48 replies to this topic

[AstroApe]

Hello my fellow night sky lovers!!

 

I'm looking for some red light recommendations, along with ideas and suggestions for a little project I've got in mind...

 

I was recently in the market for a new red light, and while researching options I noticed that the vast majority of red lights on the market aren't very suitable for astronomy. Furthermore, of the lights who's main demographic is the amateur astronomy community, there's not much in terms of side-by-side comparisons between common models. 

 

So I've decided to take the plunge and try making some hands on comparisons between different red lights, specifically those aimed at helping us amateur astronomers preserve dark adaption. I'd also like to try a few common (cheap) models that might be easily (cheaply) modified for use at night. I'd like to do some actual observing with them to see how they perform in the field, and I'd also like to come up with some ways to objectively test each light too.

 

The lights I've got so far are one's that are currently in-stock online at a few reputable astro vendors (Astronomics, High Point Scientific, Agena Astro) and are popular models aimed at astronomy. So far, the lights I've either got on-hand or that are in-route include:

- Ken Fiscus (CloudyNights custom)

- Rigel Starlite (OG model from '94 & current model)

- Rigel Starlite Mini 

- Rigel Skylite (red/amber & red/white models)

- Rigel Skylite Mini 

- Celestron Night Vision flashlight 

- Celestron Night Vision headlamp

- Celestron Elements ThermoTorch 3 Astro

- Apertura Astro Vision 

- Apertura Ember headlamp 

- Antares LED Dual Beam 

- Explore Scientific Astro R-Lite 

- ZebraLight H504r headlamp 

- Agena red light keychain 

- First Light Optics red light keychain 

 

So, I'm here to ask my CloudyNights peers for recommendations on any other popular light models that our fellow observers are using out in the field. I'm also open to any ideas or suggestions on ways to test the lights against each other, and of ways to objectively test their performance to get whatever empirical data I'm able to.

 

I'm not sure how long this little project will take, but I plan to start up a testing thread when I get everything underway here on CN to make review posts for each light. I'll also make a quick review thread whenever I'm done.

 

[astrokeith]

Great project!

 

I'd recommend something like this https://www.teachers...ld-spectroscope to measure the actual waveband emitted. (we want >640nm)

Then a light meter.

 

For me, the controls are important. Can it be turned on/off without going through white or a too bright setting. 

 

I have a Celestron PowerTank Glow 5000 which seemed good until I started to use it! But add it your list?

[SarverSkyGuy]

The Celestron Elements ThermoTorch 3 Astro is very bright, even at the low setting. The hand warmer feature works well.

[sevenofnine]

For a small pocketable red light flashlight, the Rigel Starlite Min works well and it dims down to nothing. Not for star party situations but if you're by yourself and really want to see what you're doing or just the surrounding area for lions & tiger & bears...oh. my!   then this red light only headlamp with focusing zoom lens is my choice:...

 

https://www.amazon.c...,aps,436&sr=8-1.

 

p.s. If you want a tiny but extremely bright red only, the Mag-Lite Solitaire red LED is amazing! 

Edited by sevenofnine, 05 February 2025 - 04:31 PM.

[SoCalPaul]

Agree with above, a great project! Looking forward to seeing what you find outj.

 

I'm a die-hard headlamp user so my hands remain free. I know, it makes me look even nerdier than I already do, but so what, LOL.

 

I currently have a Black Diamond Storm model, which can be set to white, red, green or blue. The brightness is also adjustable down a low level.

 

I have used it at dark sites and red at the lowest setting is comfortable, does not seem to disrupt dark adaptation, but that's not a scientific assessment.

 

Bottom line is that it would be cool if you can include some of these outdoorsman headlamps like the Black Diamond in your testing and assessment.

 

Clear skies,

Paul

[ayadai]

I'm a die-hard headlamp user so my hands remain free. I know, it makes me look even nerdier than I already do, but so what, LOL.

Same here. One criteria I have is that there be discrete controls for the red and white lights, so I don't have to cycle through. I currently use the older variant of the Coast Sportsman 530; it was far less expensive when I bought it around 10 years ago; the fact that it still works is a bit of an endorsement.

 

@AstroApe, if you could include the configuration (headlamp, handheld, clamp, etc...) as well as a specification for discrete controls on red/white lights, that would be very helpful! Thanks for doing this!

Edited by ayadai, 04 February 2025 - 08:06 PM.

[RTLR 12]

I have been using Rigel Systems Starlite flashlight for decades now. I had to send one in for repair about 7 years after purchase and it was repaired at no charge. After 20 years I decided to replace my 2 original flashlights. I have the standard Flashlight with red/bluegreen LEDs.

Stan

[Y0_OY]

One of the parameters that I think is important is the output, usually expressed in lumens. So you may want to buy a lux meter (https://www.youtube....h?v=TZ8qFUiQBIk) to measure it at the lower settings, as it's not something that's usually advertised by the manufacturers (or if it is, it's only for the maximum output).

Other than that, what matters is how much of a gap there is between the settings. For example, the Zebra H504r advertises 3 sub-low levels (sometimes aptly called firefly modes): 1.0 Lm or 0.04 Lm /0.01 Lm /0.002 Lm. These are seemingly huge gaps and it's very inconvenient for astronomy purposes.
That's why I'll probably get a Rigel system. The thumb wheel gives you better control over the power and it's a 665nm deep red. I am just wondering how low it can go and if it will start at the lower output.
Can't wait to find out

[Souldrop]

If you are feeling froggy a emisar d1k with sst-20 and a lume x1 driver would seem like it would be a good astronomy light since anduril could be useful for setting min l, max, and desired ramping type…but that may be too much of an “enthusiast” light for most people. Figured it wouldn’t hurt to throw it out there.

https://intl-outdoor...et-thrower.html

One would need to email Hank (the owner) to have the upgraded driver installed. He is reponsive. 5+ orders on my end and no issues so far.

ETA: excited to see how the zebra holds up as thats a the headlamp I keep with my scope stuff.

Edited by Souldrop, 04 February 2025 - 11:46 PM.

[Y0_OY]

If you are feeling froggy a emisar d1k with sst-20 and a lume x1 driver would seem like it would be a good astronomy light since anduril could be useful for setting min l, max, and desired ramping type…but that may be too much of an “enthusiast” light for most people. Figured it wouldn’t hurt to throw it out there.

https://intl-outdoor...et-thrower.html

One would need to email Hank (the owner) to have the upgraded driver installed. He is reponsive. 5+ orders on my end and no issues so far.

ETA: excited to see how the zebra holds up as thats a the headlamp I keep with my scope stuff.

On another thread I suggested Hank's Emisar D3AA (love AA flashlights) but Anduril is not for everyone. Do you have any idea how low the SST-20 Deep Red can go?

[Souldrop]

On another thread I suggested Hank's Emisar D3AA (love AA flashlights) but Anduril is not for everyone. Do you have any idea how low the SST-20 Deep Red can go?

Unfortunately I don’t personally have a great idea how low it can go. My only sst-20 red are in a dual channel d4sv2 which doesn’t have that low of a moonlight.

[cliff mygatt]

I use the Gemba Red products here for my log book and atlas work here and here.

[AstroApe]

Thanks for the suggestions and recommendations everyone!

 

I've added a few red lights to the testing lineup, and I'm still researching some more options to add too. So far this is what I've got (roughly in ascending price):

 

- F.L.O. red keychain 

- Agena red keychain

- Apertura Astro Vision 

- Photon Freedom Mirco Covert keychain

- Mag-Lite Solitaire Red LED 

- Celestron Night Vision flashlight 

- Celestron Night Vision headlamp 

- Antares LED Dual Beam 

- Rigel Starlite (OG '94 model)

- Explore Scientific Astro R-Lite 

- Rigel Starlite Mini 

- Apertura Ember headlamp 

- Streamlight Siege AA lantern 

- Rigel Skylite Mini 

- Rigel Starlite 

- Ken Fiscus (CloudyNights member made)

- Rigel Skylite 

- Rigel Skylite (custom red/amber)

- Celestron PowerTank Glow 5000 

- Celestron Elements ThermoTorch 3 Astro 

- ZebraLight H504r headlamp 

[AstroApe]

Great project!

 

I'd recommend something like this https://www.teachers...ld-spectroscope to measure the actual waveband emitted. (we want >640nm)

Then a light meter.

 

For me, the controls are important. Can it be turned on/off without going through white or a too bright setting. 

 

I have a Celestron PowerTank Glow 5000 which seemed good until I started to use it! But add it your list?

I like the idea of wavelength measurement, especially given that the majority of these "red" lights fall into the orange spectrum. Thanks for the link. I'll look around to see if I can find a spectroscope that's got a finer scale so it'll be easier to accurately judge the measurements, but if nothing else I'll go with the one you linked.

 

I added the PowerTank to the lineup. I had originally passed it over for the ThermoTorch simply because the latter is currently on sale, down from it's usually $68 to under $30 through Celestron (link below for anyone interested).... I'm not really expecting either to make for a good astro light, but it seems like my phones always dead whenever I'm out observing and the battery powering my mount / dew heaters is always located at an inconvenient place to charge my phone. 

 

https://www.celestro...AmR6nXFI3-6nMfO

[AstroApe]

.....

p.s. If you want a tiny but extremely bright red only, the Mag-Lite Solitaire red LED is amazing! 

Added the little Mag-Lite. I use to have one of these when I was a teenager and absolutely loved it! It was an incandescent yellow buld. I had planned on getting another whenever they started coming out in LED but never got around to it, luckily so because I like this red LED version even better. 

 

 

.... I'm a die-hard headlamp user so my hands remain free. I know, it makes me look even nerdier than I already do, but so what, LOL.

 

I currently have a Black Diamond Storm model....

 

.... I currently use the older variant of the Coast Sportsman 530; it was far less expensive when I bought it around 10 years ago; the fact that it still works is a bit of an endorsement... 

Yeah, I'd definitely like to add some of the more commonly used flashlights and headlamps that the average amateur might pick up when first getting started in the hobby. I used a Coast headlamp whenever I first started astronomy since I owned one for backpacking, and it had a separate red / green mode along with the white mode.

 

I've just been debating exactly which models to get... Coast and Black Diamond both seem to be fairly common brands that get cross over use in our hobby. I checked Black Diamonds website and almost ordered their Astro headlamp based solely on it's name until I saw that it didn't even have a red light I'm not sure either brand offers anything that's made specifically for astronomy, so I guess I'll just find a popular version with a red light with specs that seem adequate. 

 

I'm also going to find some cheap LED flashlights that aren't too bright and modify a couple to test with common tricks that us amateurs use, such as a No. 25 Red filter tape on, red balloon or tape over the end, finger polish painted on the buld, etc.

[AstroApe]

If you are feeling froggy a emisar d1k with sst-20 and a lume x1 driver.... 

 

 

On another thread I suggested Hank's Emisar D3AA (love AA flashlights)....

Yeah, I'm still looking into these and will probably be adding one too. Right now I'm leaning towards the D3AA model but still don't have enough knowledge on it to make a decision. I'll probably email Hank, tell him what I'm looking for and wanting to do, and see what kinda suggestions he gives.... very cool lights, but definitely a jump in the deep end for those not into EDC type stuff

 

 

I use the Gemba Red products here for my log book and atlas work here and here.

I was thinking about finding a book light to try since that seems to be a popular light choice for some. Do you have both size light? Is the smaller size much dimmer than the large? It states the light uses an oranger light more in the 630nm range to make reading a little easier, so I'd definitely want to go with the dimmer model. 

[Y0_OY]

Stop teasing us

 

But seriously, it looks like a ton of fun. Let us know what Hank tells you...

[cliff mygatt]

I have both Gemba reds and the smaller is dimmer.  There are three levels of brightness settings on both lights.

Edited by cliff mygatt, 07 February 2025 - 09:31 AM.

[AstroApe]

Y0_OY, on 06 Feb 2025 - 6:55 PM, said:

Stop teasing us

But seriously, it looks like a ton of fun. Let us know what Hank tells you...

I sent Hank Wang (Noctigon/Emisar at intl-outdoor.com) a message last night and had a reply by the time I'd rechecked my email.

I explained to him what kind of light I was looking for, the referrals and recommendations I'd gotten on this thread, and asked for his recommendations. He stated that the D1K has a longer throw than the D3AA, the latter of which has more of a flood which he thought would work well for astro-use. Hank also recommended the D4K (outfitted with SST-20 660nm deep red LED and Lume X1 boost driver) if I wanted to substantially increase run time or output.

Right now I'm leaning more towards the D3AA simply because, like Y0_OY, I'm a big fan of AA & AAA gear. This is why I'm also thinking of getting the 10440 powered KC1 keychain light too. It's looking as if my order will consist of:

- Emisar D3AA = dark gray color, flat retaining ring, red backlight, SST-20 deep red LED, pocket clip, extra 10508 frosted optics, magnetic tail cap
- Emisar KC1 = dark gray color, SST-20 deep red LED

Edited by AstroApe, 07 February 2025 - 10:04 AM.

[AstroApe]

I have both Gemba reds and the smaller is dimmer.  There are three levels of brightness settings on both lights.

Thanks. I believe I'll go with the Mini version, although the full size Calm model may actually be better size wise for what I've got in mind, not really sure...

 

I've got a small folding metal table that I use when observing (link below) and my plan is to keep the light clipped to it or the eyepiece tray. I'm sure the Mini would be okay on the tray, but I'm not sure how well the smaller size will work on the table since the neck looks substantial shorter than that of the larger unit. 

 

https://www.walmart....A0aAm00EALw_wcB

[cliff mygatt]

The large one stands on its own quite well and I use it for my reference books and the small ones I clip to my observing log notebook.  Very handy!  I have two of each.

[targetshooter]

I have bought this headband type light.

A quick test one night was good but haven’t used it all night yet.

It was $28.84 from Amazon

Streamlight 61706 Bandit 180-Lumen Rechargeable Headlamp with White and Red LEDs and USB Cord, Hat Clip & Elastic Headstrap

[Bener]

I use the Black Diamond Spot model.

 

Settings include proximity and distance modes, dimming, strobe, red LED night-vision and lock mode. 

[AstroApe]

Red light acquisition update:

 

I'm currently sitting next to enough red LEDs to keep a small army of amateurs going, although most of them seem more suitable to coyote hunting or search-n-rescue work than to astronomy

 

Here's the list of lights I've got so far listed roughly in order of ascending price ( ** indicates lights that I'm still waiting to receive in the mail, some of which are due today):

 

- F.L.O. red keychain 

- Agena red keychain 

- Apertura Astro Vision 

- Emisar KC1 **

- Photon Freedom Mirco Covert keychain **

- Celestron Night Vision light 

- Celestron Night Vision headlamp 

- Antares LED Dual Beam 

- Rigel Starlite (OG '94 model) 

- Explore Scientific Astro R-Lite 

- Rigel Starlite Mini 

- Mag-Lite Solitaire Red LED **

- GembaRed Calm Mini booklight **

- Apertura Ember headlamp 

- Streamlight Siege AA lantern **

- Rigel Skylite Mini 

- Rigel Starlite 

- Ken Fiscus (CN member made) **

- Rigel Skylite (red/white) 

- Rigel Skylite (red/amber) 

- Emisar D3AA **

- Celestron PowerTank Glow 5000 

- Celestron Elements ThermoTorch 3 Astro 

- ZebraLight H504r headlamp 

 

I'm still debating exactly which other headlamps to add that get common cross use within our hobby. Original plan was to just grab some cheap-o's from a big box store, but there does seem to be some pretty decent mid-range headlamps that get used within our hobby. After searching through CN, some of the more common models I ran across seemed to be Black Diamond (Storm, Spot, Cosmos); Princeton Tec (Fred, Remix, Byte); and several different models from Coast (FL68, FL78, FL88, etc.)....  

[Starman1]

Thanks for the suggestions and recommendations everyone!

 

I've added a few red lights to the testing lineup, and I'm still researching some more options to add too. So far this is what I've got (roughly in ascending price):

 

- F.L.O. red keychain 

- Agena red keychain

- Apertura Astro Vision 

- Photon Freedom Mirco Covert keychain

- Mag-Lite Solitaire Red LED 

- Celestron Night Vision flashlight 

- Celestron Night Vision headlamp 

- Antares LED Dual Beam 

- Rigel Starlite (OG '94 model)

- Explore Scientific Astro R-Lite 

- Rigel Starlite Mini 

- Apertura Ember headlamp 

- Streamlight Siege AA lantern 

- Rigel Skylite Mini 

- Rigel Starlite 

- Ken Fiscus (CloudyNights member made)

- Rigel Skylite 

- Rigel Skylite (custom red/amber)

- Celestron PowerTank Glow 5000 

- Celestron Elements ThermoTorch 3 Astro 

- ZebraLight H504r headlamp 

I would avoid headlamps altogether unless you typically observe alone.

They are EXTREMELY annoying in group settings.