FLO

The NEW ZWO ASI 533MC-PRO camera is now available to buy at FLO 🙂 Features Sony’s latest 1" square, 9.07MP back-illuminated IMX533 sensor with 3.76 um pixels. Also features zero amp glow, very low read out noise (as low as 1.0e) and an improved 2 stage TEC cooler. Our first delivery will arrive in only one week.

It was only that Es' has asked us to not share his contact details. Skyline and Pete_l are right, if you suspect your telescope's optics are faulty then you need to first discuss this with your supplier. Steve

It won't surprise you to hear my colleagues Grant and Ian are the driving force behind this project 🙂 In addition to the reasons already posted by Grant, we also want the knowledge and experience that comes from running a remote observatory. We owe it to ourselves, our suppliers and our customers to have a real-world understanding. Steve

Thanks Andrew - we will be in touch

We have no plans now or ever to charges SGL members for access to the data - promise For us, this will be a great test bed for new gear so we can get a lot of data in a much quicker space of time (250+ clear night a year!), it will give us images we can use for promotions / marketing / advertising (we always need nice pictures for banners etc..) and it will be a great way to let people see the results of this equipment so we hope it's a good advertising tool as well but, I think fundamentally we think it's a nice thing to do for the astro community similar to our other projects (Astronomy Tools, Clear Outside and sponsoring SGL). Grant

The setup was on display at the IAS show: We will take additional photos / videos showing the process of sending the gear to Spain and commissioning the setup over there

We announced the IKI (Ikarus Imaging) observatory project at the IAS show at the weekend but wanted to share the news here publicly with you all as well. The IKI Observatory is going to be a remotely hosted astronomy setup in Castilléjar, Spain at https://www.pixelskiesastro.com/. FLO / Ikarus Imaging are sending out a setup in partnership with Optolong Filters and Starlight Xpress. The projects purpose is to provide a community based remote setup that we can collaborate on here on SGL - the data will be made publicly available free of charge and the targets will be chosen here on the forum. Time will be dedicated to scientific projects as well so we will be looking for suggestions for how we can use this and make it available to you all. The project will also be used to test and show case equipment so we anticipate swapping bits and pieces around every so often. Here is the list of what is going over to Spain shortly: StellaMira 104mm ED2 Triplet Refractor & Dedicated Flattener 10Micron GM1000 Mount Starlight Xpress 694, Lodestar X2, OAG and Filterwheel Optolong LRGB / SHO 31mm Filters Optec Flip-Flat Lynx Astro Dew Controller & AstroZap Dew Heater Tapes Astromi.ch Meteo Station Lakeside Astro Motor Focus Controller Pulsar Observatories Pier Software - we are intending to use Sequence Generator Pro but we may trial other solutions as well. We are expecting to to send over the equipment in the next few weeks and from there it will need to be setup and configured. We then plan to spend 2-3 weeks testing everything and ensuring all is well before we start making data available and accepting suggestions for targets / projects. This is a new project, so things may need to be tweaked and changed but we welcome any thoughts / suggestions you all may have and hope this becomes a valuable community resource Cheers, Grant (on behalf of FLO / IKI)

We were impressed too. Both days were well attended and I heard only positive comments from visitors. Events like this are also a good opportunity for us vendors to get together. Most of us are sociable 😊 Steve

Saturdays are always busier than Fridays. I can speak only from FLO's POV (from the corner of the main hall). We were pleased with the attendance. The other exhibitors I spoke with appeared happy too. I think the organisers were also pleased. There was definitely a positive buzz about the place during both days and the visitors I asked said they were enjoying the event. I hear the lectures were also well attended. We will definitely book a stall next year.

Thank-you 🙂 Because I started FLO (back in 2006!) and am often the one posting at SGL I am usually credited for FLO's successes. This is nice but FLO is now a 'company' of ten people. My nine colleagues all have strengths that I don't so together we can handle projects that only a few years ago would have been too large. More often than not the credit belongs to my colleagues. Our stall at IAS is a good recent example. It was organised by Grant, with help from Ian, James and Rob. And while we were at IAS FLO's unsung heroes Martin, Lisa, Ann & Katie stayed behind to ensure FLO remained open for her customers (FLO's competitors at IAS were closed). There was a moment early Friday when I commented to someone visiting our stall about how I have never known a year like this one where so much has happened and so many projects are in progress. Then it really struck me how true this was! How far we had come as a company. I glanced across at my colleagues who were all busy chatting to visitors or demonstrating something or other. It was emotional. For a moment I couldn't speak. I excused myself saying my throat was dry. I am truly a fortunate person. Steve

We don't yet have an actual landed price so please forgive us if we don't reveal its retail price today. We will soon 🙂

Not a great photo (taken with a smartphone) but it does provide a sense of scale. The StellaMira telescope is mounted on a 10Micron GM 1000 HPS mount and Pulsar observatory pier. The camera is a Starlight Xpress Trius PRO 694.

While chatting with Colin and Dave you were on our stall (they were with us) stood next to the new telescope 😉 We are aware others have retailed the same/similar LongPerng design in other countries but I don't think it fair I comment on them 😇 Suffice to say we are working with Es Reid and LongPerng to ensure those wearing the StellaMira brand perform well for us and our customers 🙂 HTH, Steve

Must log off now, need to meet with James & Rob at the warehouse to unpack the van! 🙃

New dual-fit saddles were fitted to the AZ100 mounts displayed at IAS so they will be available soon 🙂

A photo of the StellaMira 104 ED2 Triplet refractor:

Thank-you for the kind comments. Please accept my apologies for not posting something sooner. It was very busy on the Ikarus Imaging stall (I have lost my voice!). For the majority of exhibitors this year's IAS was a resounding success. The organisers will be pleased I am sure. Our main reason for attending as Ikarus Imaging was to show Ian King's customers he is alive and well at FLO (not buried somewhere in my garden!). What he achieved at IKI has not been watered down or diminished in any way. We were pleased and relieved to hear the positive encouraging comments from IKI customers at IAS. Thank-you, from both of us 🙂 Ikarus Imaging aside, at IAS we revealed a new project, the first of a new range of telescopes and a new (to the UK) range of mounts that uses harmonic drive motors (from the robotics industry). When fully recovered (typing this Sunday, from home) I will post details of all three but here's a quick summary. Ikarus Imaging 'IKI' displayed a high-end imaging rig that will be installed at the ICastronomy observatory installation in deepest darkest Spain (that is why they, Colin & David, were with us on our stall). Data from the IKI remote observatory will be available to all at SGL. We will keep you updated regarding its progress. The telescope used there will be the first of a new series of StellaMira refractors manufactured for us by LongPerng in Taiwan. The one shown at IAS was a 104mm f6.25 'triplet' with an optical design that includes two ED elements (FPL53 & FPL51). Colour correction is very good! Our first delivery of finished telescopes should be arriving around the middle of next month. Other models are in the pipeline. The new mount revealed at IAS was a Rainbow Astro RST135 with harmonic drive. It is one of a series of mounts from Rainbow Astro that attracted a lot of attention (not only from visitors but exhibitors too!). Quiet, powerful (no need for counterweights!) and very compact. It is quite remarkable. Will post much more about all three projects soon 🙂 We also had the new Rowan AZ100 Alt-Az mount setup. Rowan Engineering themselves were also displaying one on their stall (opposite us) so there was no shortage of info available. We planned to reveal some accessories from another new (to the UK) brand but unfortunately they didn't arrive in time. We will launch them here at SGL as soon as they do. Also want to say a quick thank-you to my colleagues. It was hard work but fun. You really are the best 🤗 Steve

Travelling there today with my colleagues to set up stall ready for tomorrow. A bit wet on the M5!

Oooh. Will swop you two of our biscuits for one of your Welsh cakes 🤗 Excellent. Hope to see you there but will understand if not 🙂 Steve

You are not alone @Lockie. I am not comfortable in crowded places either. But Helen is right, IAS isn’t as crowded as Astrofest. At least it wasn’t when I was last at IAS. If you visit please do come say hello 🙂 Steve

We weren't planning to but I will check our stock in the morning before we leave (we are travelling up early tomorrow ready for Friday). If we have spare stock I will happily add one to the van. Please email us tonight, I will then reply to confirm. HTH, Steve

We will be offering 10% off all iOptron mounts, telescopes and accessories. Unfortunately we are unable to offer the same for Sky-Watcher products. HTH

We have recieved several requests for Rowan upgrades now booked for Fri & Sat. Rob is going to be busy! Thank-you 🙂 We have room for another one (possibly two, depending on the day) but please contact us soon because the event is nearly upon us. Steve

Tele Vue have announced their 'GoodBuy 2019 Sale' promotion 🎅 10% off Tele Vue eyepieces, barlows, Powermates & Paracorr. (We have already applied the 10% discounts so no need to enter a code). Offer ends 27th December. Tele Vue Plössls 50º Eyepieces Tele Vue Barlows Tele Vue Powermates Tele Vue Panoptic 68º Eyepieces Tele Vue Delite 62º Eyepieces Tele Vue Nagler 82º Eyepieces Tele Vue Delos 72º Eyepieces Tele Vue 3-6mm Nagler 50º Zoom Eyepiece Tele Vue Ethos 100º & 110º Eyepieces Tele Vue Visual-Imaging Paracorr Type-2