Increasing the sales of products is a major goal of The Star Guide. Products
are evaluated to generate consumer reports in leading astronomy publications.
Experience and qualifications: Three decades of preparing technical reports
and procedures for the Department of Defense; evaluating the performance
of equipment and procedures used in radiological control operations.
Consumer reports are prepared through personal evaluation and through
demonstrations of products at events held for non-profit organizations,
schools, businesses, private and general public observing events.
Published in the September 2008 issue of Astronomy Technology Today is an
evaluation of the APT Astro Wedge manufactured by Applied Precision
Technology. To review the article go to
www.AstronomyTechnologyToday.com
Call or email The Star Guide to have product(s) evaluated to enhance sales.
707-815-1856 or email: cliffdelacy@thestarguide.com
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Astronomy Outreach and enthusiast and former VP of Meade Instruments, Scott W. Roberts, announced his return to the telescope manufacturing industry with the launch of Explore Scientific, LLC during the annual Astronomy League's Awards Banquet in Des Moines, Iowa.
Explore Scientific is designing and building telescopes, spotting scopes, binoculars, and microscopes. They will engage their customers and the interested public with recognition programs, awards, workshops and expeditions.
The organization has been founded to make astronomy and related scientific fields accessible and affordable to amateur astronomers, clients, and nature enthusiasts. Watch for upcoming dates when astronomy and related equipment will be advertized.
Contact:
Explore Scientific, LLC
Scott Roberts, President/Manager
(888) 599-7597 or (949) 916-2418
email: explore@explorescientific.com
www.explorescientific.com
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Scope City, San Francisco, California
Meet Sam and his staff at Scope City in San Francisco, California. If you are interested in purchasing a telescope, binoculars, accessories, or books on astronomy for yourself or a gift for someone, go to Scope City in San Francisco. They are located at 350 Bay Street near the Fishermans Wharf. Tell Sam that the Star Guide sent you. When you buy a product, make note on the mail-in registration card that you were referred to them by the Star Guide.
Sam's staff has all the answers and can assist you in purchasing the right telescope, binoculars, or accessories. They have a variety of books, DVDs and CDs on a variety of programs.
If you don't have the time to go there, log onto their website at www.scopecity.com or call them at 415-421-8800. The website has an online catalog that you can order from. My suggestion is to go to Scope City and let them help you choose the right telescope and/or accessories you will need.
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Out of This World, Mendicino, California
Meet James Blackstock and Marilyn Rose, owners of "Out of This World" in the town of
Mendicino, California. If you live in Northern California or are visiting the coastal town of
Mendicino, this is the place to view and select a spotting scope or pair of binoculars of your
choice at a reasonable price. The store is located at 45100 Maine Street in downtown
Mendicino. Their website is www.discountbinoculars.com. Their staff can provide you with
the best choice of a spotting scope or binoculars for whale watching, birding, or just for
general use. They also have a wonderful variety of books, science toys, microscopes, and
telescopes. You can call them at 800-228-8252 or order from their online catalog.
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Applied Precision Technology (APT Astro)
If your looking for an equatorial wedge that is easy to use and stays aligned on the North Celestial Pole, this is the wedge you need. It is manufactured Applied Precision Technology. It is the AMF REVOLUTION. Designed to support the Meade LX200 series or
Celestron Schmidt-cassegrain telescopes. To learn more about its full list of features and specifications, including a 360 product viewer, customer comments, and FAQs, go to www.aptastro.com.
They created this wedge for amateur and professional astronomers alike. From its tilt plate to its eyepiece holders, this wedge is well-built with you in mind. Attach it to your pier or tripod and make the adjustments - no image shift or chasing Polaris around the sky. It stays aligned. On top of it all, they keep the AMF Wedge in stock, so you don't have to wait. You can order it today online. Scope City in San Francisco, California, also carries the wedge in stock.
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Thinking of something for the Arm Chair Astronomer or for viewing the night sky in real time? Then click on the link to www.starrynight.com View the software programs they have available for students, teachers, enthusiests or amateur astronomers in planetarium format. Their programs show you the night sky at anytime and anywhere in the world. You can find constellations, stars, planets, comets, asteroids, galaxies, nebula. Starry Night Pro version and Starry Night Pro Plus even shows satellites in orbit. You can magnify images and "Go To" any object listed. Pictures are shown in breathtaking detail. You can order directly from the Starry Night Store. Teachers can get significant discounts by purchasing programs in quantity.
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Are you ready to explore the universe? Do you have the equipment and products that will take you there? You probably already have a telescope and need researchable information to guide through the night sky. www.bisque.com can take you there. They have the software that will guide your equipment and automate your observatory. Their software products are some of the most sophisticated products designed to take you there.
Click on the link to Bisque and review their products like The SkySix which has extensive databases on celestial objects.
TPoint gives you better pointing accuracy to overcome systematic errors in go-to telescopes. All telescopes have gear-tooth errors in the tracking system. TPoint will keep your telescope aligned with the object during visual or photographic imaging. This is especially critical when you are doing light curves on minor planets or searching for exoplanets around a star.
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Fluorescent Minerals from Greenland, China, India and Pakistan.
Mark Cole is the owner of the Miner Shop in Miami, Florida. He has some of the rarest and finest fluorescent minerals in the world. Go to his website www.minershop.com to see some of these unique and rare specimens. You can purchase some of these minerals either directly from him or bid on some of the specimens he places on Ebay. The link on his website under "Gems and Mineral For Sale" will take you directly to the Ebay site. Bids usually start around $9.95 and will increase depending on the number of bidders and the quality of the mineral. Gem quality Tugtupite and Sodalite will send the bid upward. I have personally bought several specimens from Mark. He will hand pick quality specimens for you if you choose not to bid on specimens.
Mark's website will show you some of the "Geo Tours" to Greenland that he arranges and takes groups too. The country is breathtaking in beauty at The-Top-Of-The-World. I hope I will be able to take one of the trips myself someday.
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The Fluorescent Mineral Society at www.uvminerals.org
I am a member of this society. There are several links to minerals and dealers throughout the United States. What ever your interest is in rocks and minerals, you will find a dealer that sells them at this site. I've been collecting since the 1940s and purchased directly from businesses (e.g., Polmans, Fluorescent Minerals, Franklin New Jersey, etc.) Most of my collecting has been local areas and throughout Northern California. My suggestion is join the society and receive their newsletter. The annual fee is only $25.00. The news letter always describes localities to collect in and books available on fluorescent minerals.
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The Rustic Cottage Resort & Motel, Tahoe Vista, California on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe. www.rusticcottages.com
Want to get away and relax in a link to the past. A wonderful resort on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe. Your Hosts: Janet and Marshall Tuttle. They also own the Tahoe Vista Lodge and Cabins on North shore . . and the Donner Ski Ranch at Donners Summit off of Highway 80 www.DonnerSkiRanch.com
The Rustic cottages were originally the sawmill and labor camp of the Brockway Lumber Company. The property was converted to vacation cottages in 1925. The 18 "Old Tahoe" cottages are all different . . . each with its own character. Most have kitchens or fireplaces . . . many have both. All cottages have romantic iron beds with beautiful linens, Serta mattresses, televisions with HBO and video tape player, microwave ovens, and beautiful patio furniture on the decks. The Rustic Cottage Resort is centrally located on Lake Tahoe's north shore, just a stone's throw from a sandy beach and water's edge. They are just minutes from great restaurants, shopping, north shore casinos and the world's best skiing. All the guests are invited to a continental breakfast featuring homemade muffins, to borrow a video tape from their extensive library, or to stop by in the afternoon for homemade chocolate chip cookies. And this year the skiing should be excellent through the middle of May. With early and heavy snows, it will be a banner ski season. The Donner Ski Ranch has 6 chairlifts (Chairlift #1 Triplechair and Chairlift #2-6 is a doublechair.) The Donner Ski Ranch is the place to go this winter . . . and the prices are affordable.
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Astronomy Technology Today
A magazine published on a bimonthly basis. This is an outstanding publication that informs amateurs and professional astronomers of equipment and accessories that have been evaluated showing pros and cons. The subscription price is very reasonable. You can order online at the following url; www.AstronomyTechnologyToday.com
