review – 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.

Antlia ALP-T 5nm dual-band filter

27 October 2023 Astronomy Now

Nik Szymanek tests a new dual-passband filter from Antlia that allows imagers to simultaneously capture narrowband data in hydrogen-alpha and oxygen-III light.

The ScopeTech Mount Zero, highly portable single-arm fork mount

29 June 2022 Steve Ringwood

Steve Ringwood trials ScopeTech’s new Mount Zero, which is a highly portable single-arm fork mount that is both compact and simple to use.
refractor

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.

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.

Baader Planetarium flip mirror II Star Diagonal

3 June 2022 Steve Ringwood

This latest flip-mirror star diagonal from Baader Planetarium offers high-quality views for imagers who want to use a guiding eyepiece, as well as a revolutionary third port for off-axis autoguiding, writes Steve Ringwood.

RVO Horizon 72mm ED: The future of refractors is on the Horizon

29 April 2022 Steve Ringwood

Steve Ringwood checks out a new offering from Rother Valley Optics that raises the bar for compact refractors.

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.

APM HDC-XWA 7mm, 100-Degree X-Treme Eyepiece, a real eyeful

25 March 2022 Steve Ringwood

Steve Ringwood got his hands on APM’s new HDC-XWA 7mm, 100-degree X-treme eyepiece, and found out how its large field of view and powers of magnification fill an important gap.

TS-Optics Photoline 60mm, F/6 FPL53 APO refractor

15 March 2022 Ade Ashford

Ade Ashford explores the history of lens making to establish the lineage of TSOptics’ versatile grab-and-go 60mm, f/6 photo-visual telescope.