The Rise and Fall of a Giant: Orion Telescopes

Orion Telescopes closed its California facilities in July 2024, marking the end of a remarkable journey that began in 1975. Tim Gieseler started this innovative company in Santa Cruz, California. His small startup grew into an international success story that shipped telescopes to more than 20 countries worldwide. The 1990s and 2000s marked the company’s … Read more

The Truth About Telescope Filters: What Most Beginners Get Wrong

I’ve spent years watching fellow astronomers fall into the same trap – believing telescope filters will magically transform their views of the night sky. The marketing makes it sound so simple: just add a filter and suddenly faint nebulae pop with incredible detail. If only it worked that way. Here’s the reality I’ve learned through … Read more

How to Clean Telescope Mirrors

How to Clean Telescope Mirrors Safely Why worry about how to clean telescope mirrors? Keeping your astronomy equipment clean and in good working order is as important as a cloudless sky. Dirty mirrors can cause dim and blurry images, taking away from your enjoyment of the night sky, and we can’t have that, now, can … Read more