Kite Optics image stabilising binoculars arrive at BINTEL - ideal for long range bird watching and boating.

Keeping the dew at bay Part One - dew shields for telescopes of all sizes

Celestron and Sky-Watcher mount bundles - Star Adventurer 2i and StarSense Auto Align

Coronado Personal Solar Telescope - Ideal way to look at the ever-changing face of the Sun 

#ADSA_Enlightened Video Competition - help fight light pollution

Highlights in the night sky this week - Southern Aurora

Ramon Menguito posted his image of IC2944, often called the Running Chicken Nebula, to the BINTEL Society Facebook page. Ramon used Antlia filters, a ZWO ASI183MM Pro camera mounted on a telescope riding on a Sky-Watcher HEQ5 Pro mount.  This image is overlayed with a chart showing surrounding objects.

New in-store - Kite Optics APC 42 image stabilising binoculars

New at BINTEL -  Kite Optics APC 42 image stabilising binoculars

BINTEL is happy to introduce Kite Optics APC binoculars to the Australian market - A couple of weeks ago we talked about the smaller Fujinon image stabilising binoculars and how they assist in making high magnification views much clearer.

The new Kit Optics APC binoculars are full sized, 42mm diameter binoculars that use even more advanced image stabilising technology. The stabilisation is rated at about two to three times more powerful than other consumer grade binoculars. They also run on standard AA batteries with battery life of approx. 120 hours. 

Unsteady views from binoculars are caused by a variety of factors including higher magnifications making them harder to hold still, through to viewing on an unsteady platform like a boat.  Stabilised binoculars solve these problems. They'll be vastly more comfortable to use for longer periods of time.  

We've had people comment to us that when the image stabilising on the Kite Optics APC binoculars is turned on, higher magnification views not only stop shaking as much, but also become sharper and they're able to pick up details around the edges they hadn't noticed before. 

Waterproof Kite Optics stabilised binos make a handy boating companion

The Kite Optics APC 42 binocular are waterproof, which makes them ideal for boating, whale and bird watching or viewing from moving vehicles.  If you're ever passing BINTEL, drop in to try a pair.  

Autumn means dew - protecting your telescope with dew shields

The weather is (slowly) getting cooler and autumn brings an increased chance of dew in many parts of the country. 

Dew on the front of a Celestron SCT telescope. Image via BBC.

Few things are more frustrating than dew forming on your telescope lens or mirror! It's also a sign to pack it in for the night. Even if you manage to dry your optics, without proper dew control, the same telescope returning to the same conditions will quickly dew up again. 

There's two main ways to avoid dew - dew shields and dew heaters. 

A dew shield is the simplest way to keep dew at bay. It doesn't "trap hot air" as some think, but rather keeps the optics away from the worst of the damp air. 

BINTEL has a selection of dew shields to suit almost any telescope. These range from the flexible Farpoint dew shield like the one shown, to aluminium versions for Celestron telescopes. 

Dew shields provide a high degree of protection from moisture build up, but sometimes conditions mean a bit of extra help is needed. We'll cover dew heaters next week. 

For DSLR lenses we highly recommend the Haida Anti Fog Belt. This protects against dew for lenses of all focal lengths and small refractor telescopes. It runs off USB power and is only $49!

Coronado Personal Solar Telescope - Ideal way to look at the ever-changing face of the Sun

The Coronado Personal Solar Telescope (PST) is the world's best-selling dedicated solar telescope.

We've got good stocks of the ever-popular Coronado PST.  This small telescope provides safe views or photographs of the Sun in a very narrow part of the visible spectrum of light, revealing details including Solar prominences, flares, filaments, granularity, plages and more.  

The Sun is constantly changing, so the Coronado PST is great for the upcoming Solar Eclipse and as well as exploring the surface of our nearest star on any sunny day.

View of the Sun through a Coronado PST

The compact Coronado weighs only 1.3kg and only needs a standard photographic tripod to mount it. 

Special Bundles on Celestron and Sky-Watcher mounts - only until the 16th of April

If you purchase a Celestron CGX-L mount, a Celestron CGX mount or a Celestron CGEM II mount between now and the 16th of April 2023, you'll receive a Celestron StarSense Auto Align accessory worth $1099. Visit the link below to arrange yours.

And a there's a similar offer on a number of Sky-Watcher mounts too. Purchase one from a wide range of models between now and the 16th of April and receive a free Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i Photo package worth $699. For a full list of qualifying mounts and details on the offer, visit the Sky-Watcher link below.

Please note: this giveaway promotion is being run by TSA Outdoors/Tasco who are the wholesale importers for Celestron and Sky-Watcher, as well as running their Australian websites and social media accounts. If you have any questions about this giveaway offer, you can call them on 02 9938 3244 or visit their website at tsaoutdoors.com.au

Make a video about Light Pollution  - Spread the word and win prizes

Light Pollution caused by artificial lighting not only robs city and suburban folks of their views of the night sky but impacts our own health and effects the wildlife that lives among us. 

BINTEL is sponsoring an event run by the Australian Dark Sky Association to help raise awareness of this growing problem.

Simply create a short video about light pollution and post it on Instagram, Facebook or YouTube.

You can win telescopes, gift cards and more.  Winners will be announced at an awards and stargazing evening in Canberra on the 16th of May with Prof. Fred Watson and the Canberra Astronomical Society.

Full details of the competition and how to enter via link below.

Highlights in the night sky this week - Increased Solar activity means Aurora Australis (The Southern Aurora) might be visible

The Sun is certainly getting more active!

The Sun this week via the US NOAA Space Weather Prediction. See more here.

There's lots more Solar activity at the moment.  With any luck, we'll be seeing reports of the Southern Aurora lighting up the night sky across the southern part of the country this weekend.  

Check out this amazing YouTube video shot from Tasmania the other night!

Next time...Dew control part 2 - dew heaters. Plus what are the best binoculars for boating as well as more on Aurora.  We're putting back our Dwarf II birdwatching special a week until we get some stock in.