Ade Ashford – Astronomy Now

Vaonis Vespera. The observing station that’s an electronic marvel

4 January 2024 Ade Ashford

Four years after their debut product Stellina, Vaonis launches the world’s lightest fully computerised telescope-camera. Ade Ashford puts it through its paces.

Unistellar return with a sequel to the original eVscope

30 October 2023 Ade Ashford

Headquartered in the sun-drenched Mediterranean coastal city of Marseille in southern France, Unistellar manufactures technologically advanced telescopes that eschew conventional optical designs in favour of a hybrid opto-electronic approach.

Explore Scientific 305mm Ultra Light Dobsonian: A heavyweight Ultra Light Dobsonian

23 June 2022 Ade Ashford

Ade Ashford takes this mid-range truss-tube Dobsonian for a test drive and discovers its planetary viewing prowess.

SharpStar 76EDPH refractor and F/4.5 (0.8×) full-frame reducer

21 June 2022 Ade Ashford

Ade Ashford reminisces while evaluating a versatile 76mm, f/5.5 photovisual refractor and reducer-flattener.

StellaLyra 153mm, f/12 M-CRF classical Cassegrain telescope

17 June 2022 Ade Ashford

Ade Ashford explores this modern implementation of a revered telescope design.

Explore Scientific two-room pop-up observatory tent

10 June 2022 Ade Ashford

Ade Ashford goes camping to test a compact and easy-to-set-up telescope shelter designed for trips to dark, rural skies.

StellaLyra 250mm, f/5 Dobsonian: The light-bucket with a touch of class

16 May 2022 Ade Ashford

First Light Optics’ StellaLyra-branded fleet of Dobsonian telescopes combine high-performance with some excellent accessories, writes Ade Ashford.

Choosing the best eyepiece for you

8 April 2022 Ade Ashford

If the optics of your telescope are well aligned but the views are still lacklustre, maybe it’s time for some new eyepieces. Ade Ashford helps you choose them.

Celestron SkyMaster 25 × 100 binoculars

1 April 2022 Ade Ashford

These behemoth binoculars are the largest in Celestron’s SkyMaster range, but are they the ultimate for astronomical and terrestrial use? Ade Ashford finds out.

Beating the LED streetlights: IDAS light-pollution suppression LPS-D2 filter

18 March 2022 Ade Ashford

The LPS-D2 filter is the world’s first filter designed specifically to combat LED light pollution. Ade Ashford took a close look at the data to see how effective it will be.