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Reduced-price Atik APX26 CMOS bundle offers are available until 15th December 2023 🙂

Yes 🙂 Apologies for not responding sooner. Steve

I see what you mean. I wrote our description before seeing Starfield's. I'll add the FPL53 specification tomorrow. HTH

One for you, too 🙂

Alex just messaged me a photo:

Alex (my colleague with a Starfield Gear60) says you don't need a separate installation kit. The Astroasis Oasis Electronic Focuser includes the necessary 33mm ring/clamp. However, we have noticed sometimes the Oasis is packed with a 30mm ring/clamp, not 33mm. We have emailed Astroasis. Meanwhile, to be sure, if you are buying an Astroasis EF for use with a Starfield Gear60, please email us. We will then check it has the necessary 33mm ring/clamp before we dispatch. HTH, Steve

If using one of the smaller cameras, then yes. But if the camera diameter is large, then the camera would need to be removed to enable adjustment. A ball-head Allen key works well in these situations. Apologies for not replying sooner, I have been on holiday. As you say, the Astroasis Oasis is recommended. I will look into which of their many adapters enables this. Steve

We are not currently aware of one.

The SeeStar S50 continues to be in high demand, so we want to remind people the queue for new orders is 2-3x months long. We think this situation will continue well into 2024. If you want to buy a SeeStar S50, our advice is - if you are okay with waiting - place an order when able. You will then have a place in the queue. HTH, Steve

Alex says: "Ok, so three holes on the handle of the Gear 60 - middle/centre is 1/4", other two are M6, the whole handle takes a Vixen clamp/saddle and has an Arca Swiss 38mm rail on the top. Slots on the handle are 18mm spaced, 5.7mm diameter, and will take M6 but not 1/4. Between the bottom of the tube holder/cradle and the Vixen dovetail is an Arca Swiss dovetail with 8x threads, 15mm spaced. Most seem to be M6, but at least one is 1/4". He also messaged me some photos:

One of my colleagues is receiving his Gear60 today. He also uses an Asiair, so I'll ask him.

Here y'go 🙂

I'll ask a colleague in our workshop to make a quick video. It accepts regular 2" astronomy mounted filters. Steve

Welcome to SGL 🙂 Richard is right - the dew shield is extendable and is held in place by friction. This is normal for compact telescopes. A locking screw is more common on larger telescopes with heavier dew shields. HTH, Steve

Not yet. It is very new in the UK. I don't think it will be long before we see images posted 🙂 Steve

There is a lot to like about the new Starfield Gear60 f/5 Petzval APO telescope. Compact. Easy to use. Fully multicoated Petzval optics (includes ED glass). An imaging circle that covers a full-frame sensor! F/5 focal ratio. 2.5" dual-speed R&P focuser. Accepts a focus motor. Integrated tilter mechanism. Integrated 360° rotator. Integrated filter holder for 2" filters. Integrated handle for accessories. Useful long dovetail plate. Includes a soft carry case with room for a focus motor and imaging camera. And it costs under £1k 🙂

We are still expecting stock at our warehouse this month. There should be enough arriving to clear all our June customer backorders. (It is harder to predict availability thereafter). HTH, Steve

This year's dates are Fri 1st, Sat 2nd & Sunday 3rd September 2023. The Herstmonceux Astronomy Festival is a relaxed, family-friendly event that is especially welcoming to newcomers 🤗 If you have an interest in science or astronomy and want a fun day out with talks, workshops, displays and exhibits - we recommend you attend. "Whether for a day or for the whole weekend, come and join us and soak up the fantastic atmosphere of our fabulous Science Centre and Observatory. Lots of fun for families and keen astronomers alike!" The festival is less commercial than most other astronomy events and more relaxed. It will be fun. Hope to see you there 😊

We have not experienced this with any other CF telescope, and we don't expect to see it again with this one. This minor cosmetic blemish appears to be a one-off. We are not sure. It might be as you say, and/or a chemical reaction with glue in the tube-ring felt. I suspect we won't know for sure. The blemish is minor, easy to solve, and won't happen again. I suspect 'military grade' and 'aerospace' are American-style marketing speak. (Please don't mention who makes these claims; I don't want my mugshot on a dartboard) 🙂 All CF telescopes we have experienced (regardless of brand) have sturdy tubes with ample wall thickness. HTH, Steve

I hear there are discussions on Facebook(!) that suggest some customers might be able to jump the queue. This is not true. When stock arrives, we will allocate SeeStar S50 mounts to customer orders in date order. Promise 🙂 Steve

My colleague in the workshop is currently at the Herstmonceux Astronomy Festival, but I'll ask him when he returns Monday. I don't want to casually recommend people polish their telescope's carbon fibre. It is possible to over-polish. If the telescope is one of ours, please contact us first. Steve

A couple of owners have reported the same. We checked our stock at the warehouse and found they are the same (if viewed under a particular light, at a specific angle). We contacted the manufacturer. They say minor blemishes can be polished with two polishing pastes. We bought the pastes and tried them. The result is excellent, so we will do the same for all our current stock. For future batches, we have asked the manufacturer to pack the tube rings separately. @Paz , I understand you don't consider the blemishes a problem, but if someone reading this does, they are welcome to contact us. We will then collect their telescope, polish its carbon fibre, and then redeliver it to them. All free of charge. (This assumes the owner has the original box and packaging for safe transport. If not, we'll email them details of the paste so they can polish their telescope's carbon fibre at home). Thank you to all those who have posted photos and observing reports. It is good to hear owners are pleased 🤗 Steve

Demand continues to be very high! August's stock delivery will probably land in around one week (a little delayed). Unfortunately, the quantity in this first delivery is lower than we thought due to the high demand. We will, however, have enough to clear customer orders placed in April. Another stock delivery is expected around the end of September. We anticipate we will then receive enough to fulfil customer orders placed in May and, possibly, June. You can pre-order the ZWO SeeStar S50 (doing so will secure you a place in the queue and the current price), but please be aware the lead time for new orders is currently around 2-3x months. Thank you for your continued patience and understanding.

Ian Coster (aka @lunator) has released his new hardback catalogue of visual double stars 🙂 I met Ian at one of the first SGL star parties (a wet, soggy field in Wales), where he introduced people to some visual double stars. His passion and enthusiasm is infectious. Steve The book includes: A brief overview of double star observing. A catalogue of 2000+ doubles listed by constellation and then Right Ascension. Inclusion of all WDS-noted companions. J2000 co-ordinates for handsets. Precise coordinates for all pairs. Latest WDS Position Angle & Separation (Theta & Rho). Brief descriptions to aid identification. SAO, Bayer, Flamsteed identifiers. Spectral classes (if known). Telescope aperture and magnification used. A toughness grading helps you decide which pairs to observe in the prevailing conditions. Coster’s Catalogue of 2000 Visual Double Stars

One Antlia 3nm H-alpha (Ha) Pro Astronomy Filter 2". Customer Return Arrived with marks on one side so was subsequently replaced. We have since cleaned this thoroughly and it is A-OK. Open box. Full manufacturers warranty. £414.00 £372.00 (saving £42.00)