Has Jupiter saved our bacon or is it more complicated??

Full details & pricing on new compact Swarovski ATC/STC 17-40x zoom 56mm Spotting Scopes

Celestron Spotting Scope Range

Binoculars for footy finals season

Expanded range of astronomy books

Artemis I scrubbed again. Shaun the Sheep remains grounded. 

Another post by to the BINTEL Society Facebook group by Vesselin Petkov.  He captured IC2944, also called the Running Chicken Nebula, using a RedCat51 telescope and a ZWO ASI533MC camera - taken from light polluted Cairns, QLD.

Has Jupiter really saved our bacon by taking comet and asteroid hits?

The dark scars left on Jupiter by the impact of fragments of  Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9 in 1994.

Is the super bright "star" in the sky at the moment responsible for life surviving on Earth for so long, or are things a bit more complicated than that? 

Humans have recorded a number of direct impacts on Jupiter that go back possibly as far as 1690.  The biggest planet in the Solar System continues to be "whacked" by an assortment of rogue comets and rocky asteroids. However, it was the multiple fragments of Comet Shoemaker–Levy 9 slamming into the planet at some 60 kilometres a second in 1994 and the massive scars they left behind that had many scientists asking whether Jupiter helped life on Earth develop for so long by "vacuuming up" many comets and rocky asteroids that might otherwise be headed our way. 

The answer is yes, but recent studies show it's somewhat more "complicated."  Follow the link below to find out more. 

More details- new Swarovski STC/ATC spotting scopes $2999

We've now put complete details of the new Swarovski ATC/STC 56mm spotting scopes that we announced last week on the BINTEL website These compact spotting scopes are for anyone wanting the highest grade, portable sports optics. 

There's two 45 degree angled spotting scopes  - one in green and one in burnt orange - along with a straight through model.  All feature the renowned Swarovision optical system for ultra crisp and bright view. They're also waterproof and weigh just under 1kg. All models feature a removable half shell allowing for both handheld or tripod mounted use. 

Plus they're compatible with the Swarovski VPA.  This connects to your phone for sharing and forever keeping the magical views these little spotting scopes can capture.

If weight and packability are a major factors for your quality optics, have a talk to BINTEL about these new Swarovski spotting scopes or visit the link below. 

Exploring the Celestron Spotting Scope range -  great value for outdoor viewing

Spring is the perfect time for nature, bird, animal, and whale watching.  

A spotting scope might be just what you need to bring out the finer details of distant objects.  More powerful than binoculars, they're tripod mounted for steady views. The entire range of Celestron spotting scopes have zoom eyepieces to let you quickly get in even closer with a simple twist of a ring.

Easy to attach your DSLR or phone.

It's simple to attach your phone to all Celestron spotting scopes and most will only need a low-cost (often less than $40) T-ring to connect your DSLR camera to take close-up photos. 

Celestron spotting scopes range in price from just $149 to $699. Have a chat to BINTEL about which model is the best for you. 

Binoculars for footy finals season  - A few suggestions

Meade Rainforest Pro 8x42 binoculars

We're not crazy enough to let folks know what teams or even which football codes members of the BINTEL team barrack for, but we know this is the time of the year when we get LOTS of enquiries about the best binoculars for the football finals. 

Funnily enough, a football game is much like watching birds.  Bright colours, fast movement and maybe you'll even get to see something ultra rare -like Parramatta winning the grand final.  While everyone has different preferences, our general suggestion for a good sized pair of binoculars is the same as for bird watching - 8 x 42.

(This means 8x times magnification and each front lens has a 42mm diameter.)

The Meade Rainforest Pro 8 x 42 at $279 would be an ideal, cost effect pair of binoculars for sports viewing and more. If you'd like even crisper and sharper views, the Meade CanyonView ED 8 x 42 and Meade MasterClass Pro ED 8 x 42 would be worth checking out a well. 

Idea planet telescope $699 Sky-Watcher 6" Collapsible Dobsonian

Highly portable 6" collapsible Sky-Watcher Dobsonian 

Speaking of Jupiter - just in time for the 2022 planet seasons is the Sky-Watcher 6" Collapsible Dobsonian telescope. 

This is a long focal length reflecting telescope which is great for viewing the Moon and the planets as well as a vast number of deep-sky objects. The telescope tube slides down for easy storage and transport even in small cars. 

The BINTEL Book and Chart range continues to expand - Exploring space and astronomy for all ages

We're always adding new books, charts and guides to our range. There's titles for all ages and experiences, right from perfect gifts for young astronomers through to detailed star atlases and astronomy books. 

Pop into our shop in Glebe or visit our book section online via the link below. While so much information is now online, there's times when there's nothing like a good book. 

Artemis I Next Launch Attempt - is..umm...

The second launch attempt for NASA's Artemis I mission to the Moon was scrubbed a few hours before it was due to lift off last weekend. The next attempt is still weeks away however. 

Apart from solving the engineering problems that caused Artemis I to stay on the ground, the Moon needs to be in the right position in its orbit around the Earth for a rendezvous with the Orion capsule.  While this is frustrating for space enthusiasts, this is a test mission, and the launch pad is the best place for problems to occur.  As they say - 

"It's better to be on the ground wishing you were flying, rather than flying wishing you were on the ground."

We'll keep you updated.

BINTEL Open Box Bargains - Remember these change from week to week

There's always something new in this area.

From time to time we have products that have been opened and used for product photography or other reasons.  We then check them out, repack them and re-box them.

Then we drop the price. There's been some great bargains in the last few weeks.

There's not a lot of products in this area, but each one has the same warranty and support as a "factory fresh" item.  Keep an eye on this area as it's always changing.   

Next time....More on the planets, more on the seasons and more on the best gear, plus new articles!