SlashScope

Engadget reports on an innovative use of a single-use camcorder by Everett Bradford who reconfigured it into a night vision device, all for the measly price of $35. 'Why shell out $200 for a set of Soviet-era nightvision goggles when you can make one yourself from a $30 video camera? That's what Everett Bradford did, taking a CVS single-use video camera and combining it with a set of 20-cent infrared LEDs. Okay, it took a little more work than that, including some circuit-board mods and the addition of a salvaged camcorder lens. In the end, though, Everett estimated that his night-vision setup, which can record infrared footage that can be downloaded to a PC, cost about $35, compared to about $80 for the cheapest off-the-shelf night-vision scope.' While night vision enthusiasts are usually fussy about their equipment, this CVS nightvision camcorder would be just the thing for those who would wish to view activity in the dark without the expense of a "professional scope.

Sources: Engadget: Hack a Day

Posted by Slash Scope Admin at 9:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lets take the opportunity afforded by satellite imagery, compliments Google Maps, to view the site of the 2006 Winter Olympics being held in the Italian city of Turin. 'For a satellite's-eye view of exactly where all these events are taking place, Google has provided new high-resolution maps inside its Google Earth software program, which allow a viewer to zoom right into the mountains to see where the adrenalin-filled Winter Olympic skiers will soon be slaloming downhill.'

Source: Tech Republic

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James Edwards reviews the Takahashi FSQ-106N on Astromart and recommends the scope as being "in a class by itself". 'The FSQ 106N is by far one of Takahashi's greatest innovations in the 4 refractor range. One part to this scope is that its a true astrograph with a modified Petzval design for those that delve into astrophotography. Secondly with its fluorite quadruplet lens system on a 4 scope; this isnt your typical refractor but a vast improvement for visual astronomers wanting a small refractor that delivers.'

Read. Takahashi FSQ-106N Review - Astromart

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'The Night Shadow comes standard with our cutting edge Smart quot technology.This technology consist of a computerized proximity sensor, digital controls and a long-range infra-red illuminator. The proximity sensor will automatically turn the unit on and off when it is brought to the viewing position.This helps save your battery life and the life of the unit itself.' With a price tag of $1600 this device is clearly targeted at the professional night viewer.

Specifications:
*Generation 2
*Magnification 5X
*Detection range 250 m
*Recognition range 175 m
*FOV 20 deg.
*Resolution 32-39 lp/mm
*Min. light req. 5x0,0001 lux
*Lens system F1:1.7, F90mm
*Diopter adjustment +/- 5
*Range of focus 8' to infinity
*Power supply 2x3 volt lithium
*Battery life 0-30 hours
*Dimensions 250mmX125mmX50mm
*Weight 1.2 kg

Source: ATN

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Cameron Chen reviews the Canon 10x30 Image Stabilization Binoculars on Astromart and sings the praises of this device after some initial apprehensions. 'I've heard lots of good things about Canon's Image Stabilizer binoculars, but at first glance they had their down sides. I was quite convinced that the larger 15x50 and 18x50 models would be great for astronomy, but they were sadly beyond my financial magnitude limit, and, marvelous as they might be, I felt that they would be quite a handful for my 5'0", 98-pound frame.'

Read. Canon 10x30 Binoculars Review - Astromart

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The USA and Mexico are collaborating on a significant scientific venture to construct a huge radio telescope "on top of a volcano that will let astronomers look back 13 billion years and uncover secrets about the creation of the universe".'With a 165-foot antenna and a total cost of nearly $120 million, the project dwarfs any scientific endeavor that Mexico has been involved in before.The gleaming white structure, which looks like a gigantic satellite dish, springs out of volcanic rocks on the freezing-cold summit of the 15,000-foot-high Sierra Negra.'

Read:

Source: Wired News

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In time I can see the leading optics manufacturers supplying the market with night vision enabled 'one snap' devices. In the meantime Bushnell has attempted to fill this void with their affordable Trail Scout camera. 'This is the only game camera on the market to combine both incandescent camera flash and digital night-vision technology. Choose your setting for regular camera flash or stealth-like LED flash. LED flash enables you to discretely image game in the night without a visible flash. There is no need to worry about your flash giving away your position in popular, busy hunting areas. This camera comes complete with laser aiming device for easy set up in the woods.'

Features:
* Positive toggle system indicates camera settings
* Records images, movies, and events onto SD card, 32MB card included
* Weatherproof and rugged design; locks and software password keeps out thieves
* Senses deer and other game up to 90 feet away
* Night vision technology and laser aiming device for easy set up in the woods

Sources: Amazon: Bushnell

Posted by Slash Scope Admin at 1:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

'Amateur astronomers are helping NASA scientists on the Cassini mission track the most powerful storm yet observed on Saturn. The storm is in a similar location to the "Dragon" storm reported last year - -http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap050225.html so it may be a reemergence of that storm or a new storm. According to the RPWS [Cassini's Radio and Plasma Wave Science] data, the new storm is generating lightning flashes several times more frequently than the original Dragon storm, and the lightning is as much as five times stronger. At approximately the size of the continental U.S., the storm dwarfs terrestrial thunderstorms. Apparently, it is much fiercer as well -- radio signals from its lightning are more than 1,000 times greater than similar radio static from terrestrial storms.'

Read.

Source: NASA: Via: SpaceWeather.com

Posted by Slash Scope Admin at 12:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Lets get straight to the point where the night vision devices are concerned and admit most folks would be satisfied with the thrill of viewing the commercial 1st Generation scopes on the market. With this in mind it is advisable that anyone considering the investment in a scope spend some thought on the reason/s for the purchase. Even if you desire to engage in surveillance of your property, scopes such as the Bushnell 2.5x42 Night Vision Monocular would be more than adequate for the task so long as the intensifier tube is not bombarded with unusually bright perimeter lighting.

Features:
* Gen 1 Monocular
* Built-In Dual IR (150 Yd. High Beam, 90 Yd. Low Beam
* Water-Resistant
* 1005 waterproof
* 14 ounces
* 6.7x3.7x2.7 inches
* Generation 1 monocular
* Built in infared illuminator

Source: Bushnell

Posted by Slash Scope Admin at 11:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Joplin Motisher on Astromart takes a 'quick look' at the Orion Explorer 25x100 Binoculars and comments favorably on its specifications but has a reservation on the weight of the device. 'I didnt have a chance to do many direct comparisons with my 16x80s but it is very safe to say that the 25x100s were a substantial improvement in every department except weight. At 10 lbs for the pair these are very heavy binoculars that require a heavy duty mounting for comfortable use. I was quite impressed by the build quality of these binoculars, the individual eyepiece focusers are smooth, the inter-occular adjustment has just enough stiffness, the optical coatings reflect very little light. The optical alignment of this pair was perfect as far as I could tell. The apparent field of view is about 60 degrees and there is plenty of eye relief for glasses.'

Read.

Source: Astromart

Posted by Slash Scope Admin at 1:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Wired News reports on the application of night vision technology to the windscreen of some motor vehicles. 'Mercedes and BMW hope to make night driving safer with dashboard monitors that expose what the naked eye is unable to see lurking in the dark. During exclusive test drives near the carmakers' headquarters in Germany, Wired News experienced the night-drive systems firsthand in the new Mercedes-Benz S-Class and the BMW 7 Series. The sedans are set to launch in the United States this year.'

Read: Road-Ready Night Vision At Last - Wired News

Posted by Slash Scope Admin at 3:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This website is definitely a must for anyone seriously interested in Satellites or Astronomy. Chris Peat has developed an extraordinary resource which seeks 'to provide you with all the information you need to observe satellites such as the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle, spectacular events such as the dazzlingly bright flares from Iridium satellites as well as a wealth of other spaceflight and astronomical information. The pages including the graphics, are generated in real-time and customized for your location and time zone.' If you want to participate beyond reading the homepage you will have to register your personal information which, needless to say, I highly recommend.

Source: Heavens Above

Posted by Slash Scope Admin at 1:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

NASA Science News speculates on a possible location on the Moon for the Winter Olympics. 'The moon's dust-covered slopes are good places to ski. There's plenty of powder, moguls and, best of all, low-gravity. With only 1/6th g holding them down, skiers and snowboarders can do tricks they only dreamed of doing on Earth. How about an octuple-twisting quadruple backflip? Don't worry. Crashes happen in slow-motion, so it won't hurt so much to wipe out. And there's a perfect spot for the Olympic Village: the crater Plato. Most people don't know it, but Plato of ancient Greece was not only a philosopher, but also an Olympic champion.'

Read: Lunar Olympics - NASA Science News

Posted by Slash Scope Admin at 8:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Follow the travails of Chris Provost on Astromart as he reviews the William Optics ZenithStar 105 Ed Triplet APO telescope and opines favorably on its features and specifications. 'Since entering the hobby of astronomy about 4 years ago, I have had my fair share of telescopes. Most of my scopes were reflectors with the exception of a ST-80. I spend 90% of my time under the stars imaging with film. Since film was the medium I chose to photograph the night sky, fast focal ratio Newtonians fit the bill best for me (and my pocket book). I have spent about 3 years shooting film with my F/4 10 Schmidt Newtonian.'

Features:
*Aperture 105 mm(4.1")
*Focal Ratio F/7
*Focal Length 735mm(28.9")
*Objective Type Triplet APO Design
*Fully Multi-Coated
*Resolving Power 1.05"
*Limiting Magnitude 12.0
*Lens Shade Retractable
*Focuser 2.5"(63.5 mm)Crayford Focuser
*77 mm(3.0")Focuser Travel Length
*360° Rotatable Design
*1.25" Adapter Brass Compression Rings
*L- type Mount Mounting Rings
*Field Stops 6 Baffles
*Dew Shield O.D. 5.3"(135 mm)

Rread: Review; William Optics ZenithStar 105 Ed Triplet APO - Astromart

Posted by Slash Scope Admin at 1:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you have recently purchased a Nexstar telescope (or have otherwise come into possession of one) the information and guides on this site would prove invaluable in your quest to quickly mount the learning curve in the operation of the device. No longer is the pursuit of amateur astronomy simply the peering through the telescope as the primary or sole aid in the observation of the night sky. Most telescopes now come with features to allow you to improve your viewing via some form of integration with the computer and Internet. From this site you can access links to 'PC Control of NexStar Telescopes' and 'Odds and Ends' which provide information about the various ports and connectors on some scopes which can be connected to a PC or PDA.

Source: NexStar Resource Site

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Jeff DeTray [Astronomy Boy] has written an informative tutorial on how you can remove the "kinks" from your CG-5 German Equatorial Mount. 'The CG-5 is a popular medium-duty equatorial telescope mount available from several manufacturers. Actually, "CG-5" is Celestron International's name for its version of this mount, but other manufacturers sell what appears to be the same mount, and some of them have "borrowed" the CG-5 name. The same mount is sometimes sold as the "EQ-4." The information can be read on the website or downloaded in PDF format.

Source: Astronomy Boy

Posted by Slash Scope Admin at 11:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

'On Friday, Feb. 3rd, at 6:02 pm EST, astronauts threw an old Russian spacesuit overboard from the International Space Station. The disembodied suit, nicknamed SuitSat, is now circling Earth and transmitting a radio message which you can hear using a police scanner or ham radio tuned to 145.990 MHz (FM). Update: The Earth-orbiting spacesuit stopped transmitting shortly after it was thrown overboard from the International Space Station on Feb. 3rd'

Source: SpaceWeather.com

Posted by Slash Scope Admin at 4:23 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

If you dont mind parting with $550 for a digital binoculars/camera then check out this device from Sightwave Optics. For those in the birding community who take their viewing seriously, the Digiviewer may not be considered an essential item, however, the casual observer may be attracted to the 'ease of use' features of this combo. 'Sightwave Optics introduces the Digiviewer® Digital Binoculars. Instead of looking through two telescopic tubes that are connected together, you look at a small view screen (a 2.5TFT-LCD). The image comes from a small, motorized-zoom camera (1x 22x optical zoom, 22x 220x digital zoom) that you control with the touch of one button! The camera has auto-focus so you can concentrate on what you are looking at.'

Source: Sightwave Optics: Via: Digg

Posted by Slash Scope Admin at 2:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Now here is one of those combo deals which should be given some consideration if you do not presently own, or maybe considering purchase of a telescope and/or microscope for junior. 'The Meade DS-2070 telescope is a fantastic scope for a beginner. Its 70mm aperture will provide stunning views of many celestial objects. You'll see the rings on Saturn, Jupiter's moons and even many deep-space objects!The Meade DS2070AT telescope makes microprocessor technology and the very latest in electromechanical design available to the serious beginning or intermediate observer. Completely re-engineered and redesigned, Meade DS-2000-series telescopes provide extremely smooth motions in both altitude and azimuth and, most importantly, include a fully integrated Autostar control system as standard equipment. AutoStar makes stargazing easy!'
Read: Meade Refracting Telescope with BONUS MICROSCOPE - Telescopes.com

Posted by Slash Scope Admin at 2:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This refractor telescope is available from Amazon.com for $300 and is ideally suited for the beginner in amateur astronomy or anyone simply wishing to view far off objects. With today's technological advance this type of scope is also fitted with Celestron's "SkyAlign alignment technology" enabling the novice user to align the instrument with ease. 'The telescope's 60-millimeter refractors come with a fully computerized hand control with a database of over 4,000 celestial objects. With its pre-assembled, adjustable steel tripod, the NexStar 60 can be up and ready to use in a matter of minutes. Celestron's SkyAlign alignment technology and the included StarPointer Finderscope with a red LED makes aligning a breeze. With the NexStar 60, you can see breathtaking views of the lunar landscape, Venus and its phases, Jupiter and its four moons, and much more. Weighing only 9.5 pounds, this telescope can be easily moved to your favorite observations point.'

Sources: Amazon: Celestron

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