19 replies to this topic

[rigelsys]

Hi All,

 

I think a thread collecting a list of small astronomy product companies that have been around a while, would be a good topic. 

 

But there is a long list of others, such as Scopestuff,  Astrosystems,  Telescope Warehouse, Land-Sea-Sky, Telrad (tho Steve Kufeld's story is on line already?) etc...  I'd like to compile the list to send on to Astronomy Technology Today magazine or Scopetrader.com  and maybe they can start interviewing the principals and write them up as a special interest articles for us readers!  There's a lot of history out there that needs to be captured.

 

I'll start the list with

Rigel Systems (me)

 

And here's a link to our early history -- I need to update it a bit, but its a start.

 

 

Attached Files

•  Brief_hist_rig_sys.pdf   85.21KB   72 downloads

[havasman]

Maybe Desert Sky Astro may qualify. ADM, a favorite of mine, should too.

 

If this project gets completed and the community actually reads the profiles of these companies a benefit might be quieting some of the Is ________ still in business? inquiries we see by showing us how these are, at least at some point in their histories, one person operations subject to demands of life that can force the operator to look away from their side gig for a bit.

[cuzimthedad]

Moving to the Vendors forum...

[Doug Culbertson]

Obsession Telescopes

Losmandy, though as I understand it his main business is in the motion picture industry. 

Tele Vue

Astro-Physics

[Maximus001]

A shout out to my friend and neighbor (sort of)

Denkmeier for binoviewers

[rigelsys]

good start! thank you folk ... I'm not trying for self promotion but collect a list of those one-person small companies that have a long history in our hobby,  perhaps never growing out of a niche,  but are the go-to companies in that niche!  I can think of a few who have come and gone (e.g., Tom Noe teleport telescopes,  created to be transportable on his motorcycle)  but more interested in ones still around but not the big boys.  For example

 

Equatorialplatforms -- I think about the only player in that technology?

Denkmeier

Telegizmos

Scopestuff  (Jim Henson)

ADM

Desert Sky Astro

Telescope Warehouse (William Force)

Astro Systems (Randy Cunningham)

Catseye

company7  because of their interesting background, and they collect histories for a lot of the companies whose products they sell.  Been around a long time, but I don't think have the recognition they deserve :-)

Bob's Knobs

AstroZap

rainbow optics

 

Thanks for your suggestions :-)

Edited by rigelsys, 04 February 2025 - 11:47 PM.

[Bob Denny]

DC-3 Dreams, SP has been in business since 2001. Mom and Pop company, just two people.

 

We're very much still going. We've sponsored countless conferences to include the upcoming Northeast Astro Imaging Conference 2025. We aren't popular because our software is "really expensive" ha ha. But we serve high-end imagers and science astronomers, secondary schools, clubs, and researchers all around the world. 

Edited by Bob Denny, 04 February 2025 - 07:44 PM.

[rigelsys]

DC-3 Dreams, SP has been in business since 2001. Mom and Pop company, just two people.

 

We're very much still going. We've sponsored countless conferences to include the upcoming Northeast Astro Imaging Conference 2025. We aren't popular because our software is "really expensive" ha ha. But we serve high-end imagers and science astronomers, secondary schools, clubs, and researchers all around the world. 

now that's a good addition.  I'm trying to think of others that are small but have really supported the hobby for many years.  

[w7ay]

Hutech (Ted and Mia Ishikawa).

Edited by w7ay, 04 February 2025 - 11:51 PM.

[NC Startrekker]

Questar

[Maximus001]

Starlight Instruments

[KGoodwin]

Moonlite, Optec, Mike Lockwood, Hubble Optics

[Speedy1985]

Astrocrumb Filter Slides-Roger Greenwood

Edited by Speedy1985, 06 February 2025 - 05:21 PM.

[Bob Pitney]

This is quite cool to see. And so many of these folks I know and have done/do business with. The one thing that I ponder though is our ages...so many of us are getting up in years. I can't help but ponder where the next generation of innovators and producers, not simply sellers, will come from. Time will tell.

 

My add to the list, Vic Maris. Like so many of us, he started in his garage with a vision. 

 

Regards,

 

Bob Pitney

TeleGizmos

[rexowner]

buckeyestargazer

  

[donjulio]

Starizona

[rigelsys]

I have compiled a nice beginning list from your suggestions (thank you)  and have circulated it to a couple of Astro online mags to see if they're interested --  no bites yet :-(  But will keep y'all posted on any progress.

 

thanks to all!

[Joko]

OVNI Night Vision eyepieces (monoculars & binoviewers) since 2019.

www.ovni-nightvision.com/en/

 

We provide real-time observation of celestial bodies by multiplying photons, removing the dependency on numerical technology common in electronic eyepieces. Their versatility allows them to be used with all refractor and reflector telescopes, regardless of size, whether they have tracking systems or not. They can also be used handheld for an exceptionally wide field of view.

 

Two models are offered: the OVNI-M, a monocular version, and the OVNI-B, designed as a binoviewer. These eyepieces are incredibly user-friendly, simply inserting into the telescope's focuser or diagonal. They couple well with filters, focal reducers, and coma correctors, enabling users to explore a diverse range of objects, from the largest nebula to the smallest galaxies,  including planetary nebulae, star clusters, planets, supernovae, comets, quasars, and satellites.

Perfect for visual observation, astrophotography, and scientific research,

 

OVNI Night Vision eyepieces cater to both amateur and professional astronomers in suburban or dark-sky environments.

Edited by Joko, 04 March 2025 - 04:11 PM.

[regimatic]

Parallax Instruments - Joe Nastasi. 

[hopskipson]

Lunt Solar
Solar Spectrum
Aries-in Ukraine
Bel Optik