that is key to minimizing required counterweights.

that bad. In fact, maybe it’s very reasonably priced for what it does.

BUT THAT AIN’T ALL! Not only is the M-Zero light for its load capacity, it’s built in such a unique way that it only really needs one small 0.5-

kilogram weight at any given time or for most configurations. Cross my heart and hope to die. (Though, if you push it up to an 8-inch SCT, you’ll need a 1.5-kilogram weight.) The whole kit-and-caboodle has two carrying bags and can almost fit into the trunk of a Ferrari.

So, what’s it like to set up?

The T-Pod T-90 tripod is a work of art. It’s light, easy to level and did I mention light? Yet it’s capable of carrying 132 pounds on its sleek frame (way more than a super-model), and ten pounds is all it weighs. Plus, it’s got a nice handle and a fairly accurate bull’s-eye level on it.

Then comes the mount head. Now, boys and girls, be sure to read the manual before attaching. There are all sorts of permutations to the thing depending on what configuration you’re mounting on it and how you want to track. It all makes sense, but the order of doing things can be a little counter-intuitive if you don’t read up first.

First off, there’s a three-position “arm,” which is why you only need one small weight. Light, medium, heaviest…the positions change the leverage of the mount and voila, it keeps most of the weight firmly over the center of the tripod,

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Astronomy Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY TODAY TODAY

The Nightskiesnetwork.ca was created in 2009 to allow individuals to broadcast the night sky live on the Internet using astronomical cameras connected to their telescopes.

We are proud to announce the nightskiesnetwork.ca is now LiveSkies.org! The name better reflects the scope and scale of the service which features live views of deep-sky broadcast by top amateur astronomers deep-sky objects, objects, the the Moon, Moon,and SunSun broadcast by top amateur astronomers on on every continent across globe. every continent across thethe globe.

Anyone can participate - from those with elite set-ups to beginner set-ups. You can participate as a guest to view any live stream or become a live broadcaster.

It’s really about sharing sharing the the views viewsand andpersonal personalexperiences experiencesavailable made possible from from global global streaming technology available streaming technology available today. today.

And the site now allows educational institutions such as universities, colleges, high, middle and elementary schools to broadcast private sessions for students and faculty. Astronomy clubs can also provide private club sessions for their members.

There are now over 13,000 members and 300 broadcasters who are using the service. And the best part is its free! There is no charge to broadcast or just sit back and view the live video streams.

To learn more, visit liveskies.org and join the live on-line star party!

THE AVALON M-ZERO SINGLE-ARM MOUNT

Image 3 - The T-Pod T-90 tripod is light, easy to level and capable of carrying 132 pounds, yet weighs only ten pounds.

so counterbalance is minimal. Cool, eh?

Then, you have the choice of Alt/Az and EQ. Set the mount perfectly vertical, and it’s Alt/Az. Set it for your latitude, and it’s EQ. Easy-peasy.

Now, do you have a short-tube scope that can fit here? If so, you don’t need to do a meridian flip…evah! A little longer scope, and you have yourz normal GEM configuration.

IF YOU CALL NOW, THERE’S EVEN MORE!!!

What if you want to use two scopes at once? A scope and a guidescope? Just attach the second Vixen-type saddle and you’re good to go. Or, if you want to add the X-Guider, you can get two scopes or scope and DSLR with lens wonderfully parallel.

That little XGuider puppy’s quite fun to use, too. None of that three-point screw gibberish: up, down, right, left. Waaaay easier. It’s like the Lego set of telescope mounts: plug this here, move that there, and suddenly, you have a whole different per-

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THE AVALON M-ZERO SINGLE-ARM MOUNT

Image 4 - The T-90 tripod sports a number of nice touches, including this carry handle.

Image 6 - The three-position arm can be repositioned to accommodate payloads classified as light, medium and heaviest. Minimal counterbalance is required, regardless of configuration.

Image 5 - Details of the T-90 tripod also include an integrated bull’seye level.

Image 7 - Attached the Avalon X-Guider to the mount, as shown in Image 1, to attach and align a second scope perfectly parallel to the main scope.

Image 8 - A variety of mounting accessories are available for the Avalon X-Guider for a configuration that is likely to match your specific requirements.

Astronomy TECHNOLOGY TODAY

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THE AVALON M-ZERO SINGLE-ARM MOUNT mount control. Sky Safari? TheSkyX? As graband- go mounts go, this one really goes easily. Very light, bring your phone for a true hand controller, and you’ll never look back. Seriously, with a 70-mm ‘fractor on top, I could head outside with the mount in one hand, a battery pack in the other, and be ready to view in seconds.

So, latch on the polar-alignment scope (rotate constellations through the eyepiece, or use a phone app to place Polaris) to one of the mix-and-match vixen-sized armatures for mounting the weight, the polar scope, whatever, no matter which side is up, align north and awaaaaay you go!

Image 9 - Clean cable management is facilitated by the RA through-bore port.

Image 10 - Power and camera cables can also be routed through the RA bore.

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Image 11 - The accompanying hand controller does what all good minimalist hand controllers do: moves the mount over, under, sideways, down. But with the mount’s built-in Bluetooth for wireless control, you may never need the including hand controller, opting instead for the convenience and functionality of controlling the mount via your smartphone with Sky Safari or TheSkyX.

mutation. Think Transformers, but a mount.

A few cables from the nifty sleek-looking control box to the RA and Dec, and guess what: they go through a nice bore in the RA axis. Sort of semi-through-themount cabling, as with a little slack for your DEC movement, you can route your camera and power cables back through this same bore for a lot less cable clutter.

Now, before we move on, let’s talk about the hand controller. It’s light. It does a minimum of what hand controllers should do (over, under, sideways, down), no screen or any read-out, just some buttons. But heck, this mount was NOT meant to be used with a hand controller.

You know why?

Built-in Bluetooth for easy wireless

DON’T BELIEVE US? LISTEN TO OUR SATISFIED CUSTOMERS!!!

So, what’s this mount like out in the wilds of a dark-site? First, you draw a crowd. People want to know what kind of mount it is; they’ve never seen anything like it. Seriously, it’ll make you the life of the party. Then they want to know how it tracks. After some jiggering and aligning – by the way, the ASCOM driver works well and works with EVERYTHING could throw at it: TheSkyX, MaxIM DL, Cartes du Ciel, Sky Safari – I measured the PE peak-to-peak without guiding and got 5.34 arc seconds. That’s pretty dang good!

With a guider, it was smooth as butter. No big jumps, bumps or asymmetrical thumps. Just a nice, pretty, easy curve to guide out.

Images 12 and 13 of M8, the Lagoon, and M20, the Trifid, respectively were capture as eight 5-minute subs with an OSC and a small but feisty 4.5-inch f/4.4 Newt.

And then I got daring, like a first-time Ferrari driver. I thought to myself: “Self, what’s this baby do when I open her up?” So I attempted a single three-minute unguided exposure of M27, the Dumbbell

THE AVALON M-ZERO SINGLE-ARM MOUNT

Image 12 - This image of M8, the Lagoon Nebula, was captured through a 4.5-inch f/4.4 Newt carried by the M-Zero and consists of eight 5minute subs.

Image 13 - M20, the Trifid Nebula, was also captured with a 4.5-inch f/4.4 Newtonian on the M-Zero in eight 5-minute subs.

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THE AVALON M-ZERO SINGLE-ARM MOUNT

Image 14 - A single 2X2-binned sub of M27, unguided, with only a little stretching and cropping. The author doesn’t recommend going unguided with the M-Zero, but it’s nice to know you can if you need to (keeping things short).

… and it did pretty dang good!

I don’t recommend going unguided with the M-Zero, but it’s nice to know you can if you need to (keeping things short). Imagine heading out on a backpacking trip with a small battery pack, a DSLR and nothing else.

Totally doable with this mount. And you’d get some spectacular shots.

BUY! BUY! BUY! This is a very sexy mount, not just in looks, but in multi-purpose abilities and plain ol’ performance.

If you have a smaller scope (10 kilogram visual) and want a very fast, quality, light mount for grab-and-go, this is it. Either EQ or Alt/Ax. If you have smaller scope (8 kilogram imaging) and want to image with guiding, or with a DSLR and

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lens, this is it. Or, if you want a small scope and a DSLR imaging simultaneously, or two small scopes, this is it. Or, if you want ALL of these possibilities… this is REALLY it. In fact, are there any other mounts that can do all this and be this accurate and look this sexy? And are Italian?

If you’re in the market, give the Avalon M-Zero some real thought; it does NOT disappoint. But I warn you: you’re on your own with the super-models.

Thanks go out to Ed Thomas, the owner of Deep Space Products, who so kindly allowed me to take this puppy for a spin and also answered any questions I had. Ed’s a good guy; very quick on the email responses. Also, thanks to Luciano Dal Sasso from Avalon, who also answered questions in a very timely manner.

Image 15 - A closing perspective of the Avalon M-Zero with X-Guider attached.

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