Gear Review: Canons Image Stablized Binoculars. October 9, 2008
Posted by webmaster in : Do It Yourself Astronomy, Gear & Gadgets , add a comment
15 x 45 Classics. (photo by Author).
Every once in a while, we here at Astroguyz find a toy that surpasses expectations. Canon’s Image Stabilized (IS) binoculars are one such gizmo. I’ve had my trusty pair of 15 X 45’s for almost ten years now, and they’ve worked flawlessly! They also fit my two criteria for taking on new technology; they’re simple to use (there’s only one button to push!), and they’re maintenance free. (more…)
My Exploits with the Personal Solar Telescope April 4, 2008
Posted by webmaster in : Gear & Gadgets , add a comment
There is nothing like a new toy to refresh my interest in Astronomy. A couple of years back, I had a chance to man a loner scope for a solar “star” party at the re-opening of the Fox Theater in Tucson, Arizona. Five minutes of training by Flandreau Science director Mike Terrenzoni, and I was off. (more…)
Planetary Imaging with an Off-the-Shelf Web Cam September 19, 2007
Posted by webmaster in : Gear & Gadgets , 2 comments
Jupiter via the Webcam Method. Photo by Author.
A few years ago, I came across an article in Sky & Telescope about an emerging technology. Apparently, some intrepid sky enthusiasts (I hate the word amateur… to me it denotes bottlecap collecting or trainspotting and other space filling activities) were creating their own planetary webcams. (more…)