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It's back.... And this year we look forward to having another great time!  You asked for it? You got it. The Hidden Hollow weekend Star Party at Warren Rupp Observatory will be back again this year! Let's get this party started! Thanks to the incredible generosity of the astronomy community, donations for this year's raffle are rolling in. As a star party attendees know, this is the way we earn our operating expenses each year... the little things that make the observatory happen, like electricity, our website, maintenance and yes... even toilet paper. We firmly believe that astronomy outreach education should be free and thanks to your support through raffle tickets, we can make it so! Without further ado, please check out all the wonderful things we'll have to offer... We'd sincerely like to thank the good folks a Celestron for their continued support! Just check out these goodies! Celestron 50th Anniversary Edition FirstScope Includes a bonus FirstScope accessory kit. High quality Dobsonian style stand with a 76 mm reflector optical tube make FirstScope an ideal entry level astronomical telescope. Portable and lighweight table-top design makes it easy to store, transport and setup your FirstScope Telescope FirstScope is very easy to observe with, the user simply navigates the night sky by moving the tube in the direction of their desired object. Stylish and decorative design makes FirstScope a wonderful keepsake for anyone interested in astronomy. 12.5 mm Eyepiece - 1.25" - Increases the power to 24x which makes it easier to find and observe some objects that require more magnification 6 mm Eyepiece - 1.25" - This eyepiece increases the power to 50x which boosts the magnification up higher to see more detail of faint objects.Moon Filter - 1.25" - A moon filter reduces the brightness of the moon and improves contrast so that greater detail can be observed on the lunar surface. 5x24 Finderscope and bracket - This finderscope with bracket will make it easier to locate astronomical objects with the FirstScope telescope because of its much wider field of view and low magnification. Installation is simple with no tools necessary. CD-ROM - "The SkyX" - Lets you explore and develop an understanding of basic astronomy.
Nylon Carrying Bag for FirstScope Telescope - Pack your FirstScope telescope and accessories in this tote bag for easy and safe transportation.
Celestron 50th Anniversary Lapel Pins The Celestron 50th Anniversary lapel pin is 1.25? in size with a gold plated 8mm post and butterfly clutch. This high quality metal Cloisonne lapel pin is designed with a die struck technique to create a classic appearance, then processed with a four-color glass resin that gives each pin a beautiful glossy finish. This commemorative lapel is a perfect way to celebrate Celestron?s 50th Anniversary and a great addition to your pin collection!
Winner Note: Several of these prizes will be offered - but only one each of the Celestron 50th Anniversay items will be awarded per person. Put in as many tickets as you want to increase your chances of winning one - or one each of all four - of these great collector items! Celestron 50th Anniversary Stainless Steel Travel Mugs Want to keep warm at night with a hot beverage while looking at the stars? Do it with this stylish limited edition 50th Anniversary stainless steel travel mug with a thermally insulated, stainless steel exterior and plastic interior with sip lid, it has a sleek tapered design to fit easily in most car cup holders. Winner Note: Several of these prizes will be offered - but only one each of the Celestron 50th Anniversay items will be awarded per person. Put in as many tickets as you want to increase your chances of winning one - or one each of all four - of these great collector items! Celestron 50th Anniversary Commemorative Hats Show your Celestron pride with this commemorative 50th Anniversary 100% brushed cotton twill cap. Designed with an unstructured crown for a casual, relaxed fit this low profile, pre-curved visor frame will frame your face and keep the sun out of your eyes. Has six sewn eyelets and adjustable, self-material strap with a snap brass buckle to adjust to the most comfortable fit. One size fits most.
Winner Note: Several of these prizes will be offered - but only one each of the Celestron 50th Anniversay items will be awarded per person. Put in as many tickets as you want to increase your chances of winning one - or one each of all four - of these great collector items! Celestron 50th Anniversary T-Shirts The Celestron 50th Anniversary Hanes Beefy-T is made with preshrunk 6.1 oz heavyweight 100% cotton for long-lasting wear. Shoulder to shoulder taping with coverstitched collar and double-needle stitched armholes, sleeves/bottom hem. Label is printed, not sewn in, for ultimate comfort. Celestron 50th anniversary 4-color logo is displayed on the right side.
Winner Note: Several of these prizes will be offered - but only one each of the Celestron 50th Anniversay items will be awarded per person. Put in as many tickets as you want to increase your chances of winning one - or one each of all four - of these great collector items! Next our sincere appreciation goes to another great supporter - Optics Planet - for their generous donation! (And be sure to check your registration packets for discount cards, too!) Just check out this cool little telescope... Bushnell ARES 5 inch Compact Truss Tube Dobsonian TelescopeThe Bushnell ARES 5" Truss Tube Dobsonian Telescope 785000 is available exclusively from the online store - Optics Planet! The Bushnell Compact ARES 5 Dobsonian Telescope is a simple, easy to use, non-technical telescope that is still large enough to provide real performance. The 130mm reflector, 650mm focal length is large enough to take this telescope out of the toy category, and is rapidly becoming the standard for a beginner's telescope in terms of size. Bushnell DOB5 Compact Telescope features a true parabolic mirror design that allows the telescope's optics to be collimated with a standard collimating eyepiece. The circle on the center of the mirror also allows the use of a laser collimator. The Bushnell ARES Telescope series is named for NASA's Ares rocket. The ARES rocket, itself named for the Greek god associated with the planet Mars, will some day return humans to the moon and eventually take them to Mars and further on into the solar system.  Truss tube design of this Bushnell telescope keeps the overall size super portable and provides features only found on high end, expensive Dobsonian telescope models. The truss-support concept allows the optical tube's front and back cells to collapse together, while aligning on the truss support rods, and can be locked down for an easier and more secure way to transport the telescope. This one piece, low hassle OTA design is mechanically simple and results in a telescope that can be handled with ease and transported by just one individual. The Bushnell DOB 5 130mm Dobsonian mount features friction bearings on the altitude and the azimuth, that make for a more user friendly telescope mount than the ball bearing setups used on many other Dobsonian telescopes. The telescope stops dead in its tracks when you remove your hand and does not continue moving as happens with ball bearing designs. The carry handle is convenient in keeping with the portable design of this Bushnell telescope. Bushnell DOB-5 Dobsonian Telescope 130 mm Newtonian Reflector 78-5000 comes with two 1.25" telescope eyepieces: 10mm SPL10 and 25mm SPL25, and includes a red dot finder scope. Now for a real piece of astronomy equipment from our friends at Unihedron! Unihedron Sky Quality Meter The Unihedron SQM Measures the brightness of the sky in magnitudes per square arcsecond. CCD users can make a correlation between the Unihedron SQM reading and when the background reaches some ADC level. Uses: Find out how good the night or site REALLY is. Compare the sky brightness at different sites quantitatively. Document the evolution of light pollution in your area. Set planetarium dome illumination to mimic the skies people are likely to experience elsewhere in the city. Monitor sky brightness through the night, night-to-night, and year-to-year. Determine which nights show the greatest promise for finding the 'faintest fuzzies'! Calibrate the effect of sky brightness on qualitative measures such as the Bortle Scale. Investigate how sky brightness correlates with the solar cycle and month-to-month sunspot activity. Help provide local ground truth for future sky brightness prediction with the Clear Sky Clock. Features: Audible signal while measurement is in progress. Sky brightness displayed in visual magnitudes per square arcsecond. Infrared blocking filter restricts measurement to visual bandpass. Temperature in both Celsius and Fahrenheit as well as model number and serial number can be displayed with different button press sequence. Precision readings at even the darkest sites. Power-saving features designed in for maximum battery life. Reverse battery protection. Specifications: Operates from 9V battery (included). Size: 3.8" x 2.4" x 1" Maximum light sampling time: 80 seconds Here's another great donation from the good folks at Hands On Optics! Celestron 1.25" OIII FilterThe OIII narrowband filter isolates just the two doubly-ionized oxygen lines (496 and 501nm lines) emitted by planetary and emission nebulae, while blocking the rest of the overall spectrum of light. The result is extreme contrast between the black sky background and the faint photons of OIII light needed for detailed views of the Veil, Ring, Dumbbell, Crescent and Orion nebulae, among other objects. Each filter has an ultra hard, vacuum-deposited coating carefully designed to block all of the visual spectrum ranging from 400 to 700 nm This eliminates the un-natural colored halos surrounding bright stars common with O III filters of less sophisticated coating technology. Let's not forget the young folks, either! Thanks to our good friends and supporters at OPT we have even more to give away! Check this out... Simmons 10x25mm Compact Binoculars Simmons 10x25mm Compact binocular is small enough to fit into a pocket, belt pack, tackle box or glove compartment Outdoor gear features fully coated lenses for bright images Rubber armor protects the binocular while providing firm grip 10x25mm Includes nylon belt loop case and built-in neck strap Weighs 11.3 ounces
Vixen Space Eye 70 Refractor Telescope with Mount Starting with a quality 70mm (2.8?) Vixen Achromatic Refractor which operates at a focal length of 700mm with an f/ratio of 10, we have a small, lightweight yet powerful telescope. The entire telescope package weighs only 6.8 pounds , so it is manageable by even the most inexperienced hands - yet capable of revealing some of the most magnificent wonders of the universe. Through its "eye" you'll reveal the moons of Jupiter, the rings of Saturn, mountains and craters on the Moon, colorful double stars, vast nebula, bright clusters and more. What's more is the Space Eye will serve as a great terrestrial scope too; catch glimpses of nesting birds or roaming wild life. Vixen Space Eye 70 Refractor Telescope Features
Yeah! And when the viewing gets tough... the tough get viewing! If you're looking for a spectacular prize, then check out what our supporters from Oberwerks sent our way and say thank you to BigBinoculars.com for helping us out!  The high degree of eye relief and fold-down eyecups makes these models a great choice for those that wear eyeglasses. Heavily rubber-armored metal body, with brass 1/4-20 tripod adapter threading. Also includes right ocular diopter adjustment, Fujinon-style soft rubber ocular cover, attached soft rubber objective covers, rugged nylon case, and our premium heavy-duty strap. Next up... our appreciation goes to the one and only Howie Glatter for his exceptional donation! Howie Glatter 1.25" TuBLUG Newtonian Laser Collimator Accessory"The Blug is my newest Newtonian collimation accessory (Blug is short for Barlowed collimation plug). The Blug is used together with a regular laser collimator in single beam mode to perform Barlowed laser Newtonian primary mirror alignment. The Blug does not attach to the collimator like my regular self-Barlow attachment. It is inserted in the inner end of the focuser drawtube, inside the tube or upper cage, and it is retained by an O-ring in the Blug base. It has a matte-white 45 degree face as a screen, and a small anti-reflection coated Barlow lens mounted in a central axial hole.  On a truss tube dob, the 45 degree face of the Blug is easily visible from primary adjustment position. You watch the target shadow move on the Blug face as you turn the primary adjustment screws. With a solid tube scope, the Blug can be turned 180 degrees to face the front, and the target shadow will be seen easily from the front of the scope. I supply a shim kit with the Blug for use if the drawtube inner end is larger than the eyepiece nominal size. The plastic shim strips can be inserted under the o-ring, and in this way drawtubes as much as 1/10" oversize can be accommodated.The Blug extends 3/8" into the back end of the drawtube, so the laser collimator in the eyepiece position must not extend forward far enough to interfere with the Blug, or it will not seat properly. After the secondary mirror angular alignment is adjusted with the single beam laser collimator, just insert the Blug into the back end of the drawtube, and adjust the primary mirror alignment to center the collimation target shadow on the Blug face." Easy... Precise... And Accurate. What more could you ask? Now, let's thank our friends at Scope City for the donation of $50 worth of gift certificates!  Next up.... Our appreciation goes to Vixen Optics! Vixen NLV 8-24 Click-Stop Zoom Eyepiece The Vixen NLV 8-24 Click-Stop-Zoom eyepiece features a Twist up Eye Guard. It has an Apparent FOV: 40-55 and Eye Relief: 20-15 and Weights 7.9 oz. What a great little treasure this will add to your collection! Oh, are you ready? Then hang on to your hat and dust off your wallet for charity... Cuz' look what Orion Telescopes has blessed us with! We simply cannot thank them enough!! Orion SpaceProbe 3 Equatorial Reflector Telescope The aluminum Newtonian reflector telescope tube features a smooth-adjusting 1.25" rack-and-pinion focuser to ensure precise focus adjustments and sharp views in the eyepiece. Speaking of which, the Orion SpaceProbe 3 Equatorial Reflector comes with two interchangeable Explorer II eyepieces (1.25")?25mm (28x) and 10mm (70x)?as well as a wide-field, and Orion EZ Finder II Reflex Sight to aid in locating objects. An adjustable-height tripod with accessory tray and aluminum legs is also included with this feature-packed telescope. The SpaceProbe 3 Equatorial Reflector Telescope comes with the EQ-1 equatorial mount. This mount mimics our planets rotational axes, and allows easy manual "tracking" of celestial objects with included slow-motion control cables. Orion ShortTube 80-T Refractor Telescope Despite its diminutive size ? it?s only 15-1/2" long ? this telescope delivers the goods. And it?s so portable you will be able to take it virtually anywhere. It comes equipped with a 1.25" cast-aluminum rack-and-pinion focuser and two interchangeable Sirius Plossl telescope eyepieces ? 25mm (16x) and 10mm (40x). Easily attaches to Orion equatorial mounts or photo tripods. Orion Telescope and Toe-Saver Safety Lights Orion Telescope and Toe-Saver Safety Lights can help you avoid the worst case scenario of potentially knocking over your treasured telescope. During star parties or group observing sessions, our Safety Lights will help make sure you and others avoid potentially painful ? and costly! ? bumps, trips, and knock-downs in the dark. The handy included control box lets you adjust the red light brightness to easily see where your astronomy gear is without disrupting your dark-adapted vision. The control box also allows you to choose between constant illumination or flash settings. The flash setting is useful if you prefer the safety lights to blink periodically during use. Three lengths of red electroluminescent wire are included to fit any tripod, and 4 hook and loop fasteners let you secure the lights in-place where you want them. Requires 9-volt battery (not included). Orion StarShoot Video Eyepiece This handy video "eyepiece" imager provides an inexpensive entry into the rewarding realm of astrophotography. The StarShoot Video Eyepiece features a CMOS sensor chip with 8-bit output and RGB 24-bit color resolution. The sensor?s small 9.2µm x 7.2µm pixel size accurately detects fine details. While not sensitive enough to capture images of faint deep space objects, the Video Eyepiece enables you to share telescopic views of brighter objects within our solar system like the Moon and brighter planets like Jupiter and Saturn. The view transmitted by the StarShoot Video Eyepiece is comparable to what you would see using a 5mm eyepiece. The 1.25" nosepiece is threaded for use with any Orion 1.25" eyepiece filter, so you can enhance your view to your liking by using a Moon filter, light pollution filter, color planetary filters, and more (filters sold separately). You can also use our StarShoot 0.5x Focal Reducer (sold separately) if you?d like to view a wider area. The StarShoot Video Eyepiece is powered by the included AC-to-DC adapter, which has a long 70" cable for convenient use with your telescope. With an Orion StarShoot Video Eyepiece you can start enjoying the night sky and daytime terrestrial views through your TV! Orion 8x25 Sea Otter WP Binoculars Eyeglass wearers will especially appreciate the SeaOtter 8x25's great eye relief and retractable eyecups, which help to ensure that images appear just as sharp and bright as they do for those without glasses. A near focus of just 4 feet means you'll be ready for those unexpected opportunities to see nature up close! Just like their furry aquatic counterparts, these SeaOtters are all about fun! Rain or shine, these affordably priced SeaOtter 8x25 Waterproof Compact Binoculars will keep you focused on all the action, even while you're floating in the water on your back! Includes dust caps, neck strap and carrying case. Weighs less than one pound. Orion Visulite 8x21 Compact Binoculars With 21mm objective lenses, full 8x magnifying power, and a generous 6.9-deg field of view, it serves up crisp, clear images. It's the perfect palm-sized glass for taking wherever you go: concerts, sporting events, traveling, golfing, or other outdoor leisure activities. Makes a unique, eye-catching gift for adults or adolescents. Includes carrying case and neck strap. Orion Classic Brass Set of Focus Wheels Give your telescope a facelift with these brass wheels! Knurled wheels can be adjusted easily, even while wearing gloves! Set of Orion Sport Aluminum Focus Wheels Knurled wheels adjust easily, even while wearing gloves. Give your telescope focuser a makeover! Starry Night Galaxy Explorer Astronomy CD-ROM It may feel like an exciting science fiction movie, but it's all based on current astronomical knowledge and Galaxy Explorer is a great way to learn about space. Learn detailed information through the SkyGuide as you explore the 3-D universe. Even examine the structure of the universe from up to 700-million light years away! Introducing your family to the universe has never been easier. (More than one of these will be offered, but just one per person, please.) Starry Night Eyes on Mars Astronomy DVD Join the adventure as the Rovers romp on the Red Planet. This exciting documentary, Starry Night Eyes on Mars Space Exploration DVD, focuses on the quest to fully understand the mysteries of Mars. Running Time: 162 minutes. (More than one of these will be offered, but just one per person, please.) Comet Hunters / Asteroid Seekers DVD You will learn the differences and similarities between comets and asteroids, as well as the promises and threats they hold. Learn the good and bad about the past, present and future of the solar system's smallest members, including our current understanding of the origins, composition, and effects of comets and asteroids on the Earth. (More than one of these will be offered, but just one per person, please.) Starry Night Wheels on Mars Space Exploration Astronomy DVD Learn more about the challenges and successes of missions to the red planet. A companion to the award-winning Eyes on Mars DVD. Total run time: 98 minutes. (More than one of these will be offered, but just one per person, please.) Now, let's thank our friends and continued supporters at Astrozap for the donation of $100 worth of gift certificates!  Next up are some prizes that we bought for your raffling pleasure! Celestron 12V 7AH PowerTankThe Power Tank is not just another 12V power supply! It has all kinds of thoughtful features that will make your observing sessions more pleasureable. First of all, we like the built-in handle and compact size of the Celestron 12V 7AH Power Tank. Hauling a DC battery around can be a real pain, and we can tell that forethought went into it's design. It is a 7-amp hour battery, which should be enough to run most telescopes for quite awhile before recharging is necessary. The Power Tank has two 12V output cigarette lighter ports. They have a cover built in so that dirt and moisure stay out when the port is not in use. There are three 5mm pin-jack outlets for operating accessories (1 amp max)...a 3V, a 6V and a 9V. There is a built-in flashlight with a red filter cap. It will come in handy during after-dark set-ups! Add to that am 800,000 candle-power halogen emergency spotlight built into the unit. It is certainly not for star parties, but if you leave the Power Tank in your car or someplace accessible in your home, the bright spotlight could be a lifesaver. Since this battery is rechargeable, Celestron has also included a 110V AC recharger.A DC power cord is included, meant exclusively for Celestron telescopes. If you plan to use this power source on a Meade scope, you will still need a #607 (or equivalent) DC power cord. Finally, there is a built-in circuit breaker in the unit, and separate on-off switches for the battery and flashlights. We think you'll like the Power Tank! Celestron 12V PowerTank Features...
For those who make astronomical observations, we know there's a lot of information that needs to be included in a report and how many times have you wished you could get it all in one easy place? Now you can with the Celestron Compact Weather Station....
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The Illuminated Centering Eyepiece is fully multi-coated (all air-to-glass surfaces) with anti-reflection coatings for bright, crisp views. It features a great 16mm eye relief and the barrel is threaded for Orion 1.25" filters. The illuminator switch doubles as a "dimmer" allowing you to adjust cross-hair brightness to the desired level.
