Telescope Reviews: Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report

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MikeBOKC
Post Laureate

Reged: 05/10/10

Loc: Oklahoma City, OK

Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report
#5447373 - 09/29/12 07:57 PM

I am sure the owners of this site will post a report on today's events, but herewith some happy impressions:

-- Got there at 9 to help set up the OKC Astronomy Club table and people were already in the showroom. I doubt there were less that 20 customers/browsers at any time all day, and at times it was almost overcrowded. A rough estimate is 250 to 350 folks through the doors between 9 and 5, and many stayed for hours.

-- The planned solar viewing and evening star party in downtown Norman were washed out by a steady, interminable rain and low, dense clouds, the kind where you imagine you could poke a hole in them by standing on a short stepladder. I set up my solar rig in the lobby as a static display for the club table, and it whimpered and whined all day, craving solar photons, but it was not to be.

-- I am sure lots of CNers were on hand, but the only one I visited with was Rboe, who kindly snapped a photo of my lonely solar rig. I am sure he will be posting photos here soon.

-- If the rain was any indication, Astronomics was doing a bunch of business all day. Staff was constantly scurrying past our table in the lobby to the warehouse area, then re-emerging with boxes. It looked like just about every eyepiece in North America went out the door today. At one point Fred hurried out with a half-dozen boxes and I said he was going to run out at this rate and he grinned and said "I hope so."

-- It was especially gratifying to visit with some shoppers who were contemplating the purchase of a first telescope, and who were happy to have such a great facility to do it in. Our club signed up several new members, and the enthusiasm level was high, not a surprise when you are surrounded by almost 100 telescopes.

-- The manufacturer reps on hand -- ES, Televue, Celestron etc. -- were busy all day answering questions and demonstrating products. Major drool quotient here . . .

-- Drove home in a steady rain listening to Tchaikovsky's violin concerto, which as you may recall was adpated as the main theme for the movie The Right Stuff, which Astronomics definitely had today.

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rboe

Reged: 03/16/02

Loc: Phx, AZ

Re: Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report new

new

[Re: MikeBOKC]
#5447449 - 09/29/12 08:29 PM Attachment (34 downloads)

Not to keep Mike waiting.....

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rboe

Reged: 03/16/02

Loc: Phx, AZ

Re: Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report new

new

[Re: rboe]
#5447454 - 09/29/12 08:31 PM Attachment (29 downloads)

This shot is during one of the quieter times, I think right after lunch.

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MikeBOKC
Post Laureate

Reged: 05/10/10

Loc: Oklahoma City, OK

Re: Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report new

new

[Re: rboe]
#5447464 - 09/29/12 08:36 PM

Thanks Ron, great to meet you . . . and as he promised earlier he did not wear his cowboy hat!

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oldstargazer
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/03/11

Loc: Western Oklahoma

Re: Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report new

new

[Re: MikeBOKC]
#5447482 - 09/29/12 08:43 PM

I envy or feel sorry for those of you that live close to such a nice store. I am glad I made the drive out to see the nice place that always sends me such nice things when I order them over the net. One thing for sure seeing that big SCT 14 on that CGEM pro mount was impressive, truly a monster. I was the big guy wearing the Alaska baseball cap and carrying the flying ring. Thanks again for a great event.

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rboe

Reged: 03/16/02

Loc: Phx, AZ

Re: Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report new

new

[Re: oldstargazer]
#5447497 - 09/29/12 08:50 PM

Oh that is a big help Ralph! Half the people there had flying rings.

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oldstargazer
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 08/03/11

Loc: Western Oklahoma

Re: Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report new

new

[Re: rboe]
#5447523 - 09/29/12 09:05 PM

Thought you would like that. I was also wearing a big grey beard and grey camo pants, I get mistaken for santa sometimes.

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Smittty692k4
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 07/05/11

Loc: East Bernard, TX

Re: Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report new

new

[Re: oldstargazer]
#5447554 - 09/29/12 09:27 PM

Ralph and Ron, it was great visiting with yall. Mike, I was the guy in the Texas Longhorn shirt. Im sure had a few people talkin about it. Haha.
We are at Jack in the Box just outside Dallas. Almost INVOLVED in 2 accidents due to rain. Decided to stop and eat, should pass by.
Again, great to meet everyone!!
Ron, Ill let you know about the 35mm ep.

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MikeBOKC
Post Laureate

Reged: 05/10/10

Loc: Oklahoma City, OK

Re: Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report new

new

[Re: Smittty692k4]
#5447576 - 09/29/12 09:45 PM

You mean you made it to the border alive Smitty? See we aer tolerant people.

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core
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 02/23/08

Loc: Mostly in Norman, OK

Re: Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report new

new

[Re: MikeBOKC]
#5447580 - 09/29/12 09:49 PM Attachment (25 downloads)

Couple 'o pano pics to share ...

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core
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 02/23/08

Loc: Mostly in Norman, OK

Re: Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report new

new

[Re: core]
#5447581 - 09/29/12 09:50 PM Attachment (22 downloads)

2nd ...

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core
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 02/23/08

Loc: Mostly in Norman, OK

Re: Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report new

new

[Re: core]
#5447582 - 09/29/12 09:51 PM Attachment (25 downloads)

From the back of the showroom.

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core
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 02/23/08

Loc: Mostly in Norman, OK

Re: Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report new

new

[Re: core]
#5447584 - 09/29/12 09:51 PM Attachment (25 downloads)

... and finally the eyepiece 'bar' - Fred's behind the counter.

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okieav8r
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 03/01/09

Loc: Oklahoma!

Re: Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report new

new

[Re: core]
#5447782 - 09/30/12 12:27 AM

I really enjoyed attending the grand opening today. I came down with my nephew and niece and stayed for about two-and-a-half hours. It was too bad that none of the people who won the drawings at the end of the day weren't present, but that's how luck will have it sometimes. I especially enjoyed seeing some of John Davis' astrophotography. Congratulations to Astronomics on such a great new store. I wish I could have met some of the CN members there.

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Smittty692k4
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 07/05/11

Loc: East Bernard, TX

Re: Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report new

new

[Re: okieav8r]
#5447866 - 09/30/12 02:19 AM

Just made it home. Through all the rain, near misses, more rain, wrecks and more rain, 502 miles later. Had a fantastic day. Now time for sleep. Thanks Astronomics for a very memorable weekend!!

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rockethead26
Carpal Tunnel

Reged: 10/21/09

Loc: Indiana, USA

Re: Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report new

new

[Re: core]
#5448004 - 09/30/12 07:53 AM

Quote:

... and finally the eyepiece 'bar' - Fred's behind the counter.

Love how the Eyepiece bar turned out!

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star drop
Snowed In

Reged: 02/02/08

Loc: Snow Plop, WNY

Re: Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report new

new

[Re: core]
#5448007 - 09/30/12 07:58 AM

Quote:

From the back of the showroom.

Just look at that edge of field by the eyepiece shelves.

What eyepiece were you using?

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edwincjones
Close Enough

Reged: 04/10/04

Re: Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report new

new

[Re: star drop]
#5448012 - 09/30/12 08:03 AM

thanks for showing me what I missed yesterday
but
some other day

edj

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star drop
Snowed In

Reged: 02/02/08

Loc: Snow Plop, WNY

Re: Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report new

new

[Re: star drop]
#5448013 - 09/30/12 08:04 AM

Did anyone politely ask?

.. um pester?

.. er um rough up

the Explore Scientific representative to find out about the new 100° 25mm and 5.5mm eyepieces

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maltydog
member

Reged: 09/13/12

Re: Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report new

new

[Re: star drop]
#5448036 - 09/30/12 08:24 AM

great event. i wanted to buy everything - good thing i had adult supervision. here are a few pics.

gw

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maltydog
member

Reged: 09/13/12

Re: Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report new

new

[Re: maltydog]
#5448039 - 09/30/12 08:26 AM

here are a couple more:

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maltydog
member

Reged: 09/13/12

Re: Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report new

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[Re: maltydog]
#5448042 - 09/30/12 08:27 AM

and finally:

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rflinn68
scholastic sledgehammer

Reged: 03/09/12

Loc: Arkansas

Re: Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report new

new

[Re: maltydog]
#5448104 - 09/30/12 09:12 AM

Wife and I had a great time. Its truely a beautiful place and it was definately worth the drive out. Those who didnt get to go I recommend you see it sometime.

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Mike Foreman
sage

Reged: 04/06/07

Loc: Texas

Re: Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report new

new

[Re: rflinn68]
#5448354 - 09/30/12 12:18 PM

It was a great day even with all the rain.
Loved putting faces to names both from Astronomics and Cloudy Nights.
Tried to say hi to Pete but there was always a line at his office door so "Hi Pete" and thanks Astronomics for hosting the MOB.

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csa/montana
Den Mama

Reged: 05/14/05

Loc: montana

Re: Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report new

new

[Re: maltydog]
#5448466 - 09/30/12 01:31 PM

Those scopes are sooooo nice!

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Skip
Starlifter Driver

Reged: 01/23/08

Loc: Fort Worth, Texas, USA

Re: Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report new

new

[Re: Smittty692k4]
#5448643 - 09/30/12 02:52 PM

Glad to hear you made it home Matt! It was great meeting you, Ron Boe (Rboe), and Ralph (Old Stargazer). Too bad you had to be wearing that funny colored (burnt orange?) t-shirt.

But I'm glad you made it back out of Oklahoma alive! We had a good time (especially over at McNeelie's for lunch)! Glad I got to meet Alan Traino. But I'm sorry I missed Mike (mikeOKC).

Great store, great proprietors. Big crowd. Glad to hear that Fred and Co might have run out of EPs! I posted my pix over in the NexStar Forum. All were taken at McNeelie's.

I'll see Michael B., Alan, and Ron in Tucson in October. Wish everyone could make it over there!

Best,

Edited by Skip (09/30/12 02:54 PM)

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Olivier Biot
Amused

Reged: 04/25/05

Loc: 51°N (Belgium)

Re: Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report new

new

[Re: Skip]
#5455245 - 10/04/12 03:07 PM

Thanks for sharing those pics and stories

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rboe

Reged: 03/16/02

Loc: Phx, AZ

Re: Astronomics Grand Opening -- a report new

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[Re: Olivier Biot]
#5455694 - 10/04/12 08:32 PM

Lunch was great Skip, hope to meet up with you folks again.

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