FLO

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

I think the confusion comes from retailers wanting to be the first to mention something new. Whichever retailer is first to add a new product to their website usually has a SEO advantage so there is a temptation to put something up ASAP then add info (and correct typos!) later. I confess we might have done the same if we were not so preoccupied with preparing for IAS this week ☺️ Steve

Regarding the other new ZWO camera, the ASI2600MC-P, we don't have an official ETA for that one either but its specification is: ASI2600MC Sensor: Sony IMX571 Back-illuminated CMOS Resolution: 6248×4176 Pixel Size: 3.76μm Sensor Size: 23.5mm*15.7mm Max FPS at full resolution: 3.51FPS Read Noise: 1.0e-3.3e QE peak: ＞80% Full well: 50ke Exposure Range: 32μs-2000s ADC: 16bit

We are always willing 🙂 Looking through our communications ZWO mentioned the ASI533MC about ten days ago. We don't yet have a clear ETA. Our best guess is mid-Dec. It is a USB3 Cooled OSC camera with 256mb DDR3 buffer. Specification is: Sensor: Sony IMX533 Square Back-illuminated CMOS Resolution: 3008×3008 Pixel Size: 3.76μm Sensor Size: 11.31 x 11.31mm Max FPS at full resolution: 20FPS Read Noise: 1.0e-3.8e QE peak: ＞80% Full well: 50ke Exposure Range: 32μs-2000s ADC: 14bit HTH, Steve

While at IAS Rob is fitting them into HEQ5 mounts (smaller, lighter, quicker) but please email us if you would like to purchase one for fitting into an NEQ6. No problem but please email us first so we can make arrangements 🙂 Steve

If the free installation isn't of interest and you want to buy a kit to install yourself at home then please see us at the event, we will see what we can do 🙂 Steve

Talking of Pulsar Observatories, I recently learned they are fast approaching their 1000th observatory (will post more about that later) and have appointed Ikarus Imaging their exclusive UK retailer 🙂

Graham & Martin are the organisers - a tremendous amount of work goes into organising an event this size so hats off to both of you 🙂

Regarding discounts... Our focus at IAS will be on launching new brands and products (and showing Ian King is alive and well at Ikarus Imaging) so there will be little sales talk. But, an event would not be an event without discounts so discount codes will be available for the majority of items listed at our websites (Ikarus Imaging and FLO). The codes will work during the event and up to midnight Sunday, so no pressure 🙂 Steve

My colleague, Rob, will also be on the Ikarus Imaging stall installing Rowan Belt Mod kits into HEQ5 Pro mounts free of charge! If you would like him to fit one into yours please email us to make arrangements. If you purchase a HEQ5 Pro mount and Rowan Belt Mod kit then collect it at IAS Rob will install the Belt Mod Kit for you at the event (save £69). Alternatively, if you already own a HEQ5 Pro mount you are welcome to purchase a Rowan Belt Mod kit then drop your mount off at the Ikarus Imaging stall for free installation.

The International Astronomy Show is a major event on the UK astronomy calendar and this year's is looking especially good. The venue is easy to find with free all-day car parking (next to the show arena restaurant that serves hot food and drinks all day). Here is what you can look forward to: Lectures by some of the UK's best speakers. Friday: Paul Fellows (10.00am - 11.00am) Peter Jenkins (11.15am - 12.15pm) Peter J Williamson FRAS (1.00pm - 2.00pm) Dr Andreea Font (2.15pm - 3.15pm) Dr Stuart Clark (3.30pm - 4.30pm) Saturday: Paul Money (10.00am - 11.00am) Damian Peach (11.15am - 12.15pm) Dr Dimitri Veras (1.00pm - 2.00pm) Prof Hilary Downes (2.15pm - 3.15pm) Prof Andrew Blain (3.30pm - 4.30pm) Vendors / Exhibitors Lots to see! 10Micron (Ikarus Imaging) 365 Astronomy Altair Astro Astro Radio/Solarsphere Atik-Qsi Cameras AWR Technology Astrograph British Astronomical Association Dark Skies Jewellery Gary Palmer Solar Outreach HitecAstro Ltd iOptron (Ikarus Imaging) IAS Merchandise IC Astronomy remote telescope hosting (Ikarus Imaging) Ikarus Imaging (new home for Ian King Imaging) Image The Universe Jackie Burns (artist) Light by Night photography Lynx Astro (Ikarus Imaging) Msg-Meteorites Opticron Optolong (Ikarus Imaging) Orion Optics UK Pegasus (Altair Astro) PrimaLuce (365 Astronomy) Pulsar Observatories Rother Valley Optics Rowan Astronomy Starlight Xpress (Ikarus Imaging) Sharp Cap UK Sky Vision fr Dr Stuart Clark Spacerocks UK Takahashi (Ikarus Imaging) W&W Astro Webb Deep Sky Society Widescreen Centre ZWO (Ikarus Imaging) (I have taken the liberty of adding in bold those items available to view on the Ikarus Imaging stall 🙂). Myself and some colleagues, including Ian King, will be on the Ikarus Imaging stall. We will be introducing some new products and have items on display from existing brands including 10Micron, iOptron, Lynx Astro, Optolong, Starlight Xpress, Takahashi, ZWO & others. (The stall is easy to find, opposite Rowan Astronomy and next to Pulsar Observatories). We are especially looking forward to revealing the first of a new series of premium telescopes, a new (to the UK) manufacturer of premium astronomy mounts, a new manufacturer of astronomy accessories and, of course, the new Rowan Astronomy AZ100 Alt-Az mount. Last but definitely not least, we will reveal a project that will be of special interest and benefit to SGL members... 😎 Tickets can be purchased from the IAS website or on the day. We hope to see you there 🤗 Steve

Unfortunately not. It is only I am a sucker for Waterstones 3-for-2 and buy-one-get-one-half-price offers. The Japanese have a word for my affliction ‘tsundoku’. ☺️ Steve