There's still time to buy a telescope for Christmas - gift ideas for all ages

Vespera Observation Station telescopes arrive at BINTEL next week - your last chance to secure one in 2022

New Sky-Watcher CQ350 Mount

Reminder: Shipping Xmas deadlines for orders & BINTEL Extended Trading Hours

Michael Grey posted his very sharp image of the Moon taken the other night to The BINTEL Society Facebook Group. He used a Celestron 9.25" SCT telescope and a ZWO ASI178MM camera. Full details here.

Telescope gift suggestions - give the gift of Space this Christmas

We're sending out this weekly newsletter a few days early to give folks a bit of extra time to get their Christmas orders in.

2022 has been a massive year in Space and Astronomy!

The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) started sending back images and observations that have amazed people the world over and started a quiet revolution about how we understand the Universe.  NASA's Artemis 1 mission signals the return of humans to the Moon and locally, construction of part of the world's largest radio telescope, The Square Kilometer Array Observatory (SKA) has begun in Western Australia. 

It's a perfect time to give the gift of Space and Astronomy. 

Here's a few telescopes that we're happy to recommend. 

Celestron StarSense Explorer LT70AZ - $329

Do you use maps in the car or on your phone to find your way around? You'll know how easy they make finding your way from A to B and wonder how we managed before them. 

The Celestron StarSense Explorer range does much the same for the night sky.

You'd like to view Saturn but have no idea where it's located?

Type in what you'd like to see into your iPhone or Android phone running the Celestron StarSense Explorer app attached to its telescope cradle, and it will show you where to move the telescope to view your chosen astro object.

Apart from the Solar System planets like Saturn, Jupiter or Mars, the StarSense Explorer app has a catalogue of thousands of deep-sky delights including nebulae, star clusters and even galaxies.  If you don't know what you'd like to look at, it can even take you on a personalised tour of the night sky for your location. 

The Celestron StarSense Explorer range starts at $329 and they are some of our favourite telescopes. 

The affordable way to Discover the Universe  - Meade beginners' telescopes from $159

Meade Infinity 70mm - $159

The Meade Beginners' range offer quality telescopes at attractive prices. 

For example, the Meade Infinity 70mm is a complete telescope bundle including a full height tripod and accessories for just $159.  You'll get to see craters and mountains on the Moon, Saturn and Jupiter and explore deep-space. Plus, it's light enough for a young astronomer to easily move around and manage.

Other members of the Meade beginners' range include the Polaris 90mm for $319 and the Polaris 127mm Reflector for $279.  These are larger telescopes, and you will see more through them.

Celestron FirstScope- At $99, a perfect telescope for young astronomers 

Celestron FirstScope - $99

A great little telescope that's ideal for beginners is the Celestron FirstScope. 

This is a small reflector on a Dobsonian or "Dob" mount. It's designed to sit on a table, chair, the ground or other flat surface. It's a genuine telescope too, and not a toy. Young astronomers will have no trouble moving this telescope around or using it to discover the Universe. We also know a few seasoned observers who keep one in their car for grabbing a quick peek at the night sky. 

The Vaonis Vespera arrives at BINTEL next week - small number still available

The Rosette Nebula recently captured by a Vespera telescope using its new CovalENS panorama mode. 

As mentioned last week, the much-anticipated Vespera Observation Station telescopes arrives next week at BINTEL.  

Recent software updates such as a powerful panorama mode have increased its abilities even more.  An example of this is the Vespera image of The Rosette Nebula above.

We have a small number of Vespera telescope still available from the shipment arriving next week.  You can order one from the link below or call BINTEL on 02 9518 7255. 

Xmas Shipping Dates Order before these dates to make sure Santa delivers

SPECIAL NOTE - LAST ORDER DATES for WA and NT orders in the next few days!

These are the last dates for shipping orders from BINTEL for items we have in stock to make sure they arrive in time for Christmas 2022.

Orders must be received by 12pm Sydney time on these dates to ensure shipment.

• NSW:  19th December
• ACT:    16th December
• QLD:   16th December
• SA:      16th December
• WA:     8th December - **Please note change due to flooding!**
• TAS:    16th December
• NT:      9th December 

We will keep sending out orders placed after these cut off dates, but we cannot promise delivery by Christmas for them.

New Sky-Watcher CQ350 mount - heavy duty mount for serious observers and astro imagers

Sky-Watcher have released their new long awaited CQ350 high-capacity mount and it's available from BINTEL now. 

This mount has a carrying capacity 35kg, a sophisticated drive mechanism along with a wide range of ports and expansion options.  Full details of the mount and optional tripod from the link below. 

BINTEL Extended Xmas Trading Hours  

The BINTEL retail showroom will open these extended hours leading up to Christmas:

• Thursday 8th December - 9.30am to 7.00pm
• Thursday 15th December - 9.30am to 7.00pm
• Thursday 22nd December - 9.30am to 7.00pm
• Sunday 18th December - 10am to 4.00pm

During extended trading hours, we won't be answering phone enquiries to let us concentrate on helping in-store shoppers. 

Christmas Eve:

• Saturday 24th December - 9.00am to 2.00pm

Outside of these extended hours, BINTEL will be open 9.30am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday and 9.30am to 4.00pm on Saturdays. 

We will be closed on NSW public holidays over the Christmas/New Year period plus the 31st of December due to Sydney Harbour foreshore crowds gathering for the New Year's Eve celebration and fireworks.  

We will be closed:

• Monday 26th December 
• Tuesday 27th December 
• Saturday 31st December
• Monday 2nd January

Construction of the world's largest radio telescope, the Square Kilometre Array Telescope (SKA) has started in Western Australia

Next time....What is the Square Kilometre Array Telescope (SKA) and why it's important.  Amazing images from BINTEL customers and more.