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Gondwana Telescopes 12-inchMarana Compact Dobsonian
Hailing from Australia, Gondwana Telescopes makes ultralight Dobsonians
designed to maximize portability. Like other Gondwana scopes, the 12-inch
f/5 Marana uses mirrors made by Sky-Watcher. Customers can supply their
own optics, if desired, for a $1,000 discount. The Marana is constructed from
finished marine-grade plywood for a sturdy feel and an attractive look. Ebony
Star and Tef lon bearing materials promise smooth sailing across the sky.
Standard accessories include a red-dot finder, carbon-fiber truss poles, high-
resolution magnetic encoders on both axes, and a customized KineOptics
HC-2 focuser with 1¼" adapter. When stowed, the Marana’s components
break down and nest together to make everything as compact as possible, an
important factor if you have big-scope dreams but small-world limitations.$8,500 • http://www.gondwanatelescopes.com
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Hubble Optics 24"f/3.3 Premium Ultra Light
Dobsonian Telescope
Hubble Optics’ UL16 16-inch Dobsonian
was recognized as a Star Product in 2012.
It’s back this year with an even bigger aper-
ture, the 24-inch f/3.3 UL24, whose compact-
ness and weight set it apart from much of the
competition. The telescope’s open truss design,
“sandwich” mirror, and all-metal components
cut the total weight to 154 pounds (70 kg).
Everything disassembles and fits together so
neatly that this huge instrument can fit into a
compact car. Once the scope is assembled, the fast f/3.3 focal ratio keeps the
eyepiece height to only 77 inches (1.96 meters) when pointed at the zenith.
The UL24 includes 96 percent enhanced coatings on both the primary and
secondary mirrors, and features a dual-speed 2" Crayford-style focuser.$9,500 • http://www.hubbleoptics.com
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HyperionAstronomy ALPHEA 6CW
AllSky Camera
The 6CW from Hyperion Astronomy gives a full-color horizon-to-horizon
view of the day and night sky in real time. The weatherproof dome over
the camera’s fisheye lens protects it from the harsh elements. Several mod-
els are available, with the 6CW capable of delivering full-sky coverage at
2.7-megapixel resolution. Camera operation is controlled using the Alcor
System Windows AllSky software, which is supplied. The camera’s shutter
speed ranges from 32 microseconds to many hours. The camera can create
wonderful views of the Milky Way with exposures of 30 to 60 seconds. Its
output can be either AVI video or individual images.$1,999 • http://www.hyperion-astronomy.com
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Great American Eclipse
21st-century eclipse map
The August 2017 Great American Eclipse whetted
many an appetite for total solar eclipses. To answer
the questions of when and where to see the next,
Michael Zeiler has created this poster showing the
paths of every total solar eclipse crossing North
America this century, from August 2017 to September
- Each path gives the eclipse date, maximum
duration of totality, and maximum eclipse-path
width. Measuring 22 by 28 inches (56 by 71 cm),
the map is printed on glossy card stock and shipped
rolled in a tube for framing.
$19.95 • http://www.greatamericaneclipse.com