http://www.skyandtelescope.com.au 21NEW PRODUCT SHOWCASEApache-Sitgreaves Research
Center now offers an integrated
Telrad Dew Heater (US$30). The
device fits snugly at the base of
your Telrad unit-finder’s optical
window and is powered with any
standard dew controller on the
market today that connects using
an RCA-style plug.
Each purchase
includes a cable
clip that attaches to
one screw on your
Telrad. A 1.8-metre RCA extension
cable is also available for an
additional US$10.
apache-sitgreaves.orgqTELRAD ANTI-DEW HEATER
p130-MM APO
Stellarvue announces the SVX130T Premium Apochromatic
Triplet Refractor (US$4,995). This 130-mm apo features an
air-spaced f/7 triplet objective that uses a combination of
extra-low-dispersion and Lanthanum elements to produce
sharp, colour-free views at the eyepiece. Its 140-mm diameter,
fully baffled tube assembly is 75 cm long with dew shield
retracted and weighs in at 7.6 kg. The telescope’s 89-mm
dual-speed focuser can accommodate heavy payloads and
includes both 1¼-inch and 2-inch eyepiece adapters, as well
asanintegrateddovetailshoeformountinganoptionalfinder
scope.Eachpurchaseincludesa lenscap,twoheavy-duty
CNC-machinedtuberings,anda C130Lpaddedcarrycase.
stellarvue.comuSPACEART
SPECTACULAR
Australianphotographerand
illustratorDrStevenHobbs
hasproduceda remarkable
newbook,Imaginingthe
Spheres, whichtellsthe
storyoftheexplorationof
theSolarSystemthrough
bothtextandimages.The
bookpresentsa mixture
ofphotographsofand
fromspacemissions
plusworksbyleading
spaceartistspastand
present(including
famousmembersoftheInternational
AssociationofAstronomicalArtists,suchasDavidHardy,
DonDavisandWilliamK.Hartmann).Thespaceartis just
fabulous,andis particularlyinterestingwhenplacedside-by-
sidewithrealphotosofthesamelocationson,forinstance,
Mars.ImaginingtheSpheresis availablefromAmazonin both
Kindle($19.76)andhardcopy($38.49)forms.Wereviewedthe
hardcopyversion,andit’sreallyveryimpressive.
amazon.comNew Product Showcase is a reader service featuring innovative equipment and software of interest to amateur astronomers. The descriptions are based largely on
information supplied by the manufacturers or distributors. Australian Sky & Telescope assumes no responsibility for the accuracy of vendors’ statements.uPORTABLE PRECISION
iOptron introduces the latest addition to its series of
portable, center-balanced, equatorial Go To mounts, the
CEM40 (US$1,998). The mount head weighs just 7.2 kg
yet can support loads of up to 18 kg. It features precision
stepper motors and 216-tooth aluminium in both axes.
The CEM40 advertises permanent periodic error correction
(PPEC) to produce smooth tracking during long-exposure
astrophotography. Alignment is simple with the CEM40’s
integrated iPolar electronic polar finder, and users can
quickly swap telescopes on the mount with its
Universal Self-Centring Saddle plate,
which accepts both Vixen and
Losmandy-style dovetail bars.
The CEM40 is controlled via
the Go2Nova 8407+ hand
controller, which includes
a database of more than
350,000 objects. The
mount comes
with a heavy-
duty stainless
steel tripod,
counterweight
shaft, and DC
power supply.
ioptron.com