Blogs
Tuesday Update 17 December 2024
🎄 Final Update for the Year! 🎄 🔧 Installed the carbon fibre spider veins for the SP3, with our usual attention to detail—even ensuring the logos align perfectly on telescopes. 🛠️ Huge thanks to Luke for upgrading his 3D printer! Our SP3 gear cover now features a sleek 3D-printed logo, giving it a polished finish. 🔭 Chris has taken the Quattro telescope for testing over Christmas. We’re excited to see the results and make any final tweaks if needed! 🛒 Great news for our UK and European customers—Octans and Phoenix observatories have cleared customs and will be in stock at Wide Field Centre this week. 🌌 Looking ahead, we’re developing new filter wheels and rotators, with prototypes underway for 2025. As 2024 wraps up, we want to thank you for being part of this amazing journey. From Brendan, Jess, and Dan: Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 🎅✨ Spend time with your loved ones, enjoy the moment, and we’ll see you in 2025 for more exciting projects and adventures under the stars.
Tuesday Update 10 December 2024
Brendan’s been busy this week preparing the 10" Skywatcher Quattro for beta tester #8—another step forward in refining the SP3 for its big debut! 🚀 The weekend looked promising for some serious astronomy, but the tumbling winds had other plans. After battling the gusts, Brendan decided to pack up early and head home. Sometimes Mother Nature has the final say! On a creative note, Brendan’s been working on a jury-rigged wide-field imaging device—a bit of DIY ingenuity that’s already showing some exciting potential. Meanwhile, the carbon tube project is coming together beautifully. With just the secondary mirror setup to go, this build is nearly ready for action! This marks the second-last weekly update before Brendan and I sign off for a long-overdue holiday. It’s been a massive year, and we can’t wait to recharge for everything 2025 has in store. Talk soon! 🌌
Tuesday Update 3 December 2024
What a week it’s been! 🚚 Brendan has been on the move, hand-delivering observatories to our local Aussie customers now that the stock has landed in Fremantle. It’s been fantastic seeing the excitement as these long-awaited products finally make their way home—thank you all for your patience and support! Brendan also managed to get back into his happy place: the workshop. Progress on the F4 Astrograph project is well underway, and he’s loving every moment of problem-solving and precision work. There’s something about being in the workshop that just brings the creative energy to life. 🔧✨ Pending the weather, Brendan might sneak out this weekend to enjoy some clear skies and capture footage that was missed during our last media day. Fingers crossed for a break in the clouds! 🤞 With the holiday season approaching, we’re all looking forward to a well-earned rest. But for now, it’s full steam ahead as we wrap up the year on a high note. Thanks for sticking with us, as always!
Tuesday Update 26 November 2024
This week, Brendan has been down in Albany, Western Australia, on a corporate business trip, enjoying a balmy 15°C (59°F)—classic spring weather for our southern regions! Back at HQ, it’s felt like we’re on a hamster wheel, juggling freight and goods. With customs cleared, we’re now waiting for confirmation to collect the Perth stock, while our UK shipment won’t arrive until the end of the month before going through the same process. Despite the busyness, Brendan managed to sneak away to the workshop—a space that’s as much his sanctuary as it is a workspace. He’s finally begun work on the F4 Astrograph project, a passion project that’s been on the cards for a while. Seeing him back at the CNC and bringing this build to life is always inspiring! In other news, Brendan and Jess are gearing up for a well-earned break. This Christmas, they’re heading to Bali for some much-needed R&R, marking their first real holiday (without work involved!) in nearly four years. Time to recharge!
Remote Power
Thinking about taking your astrophotography equipment off grid to some amazing dark skies? Well lets have a look what you need to do in order to power your equipment!