Meade Instruments: » LX90 SCT & ACF Series. » LX200 ACF Series. » LXD75 ACF Series. » ETX Computerised Telescopes. » Lightbridge Dobsonian Telescopes. » Premium Refractor Telescopes. Celestron: » Refractor Telescopes. » Catadioptric Telescopes. Sky-Watcher: » Equinox Refractor Telescopes PRO series. » Evostar ED PRO Refractor Telescopes. » Skymax PRO Maksutov Cassegrain Telescopes. » Telescopes standard series. Ascension telescopes and accessories: » Apochromat ED Triplet Refractors » Achromat Doublet Refractors » Eyepieces including zoom eyepieces. » Guiding eyepieces. » Extension tubes. » Flip mirrors. » Imaging filters. » Barlow lenses. » Binoviewers. » Red dot finders. » Eyepiece projection kits. » Mirror and prism diagonals. Vixen Japan: » Refractor Telescopes. » Catadioptric Telescopes. » Newtonian Telescopes. » Sphinx Mounts. » Atlux Mounts. » Gaiax Mounts. » Accessories. Orion Optics: » AG Advanced Astrographs. » Sub-aperture Maksutov Cassegrain Telescopes. » Maksutov Cassegrain Telescopes. » Newtonian Telescopes. A&M Advanced Telescopes sections: » Super apochromat refractors. » Schmidt cameras. » Ritchey Chretien catadioptrics. » Maksutov Cassegrain catadioptrics. » Dobsonian reflectors. » Telescope accessories. » Image gallery. » Articles. Opticstar sections: » Cooled, long exposure cameras, 6.1MP CCD, USB 2.0. » Video cameras for planetary use up to 1.3MP, USB 2.0. » Imaging accessories. » Auto-Guiding systems, complete solutions. The Imaging Source: » High speed USB 2.0 video cameras. » High speed Firewire video cameras. Moravian Instruments sections: » Cooled long exposure CCD cameras. » Auto-Guiding cameras. » Image gallery. » Articles. Farpoint Astro: » Dovetail systems and mount accessories. » Collimation tools. » Focus masks. » Binocular mountings. Shoestring Astronomy sections: » Autoguiding connectivity kits and interfaces. » Shutter control units for DSLR cameras. » Focus motor controllers.
Celestron NexStar 8 SE
Celestron NexStar 8 SE.
£1129.00
 The Celestron NexStar 8 SE is a 8" SCT with a fully compu- terised mount.
FREE: 1.3MP video camera.
Meade LT 6 ACF
Meade LT 6" ACF.
£1049.00
 The Meade LT 6 ACF with Advanced Coma Free optics sets a new high performance standard for its price range.
FREE: 1.3MP video camera.
Altair 8" RC Astrograph
Altair RC 8" Astrograph.
£1299.00
 The Altair 8" F8 Ritchey Chretien is a true astrograph with a carbon fibre optical tube and two dovetail plates.
FREE: 1.3MP video camera.
Meade LX90 ACF 10" UHTC
Meade LX90 ACF 10" UHTC.
£2449.00
 The Meade LX90 ACF 10 UHTC is a 10" advanced catadioptric with a computerised fork mount.
FREE: 3.3MP CCD camera.
Celestron CGEM
Celestron CGEM mount.
£1095.00
 CGEM (GoTo). The new computerised mount from Celestron. It includes an ultra sturdy 2" steel tripod with accessory tray.
Cooled CCD
Opticstar DS-145 ICE
£1249.00
 The Opticstar DS-145C ICE uses the highly sensitive Sony ICX285, 1.4 mega pixel colour CCD with 62% QE.
Complete with power supply unit, adapters, case and software...
NexStar 127 SLT
Celestron NexStar 127 SLT
£369.00
 The NexStar 127 SLT from Celestron with SkyAlign technology is ideal for newcomers to astronomy.
FREE: 1.25" Moon Filter.
Equinox-80 PRO
Sky-Watcher Equinox telescopes.
£469.00
 The Equinox-80 PRO from Sky-Watcher features its highest quality optics, improved engineering...
FREE: x2 ED Barlow.
Sky-Watcher NEQ6 PRO
Sky-Watcher EQ6 PRO mount.
£880.00
 NEQ6 PRO (EQ6 PRO) is the extra heavy duty, computerised mount from Sky-Watcher with a load capacity of 25kg.
FREE: Power Supply Unit, 4A 12V DC to power mount.
SXVR-H36 (SXVF-H36)
SXVR-H36
£4339.00
 The Starlight Xpress SXVR-H36 is the 16 mega pixel camera with fast USB 2.0 interface.
CT Ultra Newtonians
Orion Optics CT Ultra Newtonians.
£1420.00
 The CT Range from Orion Optics represents high performance, clarity and power...
FREE: Opticstar PL-131C C.A.
Auto-Guider Kits
Shoestring auto-guiding kit
£75.05
 Elegant, low-cost Auto-Guider connectivity kits from Shoestring Astronomy.
Equinox 100ED APO
Sky-Watcher Equinox 120ED
£764.00
 The Equinox 100ED APO from Sky-Watcher includes dual speed focuser and aluminium case...
FREE: x2 ED Barlow.
Ascension Laser Sight
Ascension Laser Sight.
£49.95
 The Ascension Laser Sight incorporates a 5mW Green Laser and mounting bracket.
Cooled CCD Cameras
New Opticstar XL Range of CCD Cameras
updated: 27th August 2010
Opticstar XL range of long exposure T.E.C. cameras.
Demonstrating the relative sensor size of Opticstar CCD cameras.
Not all 6 mega-pixel T.E.C. cooled astronomy cameras are created equal.
The DS-615C XL 6.1MP camera is in a class of its own with 50% higher sensitivity in real-world applications (100% max) than other cameras using the same Sony CCD due to its hardware gain and outstanding hardware noise suppression, both features implemented in the camera hardware.

The DS-336C XL 3.3MP camera offers focusing at 5 frames per second even at full resolution. All XL cameras support video modes for real time views of deep-sky objects and easier focusing...
more
Colour and Monochrome Video Imaging
PL-131C & PL-131M COOLAIR High-Speed Cameras
updated: 21st August 2010
Opticstar PL-131 COOLAIR cameras.
Images captured by Naoki Yakoo with Opticstar PL-131 COOLAIR cameras.

The PL-131 CoolAir is a USB2.0 fan-cooled camera that offers exceptional performance and versatility easily outperforming cameras costing considerably more.
The camera excels as a planetary (Solar and Lunar) camera with frame rates of up to 220fps. Gain, Region of Interest (ROI) and binning are all features implemented in the hardware. 		Opticstar PL-131 COOLAIR High Speed video camera.
1.3MP 1280x1024 Micron colour or monochrome sensor.
1280x1024 22 fps, 640x480 80fps, 320x240 220fps (max).
Gain, ROI (region of interest) and binning implemented in hardware.
1ms minimum exposure time.
Low noise (fan cooled).
more
Cooled CCD Cameras
High Sensitivity Imaging in Monochrome or Colour
posted: 12th July 2010
Opticstar DS-145M ICE
Images captured by John Haunton with the Opticstar DS-145M ICE.
The Opticstar DS-145 ICE offers the highest sensitivity of all Opticstar CCD cameras. In fact, it is 50% more sensitive, in real applications (100% max), than other cameras using the Sony ICX285 CCD. This is due to its advanced Gain function in hardware and noise suppression electronics...
more
Telescope & CCD Camera Bundles
Celestron Telescopes
updated: 2nd September 2010
We offer special bundle prices on Celestron telescopes and Opticstar CCD Cameras. Please visit our Celestron section for full details.
Celestron CPC 800 GPS.
Celestron C8 SGT XLT.
Celestron NexStar 8 SE.
Celestron CPC 800 GPS + 1.3mp Camera
View this item in our showroom.
£ 1449.00 (inc VAT) Dispatched within 24 hours.

Celestron CPC 925 GPS + 1.3mp Camera
View this item in our showroom.
£ 1899.00 (inc VAT) Dispatched within 24 hours.

Celestron CPC 1100 GPS + 1.3mp Camera
£ 2640.00 (inc VAT) Dispatched within 24 hours.

Celestron C8 SGT XLT + 1.3mp Camera
View this item in our showroom.
£ 995.00 (inc VAT) Dispatched within 24 hours.

Celestron C11 SGT XLT + 1.3mp Camera
View this item in our showroom.
£ 1885.00 (inc VAT) Dispatched within 24 hours.

Celestron NexStar 8 SE + 1.3mp Camera
View this item in our showroom.
£ 1129.00 (inc VAT) Dispatched within 24 hours.
Cooled CCD
Moravian Instruments CCD cameras.
High Performance Cameras for Astronomy and Sciences
updated: 19th March 2010
Moravian Instruments (MI) designs and manufactures advanced CCD cameras for low light imaging in astronomy and microscopy. The G2 range of cameras uses the latest Kodak sensors with Quantum Efficiencies ranging between 80% and 90%. The high Q.E. is complimented with very low noise and cooling to -45°C below ambient temperature...
more
Peter Karboulonis' articles for amateur astronomers.
 Peter Karboulonis practical articles on astronomy.
John Haunton's step-by-step astroimaging.
 John Haunton. Step-by-step articles on astroimaging.
Opticstar News
New Opening Hours
updated: 4th August 2010
Opticstar showroom. 
Day    Opening Hours


Monday    9am - 5pm
Tuesday   9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday  9am - 5pm
Friday    9am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 2pm
Sunday    CLOSED
We are closed on Sundays and public holidays.
more
Sample Images
Opticstar DS-335C ICE
updated: 20th August 2010
Sample image.
The Trifid nebula shot by John Haunton with the Opticstar DS-335C ICE.
Sample Images
Opticstar PL-130M CoolAir
posted: 10th February 2009
Mosaic of the Moon at 2354x4010 pixels captured by Herwig Sulzbacher.
An impressive 9.4 megapixel mosaic of the Moon by Herwig Sulzbacher with the Opticstar PL-130M.
Manufacturer Spotlight
Orion Optics
updated: 4th August 2010
Orion Optics telescopes.
The new AG Advanced Astrographs from the ever expanding range of telescopes from Orion Optics combine their high quality standards with new advanced optical designs...
more
A&M 80mm f/6 Review
"Best Of Breed"
updated: 25th March 2009
A&M 80mm f/6 A&M/TMB.
The A&M 80mm f/6 A&M/TMB has been reviewed in Cloudy Nights and it has been hailed as the "best of breed". The review concludes by saying "offers stunning performance while standing out from the crowd, look no further".
Willmann Bell
Books for Astronomy
posted: 29th August 2008
Willman Bell books.
Acclaimed books from Willmann Bell...
more
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