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NEWS AND DEVELOPMENTS AT COMPANY SEVEN

    NEWS AND C7 WEB SITE CHANGES - Latest Articles And Other Uploads

    OBSERVING PLANNING AIDS - Night Sky, Sun, Moon information.

      Red ball (924 bytes) Weather Sky Clock for Washington, D.C. area (updated automatically)

      Red ball (924 bytes) The Sky Above Company Seven. The default shows the sky over our showroom in Laurel, Maryland. When page opens then you may scroll to the bottom of the page to enter your observing location, time, date, etc. Note that Universal Time is 4 hours ahead of Washington, D.C. EST, or 5 hours EDT. Click on any area of the map to see an enlarged detailed view.

      Red ball (924 bytes) Observing Tips for The Month a text discussion of the Moon, planets, and other interesting celestial objects in the night sky from night to night. Updated monthly. This is a public service provided by Company Seven and the University of Texas McDonald Observatory.

      Red ball (924 bytes) Complete Sun and Moon Data for One Day Complete Sun and Moon Data for One Day. You can obtain the times of sunrise, sunset, moonrise, moonset, transits of the Sun and Moon, and the beginning and end of civil twilight, along with information on the Moon's phase by specifying the date and location. This is a public service provided by the U.S. Naval Observatory Astronomical Applications Department through Company Seven, used by permission.

    COMING SOON

      Red ball (924 bytes) 20 March 2008 Event: Company Seven Supporting NASA Sun-Earth Day educational activity. This year's theme will be "Space Weather Around The World".

      Red ball (924 bytes) 9 August 2007 Company Seven Acquires Biosphere 2 Astronomical Observatory. This is designated our 'MCCM' Observatory Project. The system will be relocated to Maryland and established as part of our own science education facility.

    EVENTS OF THE PAST

      Red ball (924 bytes) 20 March 2007 Company Seven supporting NASA annual 'Sun-Earth Day 2007' educational activities. This year's theme will be "Living In The Atmosphere of The Sun".

      Red ball (924 bytes) 20 March 2006 Company Seven supporting NASA annual 'Sun-Earth Day 2006' educational activities. This year's theme features natural and artificial eclipses!

      Red ball (924 bytes) 5 November 2005 Company Seven supporting Howard Astronomical League "Mars Watch" event from 5:00 pm to 3:00 am. Company Seven provided a telescope and staff to see the Opposition of Mars at the Belmont Mansion, off Elibank Drive in Elkridge, Maryland. H.A.L. and Howard County Community College jointly sponsored this event which was open to the public at large. Company Seven assists at such events as a public service insisting on no promotional efforts on our behalf.

      The system furnished by Company Seven was our Astro-Physics 206mm f/8 EDF telescope with a Astro-Physics 90mm f/5 Stowaway "finder" telescope on an Astro-Physics 1200GTO German Equatorial Mount. The system was equipped with our Baader Mark V Großfeld Binocular Head, a top of the line system providing high resolution binocular views through the telescope. We employed a selection of TeleVue Panoptic, TeleVue Nagler, TeleVue Radian, and a matched pair of Carl Zeiss Abbe Orthoscopic series eyepiece sets and filters. While this was a good "practice run" for us, the seeing conditions were marginal with notable humidity and sky glow. Therefore, the telescopes were limited by seeing conditions to moderate magnifications on the order of 300X or less. Regardless of the seeing limitiations, the large number of visitors were nonetheless enthralled by Mars. Later in the session we did study a number of the brighter popular deep sky objects, and later Saturn!

      Red ball (924 bytes) 21 June 2005 Martin Cohen of Company Seven is among a panel of three in a discussion with the program host about amateur astronomy technology on the WAMU American University Public Radio "Kojo Nnamdi Show" weekly "Tech Tuesday" program.

      As described by the AMU staff "technology is driving a revolution in amateur astronomy. Improvements in telescopes, computerized data, cameras, and more means backyard stargazers now have access to information that only a few years ago would have been limited to the hands of experts. A look at the technology of amateur astronomy -- and what you might discover by just looking up."

      To read an more in depth review of the program with links to the program Web Site and a link to download the program in Real Audio file format please click here.

      Red ball (924 bytes) 20 March 2005 Company Seven supporting NASA annual 'Sun-Earth Day' educational activities. This year's theme is "Ancient Observatories Timeless Knowledge".

      Red ball (924 bytes) 20 March 2004 Company Seven supporting NASA annual 'Sun-Earth Day' educational activities. This year's theme features the Transit of Venus coming 8 June 2004, this will be the first such transit visible since 1882!

      Red ball (924 bytes) 17 July 2003 Martin Cohen of Company Seven is among the guest speakers for Smithsonian Institution Resident Associates Summer Program "Amateur Astronomy: It's All in the Stars … and Comets, Planets, and Moons". Topics and speakers include:

        JUL 10, How to Catch a Comet, David Levy
        JUL 17, Your Telescope, Martin Cohen - the location of this session changed to S. DILLON RIPLEY CENTER
        JUL 24, Heavenly Bodies' Shape and Motion, David Dunham
        JUL 31, Using Cheap Webcams and Freeware, Geoff Chester
        AUG 7, Upstairs/Downstairs, David DeVorkin
        AUG 14, Following Stars, Janet Mattei

      To read an overview of the presentation by Mr. Cohen, click here.

      Red ball (924 bytes) 12 July 2003 Company Seven supporting Howard Astronomical League "Mars Watch" event from 1:00 am to 5:00 am.

      Red ball (924 bytes) March 2003 First Light: Glenelg Country School Observatory Activation with Astro-Physics 155mm EDT Apochromat and Technical Innovations "Pro Dome".

      Red ball (924 bytes) 27 November 2001 Company Seven activates new DayStar Calcium K Line Filter for Solar Observing!

      Red ball (924 bytes) 16 August 2001 Reactivated: Refurbished University Of Maryland Observatory Telescope Modernized

    Recent Changes at C7's Web Site

      Owing the the increasing size and complexity of our site, we will work to update this page in order to help our customers find the changes or news of interest.

    Changes in May 2008:

    Changes in April 2008:

    Changes in February 2008:

     Changes in January 2008:

    • In January 2008 Company Seven decided to acquire a used Criterion RV-6 Dynascope. This is a 6 inch f/8 equatorial reflecting telescope originally sold new in December 1962. It is uncommonly complete and original, with original sales invoice and some documentation. The RV-6 represents to us one of that class of amateur telescopes that from the 1950's into the 1970's gave many amateurs their first good glimpse of the celestial wonders, and inspired the passion in us for the hobby. We consider this class of telescope to be so significant that we have incorporated it into our Museum Collection, and now display it alongside an original Celestron 8 from the 1970's and one of the last well made 8 inch f/6 equatorial reflecting telescope from the 1980's a Meade Model 826C.

      In keeping with our goals of conservation and documentation we have prepared an article Criterion RV-6 Dynascope: these introduced many of us to visual astronomy. The article describes the RV-6 acquired by Company Seven, the RV-6 as it changed over the decades, and some history of the Criterion Manufacturing Co. who made this telescope, and provides insight into the evolution and marketing of these types of instruments from the 1950's through the peak of the Apollo space program, and into the 1980's. The telescope is likely to be conserved and not restored to like new, but over time as we learn more about it then we will edit the articles to share the information.

      Furthermore, in a rare collaboration we have arranged permission to use images taken by Tom McDonough of the restoration of a Criterion RV-6 at Criterion RV-6 Dynascope Restoration Gallery. This was a lot of hard work but for a subject close to the heart, it is worthwhile.

    • Posted article about the new Baader Planetarium U-Filter (UV & Venus Filter). Nicknamed "UG11xx" by some in the photo industry, the BPU2 is a specialized UV pass filter made only in 2 inch diameter for use on a telescope or UV capable lens attached to a webcam/CCD, digital SLR, or other sensor. It has produced some remarkable images of Venus, the Sun, and word is spreading fast among amateur and professional photographer who are discovering the world of UV imaging thanks to sensitive digital SLR cameras.

    • Posted a new article in our Questar Library section. The Questar 3-½ Star Chart & Moon Map provides an illustrated description of the beautiful devices that have since 1954 been recognized as trademark examples of the innovation and convenience that is the Questar telescope. We also explain how these may be employed to facilitate navigating the night sky and the Moon.

    • Updated our TeleVue Product Prices page to reflect the end of the TeleVue Factory Authorized Sale - "13/13", this was a successful and rare opportunity for people to have meaningful savings on their purchases. Note however the TeleVue Factory Authorized Telescopes 10% Price Reduction that provides a 10% reduction in prices for all TeleVue telescope sets, optical tube assemblies, and the spotting scope package remains in effect for the time being.

    Changes in December 2007:

    • Announced the TeleVue Factory Authorized Telescopes 10% Price Reduction that provides a 10% reduction in prices for all TeleVue telescope sets, optical tube assemblies, and the spotting scope package. For detailed price listings please read our TeleVue Product Prices page.

    • Added additional information to our Geochron World Clock section. And on Technical Info page we feature images of a custom Cherry wood Boardroom Model made by Geochron for the owner of Company Seven. Also added additional information about how these units are constructed. Published an article at Geochron News to discuss the change of ownership where Geochron Enterprises Inc. was sold to an investor group, and the resulting relocation of the factory from Redwood City, CA.

    Changes in November 2007:

    • Added the Fujinon 10x 70mm MT-SX and the Fujinon 10x 50mm FMTR-SX binocular to our Fujinon Binoculars section. This pretty much completes our reviews of their 50mm to 70mm, and some 150mm aperture models - just in time for Comet Holmes 17P!

      Incidentally, the Fujinon 10x 70mm MT-SX binocular illustrated by us in our review actually FAILED Company Seven's in house inspection process, and it was returned to the manufacturer. Look at the image, can you find the anomaly? We are amused that most E-tailers never even see the box, while a few other shops claim they check what they sell yet few return anything to the distributor. Now, where will you buy your own binocular or telescope?

    • Completed and posted article describing the Piggyback Mount for Questar 3-½ Astronomical Models. This is another one of the numerous specialized accessories developed by Questar decades ago when they were pretty much alone in providing such comprehensive solutions for so many pursuits in the hobby.

    • Completed and posted article describing the optional Losmandy GPS, a receiver that is made to attach to the control panel of the Losmandy Gemini mount control system to automatically provide the system with location, date and UTC Time.

    • Reverted the Company 7 index page to read Eastern Standard Time.

    Changes in October 2007:

    • Published a preview of a new coming high performance German Equatorial Mount: the Astro-Physics Model 3600GTO German Equatorial Mount. Nicknamed 'el Capitan', this mount features a working payload capacity of about 250 lbs. / 114 kg. It is transportable, with Astro-Physics recommending at least two able bodies to attend to it. This mount is designed to follow several other Astro-Physics 900GTO and Astro-Physics 1200GTO mounts that have performed remarkably well in climates as harsh as Antarctica! You will like what you see and read here. Pricing and exact availability have not yet been determined so we are establishing a wait list of candidates for this product.

    • We produced a detailed and well ordered series of articles explaining and illustrating the NP127is, TeleVue's 5 inch Imaging System telescope, and their Imaging System collection of accessories. The Imaging System (or 'is') was introduced in the Spring of 2006 consisting of a selection of new accessories developed by TeleVue specifically to complement their 'is' series telescopes including: Telecompressor or Field Corrector lenses, adapters for a variety of CCD and film imaging uses, the Focusmate™ two speed focus mechanism with control options including digital readout, remote control, and more. While intrigued, we were simultaneously disappointed by TeleVue's decision to drop the original TeleVue NP127 5 inch Apo from production. And we held concerns that some that some of the 'is' accessories resembled poorly executed afterthoughts. Furthermore, TeleVue made a decision as a manufacturer to promote only a handful of E-Tailers as 'featured dealers'; this practice while not unprecedented in this industry undermines what remains of the few competent, service oriented specialty telescope showrooms. So in 2006 and into 2007 Company Seven determined there was no need to divert our resources to support the 'is' effort.

      Over 2007 our opinion of the 'is' accessory products changed as we observed the system become more refined and expand into a more comprehensive and better performing solution. And frankly, several of these telescope are just too good not to feature for our clientele. And so in the interest of supporting C7's customers who are buying 'is' telescopes, we made the effort to demystify the system. Writing these illustrated articles was a bit of a Herculean task since the system is at first glance confusing, and even the initial materials provided to us by TeleVue were simply overwhelming. Regardless, our result will be helpful to our customers.

    • Posted new articles of historic interest: Original Leather Case for the Questar 3-½ Telescope describing the English made saddle leather case provided by Questar with their new 3-½ telescopes sold from 1954 to 1962. We also completed Leather Case For Questar 3-½ Telescopes 1962-1970s describing the rigid leather case provided by Questar with their 3-½ telescopes sold from 1962 into the 1970s. Both cases illustrated are in Company Seven's Museum Collection.

      And another article that is more relevant to today describes the Deluxe Leather Case which may be ordered as an upgrade in place of the standard Vinyl-Clad Case when ordering a new Questar Questar Standard or Duplex astronomical telescope. The leather case is provided as part of the standard equipment with the limited production Questar 50th Anniversary Model telescope.

    • Announced the TeleVue Factory Authorized Sale - "13/13" that provides a 13% Savings for 13 Weeks from 1 October through 28 December 2007 at Company Seven! This event celebrates the release of the TeleVue 13mm Ethos Eyepiece and it applies to ALL their other highly desirable eyepieces. The price reduction includes TeleVue DIOPTRX™ Astigmatism Correction Lenses, Barlow lenses, Nagler eyepieces, Plossl eyepieces, Powermate lenses, and Radian eyepieces. For detailed price listings please read our TeleVue Product Prices page.

    • Updated Leica Prices page to reflect the latest increases necessitated by the devaluation of the US Dollar against the European currencies.

    Changes in September 2007:

    • Published our review of the new TeleVue 'Ethos' eyepiece. This new eyepiece design was previously announced at our TeleVue News & Developments page. But it was only in this month that we had the opportunity to experience it's 100 degree apparent field of view.

    • The introductory pricing and availability for the new TeleVue 'Ethos' eyepieces has been announced. This new eyepiece design was announced by TeleVue at an astronomy convention, while Company Seven was first to publicize it at our TeleVue News & Developments page. This stunning new eyepiece features a 100 degree apparent field of view. The Ethos series of eyepieces are coming available at Company Seven in September and since we have been accepting orders against our first shipment of 13mm Ethos, and now that we can actually say what these will cost we are proceeding to contacting those who are on our list to finalize the sales. The cost incidentally is somewhat less that we guess it would be, with an introductory price of $620. The cost is along the lines of the other TeleVue "Über Eyepieces" including the 31mm Nagler Type 5, nicknamed "The TermiNagler". Come visit one of the last remaining showroom oriented telescope specialty shops in the Americas to see the new 13mm Ethos.

    • Updated our Astro-Physics Product Availability Page to reflect the announcement of the new 140mm f7.5 Starfire EDF Apochromatic refracting telescope. These are available with the customer's choice of either 2.7 or 4 inch diameter focuser, and both of these are equipped with the popular FeatherTouch dual geared (1 to 1, and 9 to 1 reduction) focuser. The first production run is well underway, and we anticipate starting to make deliveries in September and October 2007! Company Seven will be referring to our waiting list to determine to whom our allocation will be offered, as such we will be selling these by invitation only.

    Changes in July 2007:

    • We started to accept new orders for the 2007 Model Astro-Physics 1200GTO German Equatorial Mounts on 12 July, anticipating delivery of the first mounts in the August through November 2007. Company Seven will refer first to our waiting lists of people who previously expressed their interest in these mounts, and we should have enough slots to accommodate all on our waiting list and some new comers too. You may refer to Astro-Physics 1200GTO and Astro-Physics GTO Control System pages for the most up to date information about these mounts.

    Changes in June 2007:

    • Added article "Arthur C. Clarke's comments about his Questar 3-1/2". An excerpt from the nonfiction book "The Treasure of the Great Barrier Reef" by Arthur C. Clarke (b. 1917) where he described his Questar 3-1/2 as "the finest small telescope ever built--the 3-1/2 inch Questar, a jewel of precision optics which has produced close-ups of the moon that could easily be mistaken for Mount Wilson photographs". We also add some notes that we found interesting about the the locations upon which the book is based. From Company Seven's archives.

    Changes in May 2007:

    • Updated our Geochron world time display section to show the various vinyl, wood, and leather finishes in which the Geochron can me made, and to clean up appearance and logical arrangement of the site. Also added articles to our Geochron Library describing how to install the Geochron with either the Surface Mount or Flush Mount hardware. The Geochron remains one of the most stunning and educational mechanical devices that can grace a home or office.

    • Updated our Universal Astronomics Price page to bring it in line with 2007 changes. This product line offers quite well engineered alt-azimuth mount systems for telescopes and wonderful parallelogram mounts for binoculars. But there are many choices with many names of products that are similar, so that it is daunting for the mere mortal to deconvolute the product descriptions and understand what really works with what. So we added illustrations to this page, and describe the items a bit better to help our own staff as well as our customers understand it better. In time we are likely to expand the UA area of our web site to include more of their interesting mount systems.

    • Added even more information about the new TeleVue 'Ethos' eyepieces at our TeleVue News & Developments page. This stunning new eyepiece features a 100 degree apparent field of view. The prototype 13mm model was announced to the public on 28 April and demonstrated on the TeleVue NP101 attaining immediate critical acclaim. The Ethos series of eyepieces are expected to start coming available at Company Seven late in the Summer of 2007 and we are already accepting orders against our first shipments.

    • Company Seven made the earthshaking decision to accept PayPal form of payment. We are traditionally excruciatingly cautious not only about what we offer to our clientele, but also about new business methods. And so our accepted forms of payment now include:

      Check
      Check or Money Order
      Mastercard
      Traveler Check
      PayPal      		 VISA
      VISA
      Western Union
      Wire Transfer

      For additional information refer to our Ordering Information page. But our clients should not be too concerned about this trend at Company Seven to operate something like a business; we will retain our unique character.

    Changes in April 2007:

    • Added new illustrated article in our Questar Library section describing the Questar Declination Vernier Manual Drive which was made through the 1980's for the Questar Standard and Questar Duplex 3-1/2 telescopes. Unit illustrated is from Company Seven's Museum Collection. Also added to our Questar Library Questar Powerguide Drive & Corrector describing an original AC and 12 volt DC powered drive control system for the Questar Fork Mounts. The Powerguide shown here is also from Company Seven's Museum Collection. Our goals include to be able to host an on line virtual museum that shows items that we have on display in our showroom and archives.

    • Posted "Testing the Zenithstar 110 Triplet Apo" by Jan Adelaar and Fred Hissink of The Netherlands at our William Optics Notes & Interesting Articles page. This beautifully done complete five page color illustrated review of this versatile telescope. Includes sketches of Jupiter, reviews of deep sky obseving, discussion of experiences with imaging through the ZS 110 with a Digital SLR Camera accompanied by sample images of: The Great Nebula in Orion M-42, Saturn (with two of it's moons), and the Earth's Moon.

    • Added illustrated review about the newly introduced Orion 120mm ED a 4.72 inch aperture f/7.5 apochromatic refracting telescope. This optical tube assembly is even better suited for most astronomical applications than it's popular smaller cousins the Orion 100mm ED and 80mm ED which were both introduced with much critical acclaim.

    • Updated Technical Innovations Dome Prices page.

      Also added a new publication "Remote Control Astronomy Handbook" to our Technical Innovations Notes and Interesting Articles index page. Until now, there has been little printed information available on creating and operating robotic observatories with contemporary observing equipment and computers. This illustrated 57 page booklet as a service to the astronomy community by drawing on the experiences of the authors and that of our customers. This booklet will help you learn the practical side of operating a telescope and observatory by remote control. The Remote Control Astronomy Handbook describes how to automate an observatory including sections about the observatory, the telescope, cameras and computers. It is intended primarily for astronomers at the advanced amateur level and for professionals who need some orientation to the subject. Published March 2002 by John and Meg Menke, of Menke Scientific, Ltd. Copyright John & Meg Menke, from Company Seven's Library. Download size is 505,058 bytes (in Acrobat Reader ".pdf" format).

    • Updated Leica Prices page to reflect the 2007 pricing.

    • Updated Product Lines page to reflect the introduction of William Optics line of refracting telescopes and accessories. We have started to put this section on line and expect to get into publishing some detailed overviews of the individual telescopes that we are evaluating and showing including the Megrez 90 APO, FLT 110, and FLT 132 telescopes.

      As a side note, Company Seven's primary area of work is for Government and industry; the profits from this work have historically permitted our staff to operate the astronomical side of our business in a rather idealistic manner. However, recent demands upon our most capable staff, including extensive travel to overseas, have left us lacking the people to maintain and update this Web Site as we would routinely have preferred to do. Furthermore, we can not simply trust hiring a "Beltway Bandit" with no knowledge of our industry to maintain the site and provide the valuable and insightful content. So we ask for your patience as we adapt to the changing demands made of us. Note, our routine practices and our showroom operations continue unabated.

    Changes in September 2006:

    • Hosting an ilustrated article not related to Company Seven directly but interesting nonetheless since it explains what went wrong when one of our staff ordered a custom high tech bicycle frame based a well regarded manufacturer Internet advertising and catalogs, and those of the US based importer. My Colnago Misadventure: A C-50 FLR Bicycle Frame Nightmare, is an excellent business school lesson on how not to deliver what was promised, and then how to make attempt poor attempts to excuse even after the customer clearly shows what he received is not what was represented, and finally how to turn the customer completely off to your company. This is interesting, amusing, and almost tragic reading for any corporate CEO.

    Changes in June 2006:

    • Put on line an overview of the Questar 50th Anniversary Model, a limited production telescope that we have been offering since it was introduced in 2002. We are finally getting around to writing it up as we work to fill out our Questar section.

    Changes in May 2006:

    Changes in April 2006:

    • Put on line an overview of the new Vixen Skypod, a STAR BOOK TYPE S computer controlling a "Go To" alt-azimuth mount. The Vixen North America company is not importing this to the USA, not even offering it through their preferred three "E-Tailers". However, Company Seven will provide this product as a service for clients of Company Seven only on a special order basis. If demand accelerates then we may show the mount in our showroom. In time, we expect Vixen North America will offer and support the product too.

    • Put on line the page Company Seven ATA Cases for Telescopes, Mounts, Sensitive Instruments providing a brief overview of the custom designed transport and storage cases we make for optical and mechanical systems, for sensitive electronics including computer CPU's and monitors. Our ATA cases meet or exceed all the requirements set for the by the Airline Transport Association. Our Military Spec. cases add to the durability of the ATA cases added resistance to environmental extremes and anti reflection treatment of the hardware.

    • Expanded the page Company Seven Telescope & Lens Repair or Refurbishment Services to include illustrations of recent projects undertaken by Company Seven for one of our long term customers featuring "The Poster Child of Abused Telescopes".

    • Put on line the David H. Levy Guide to the Stars, our most recommended Planisphere. The night sky is mapped with the Constellations being those patterns recognizable to man since time immemorial. Constellations can be thought of as countries or states on a world map, where if you seek the Grand Canyon then you know to find Arizona. While in the night sky when one seeks the Great Nebula then one looks toward the Constellation Orion. The Planisphere is the simplest device with which to start ones' trek into the night sky.

      The Planisphere makes it very easy for one to find out what constellations and major deep sky objects are up overhead at any given time of the day or night. These are made in two sizes 11 or 16 inch diameter, available in either English or Spanish, and for use in either Northern or Southern Hemispheres. These are a two piece plastic disc assembly with a map of the entire night sky one the rear chart disc, and another overlay disc attached over the chart disc. The overlay has a transparent window with a surrounding mask to simulate the North, South, East and West horizons. The overlay is dialed to line up its local time indicator marks with the Month and Day printed around the edge of the chart disc, and so when properly set this will reveal what parts of the sky may be seen at any time of the year. We prefer the larger 16 inch model because the writing is larger and easer to read under red flashlight. The print is black lettering against a white background sky and is easy to read under red light.

    Changes in March 2006:

    • Continued adding to our Fujinon section. Added our illustrated review of the 7x 50 FMTRC-SX Marine Binocular being a top rated, best buy in its class. The 7x 50 FMTRC-SX is a compass equipped cousin of the famous 7x 50 FMT-SX Binocular. And also posted an accessory for the 7x 50 FMTRC-SX, the Binocular Compass Illuminator for marine and terrestrial applications. Company Seven continues to be the only retailer working so diligently to inform its clientele!

    • Published announcement about the sale of DayStar Filter Co. assets to ICSTARS, a partnership based in Missouri that will operate from now on as "DayStar Filters Limited Liability Corporation". A reassuring touch to this article is that it includes a recent photo taken in February 2006 of Del Woods who has been recuperating from a life threatening illness that had left him incapacitated since 9 May 2005!

    • Added information and a photo of Ken Graun, the author of The Next Step - Finding and Viewing Messier's Objects.

    • Put a new section online about the Baader Planetarium including a brief overview of the company. Throught March we are gradually adding our images and informational reviews about the Baader products particularly focusing on several their most highly regarded accessories and filters.

    Changes in February 2006:

    • Reviewed and profiled the Questar Photo-Visual Color Filter Set. This is a set of ten filters for photographic and visual uses in terrestrial as well as astronomical applications.

    • Reviewed and profiled the Vixen Porta Mount. This is a new compact, geared alt-azimuth mount with tripod set that is quite suitable for use with many compact telescopes for terrestrial uses (panoramic, birding, etc,), and visual astronomy.

    • Posted review of a book we are stocking, The Next Step - Finding and Viewing Messier's Objects by Ken Graun. A delightfully illustrated handy book with beautiful color pictures, color illustrations and charts, and with black and white photo plates of the Messier Objects. This book is an interesting read for those who appreciate the historical insights to the life of Charles Messier (b. 26 June 1730 in Lorraine France, d. 12 April 1817 in Paris), the French astronomer who gave us the Messier Objects catalog of celestial wonders.

    • Began to post a new section on our Web Site, the new Fujinon pages. This is a product line that we have stocked for years but had not felt all that inspired to publish given the market conditions. However, this site is for the benefit and amusement of Company Seven's clientele first and foremost, and we felt they deserved to know more about these fine 50 mm (the 7x 50 FMT-SX being a top rated, best buy in its class for example), 70 mm, up to giant 150 mm binoculars.

    • Reviewed the Universal Astronomics UniMount™ alt-azimuth parallelogram platform for use with most larger consumer binoculars including several of the Fujinon binoculars mentioned above.

    • Announced the new Lightbridge™ 12. A new series of Truss tube Dobson style reflecting telescopes available in 8, 10 and 12 inch apertures. It has been said by many in our hobby that regardless of bells and whistles "bigger is better" and in practice this is true - as long as you can take the telescope to where you want it, when you want it: this is where Lightbridge™ comes in.

    Changes in January 2006:

    • Announced the new Astro-Physics Mach1GTO German Equatorial Mount. We provide pictures with a preview of this coming product that is in the prototype stage of development, as such features and specifications are preliminary and subject to change. While we do not routinely publish products that we have not yet evaluated firsthand, Astro-Physics credibility is so good that Company Seven did not hesitate to post this preview.

    • Revised our page describing the Questar Birder spotting scope. We provide new color pictures with a more comprehensive review of this reference standard product. The Questar Birder is an ultra compact, high performance telescope evolved from the Questar Field Model. But the Birder is provided with features and accessories more in keeping with the needs of the birding community in mind.

      We expect to start accepting orders for the Mach1GTO later in 2006 anticipating delivery of the first mounts in the Fall of 2006 or early in 2007. Company Seven will refer first to our waiting lists of people who previously expressed their interest in the now discontinued Models 400 GTO and 600E GTO mounts, while you newcomers who want the Mach1GTO are to be generally added to that list in chronological order.

    • Updated Consigned/Used Astronomical And Terrestrial Telescopes And Mounts page. Also updated Rotating Display, Used or Consigned Accessories page.

    • Updated TeleVue 76 Apochromat Refractor page. Revised description and included images of TeleVue 76 Apo to reflect new 2 inch focuser provided with these telescopes since late in 2005.

    • Updated Leica Sporting Optics Prices page. Also updated several pages describing the Leica binoculars with improved images taken in our showroom, and provided updated information about new or discontinued products.

    Changes in December 2005:

    Changes in November 2005:

    • Added illustrated review describing the newly introduced Orion SkyView Pro™ 150mm Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope. This is a new compact and rugged telescope that is better suited for astronomical applications than it's popular smaller cousin the Orion StarMax™ 127 Maksutov-Cassegrain Telescope which was introduced in 2001 with much critical acclaim. Also updated our Orion Library section to include new instruction manuals for the 150mm Mak and other articles of interest to Company Seven's Orion customers.

      Updated our Astro-Physics Library section to include instruction manuals for the new German Equatorial Mounts and accessories, Electronics Support Files, Technical Drawings, and other articles of interest to Company Seven's Astro-Physics customers.

    Changes in October 2005:

    Changes in August 2005:

    • Added information to the page describing the new Astro-Physics Starfire 160 EDF Air Spaced Triplet Apochromat Telescope. Our first instrument arrived for display on 11 August 2005 (just in time for Mars!). This is among the first production of a new Christen air spaced design introduced on 5 November 2004.

    • Added information about the new Astro-Physics 4mm Super Planetary Eyepiece to our overview of the series. Our first 4mm SPL arrived on 11 August 2005 and completes the set on display.

    Changes in July 2005:

    • Revised our page describing and illustrating the new redesigned TeleVue 2 inch Focuser as is now provided with the new 127 and NP101 Apo telescopes. The plan is to eventually provide all new TeleVue 76mm and 85mm telescopes sold at Company Seven with this model 2" focuser too.

    • Posted new pages reviewing and describing the Leica ULTRAVID 8 x 20 and ULTRAVID 10 x 25 BL and BR series compact binoculars. Available clad in rubber or in black leather, these are a handy and worthwhile product that are the first choice in their class of several employees of Company Seven and many of our most demanding customers.

    • Wrote articles describing a unique new product series by TeleVue Optics; the DIOPTIX™ Eyesight Astigmatism Correction Lens. DIOPTRX is a unique accessory series that installs onto the top of a number of compatible TeleVue eyepieces (listed below) to correct views from a telescope which have would otherwise be distorted or blurred by eyesight astigmatism. We also uploaded new articles to our TeleVue Library section:

        1. PDF IconDIOPTRX Technical Notes An illustrated two page overview of the DIOPTRX provided as an Adobe .pdf file, April 2005 by TeleVue Optics (328,734 bytes).

        2. "Report By Al" This is a brief description of this unique product by Al Nagler, followed by comments from the first amateur astronomers who were able to evaluate DIOPTRX. June 2005 by Al Nagler, TeleVue Optics.

        3. PDF IconUnderstanding Your Eyeglass Prescription for Astigmatism An one page informative article describing visual astigmatism, particularly helpful in understanding the DIOPTRX Lenses. Provided as an Adobe .pdf file, April 2005 by Barry Santini of TeleVue Optics (27,634 bytes).

    Changes in June 2005:

    • 21 June 2005 Event: Martin Cohen of Company Seven was an invited guest on the American University Public Radio station WAMU "Kojo Nnamdi Show". Martin was among a panel of three in a discussion with the program host about amateur astronomy technology on the WAMU American University Public Radio "Kojo Nnamdi Show" weekly "Tech Tuesday" program.

      As described by the AMU staff "technology is driving a revolution in amateur astronomy. Improvements in telescopes, computerized data, cameras, and more means backyard stargazers now have access to information that only a few years ago would have been limited to the hands of experts. A look at the technology of amateur astronomy -- and what you might discover by just looking up."

      To read an more in depth review of the program with links to the program Web Site and a link to download the program in Real Audio file format please click here.

    • Repaired and updated our pages which host a Clear Sky Clock and our page showing a partial selection of other Clocks For Sites Located Within Sixty (60) Miles Of Washington, D.C. . The Clear Sky Clock is an automatically updated Internet site which at a glance shows when it will be cloudy or clear for up to the next two days for more than two thousand locations now; when Company Seven first went on line with this there were about 70 locations!

      The Clear Sky Clock we feature shows a prediction of when the area around the University Of Maryland Observatory in Adelphi, Maryland will have good weather for astronomical observing. The Observatory is quite near to Company Seven in Laurel and so we employ this clock as a public service for our readers. We did not realize that the author's links had changed some time ago, and so we apologize to our readers for our oversight.

    Changes in May 2005:

    • Updated our article How to Clean Optics on $500 Or Less. This describes how to optical elements of most consumer telescopes, their mirrors, eyepieces, binoculars, etc. The techniques described apply to most consumer optics too. Rearranged the article to provide additional illustrations and teach a more orderly approach.

    • Put new article on line describing the "Astro Kit Camera Drive", a discontinued compact "poncet" style tracking platform sold during the 1980's. These were sold as tracking platform kits in the 1980's for wide sky astrophotography. The assembled unit illustrated in this article with its documentation are now in the collection of Company Seven.

    Changes in February 2005:

    • Working on complete revision of one of our older web site sections, first new item to go on line is the awesome JMI RB-10, a 10 inch Reverse Binocular Telescope. One of the first production RB-66, 6 inch Reverse Binoculars was introduced at Company Seven in the Spring of 2003. We have placed numerous images of prototype and production RB-10 and RB-66 models on line.

      And since the first several of the new RB-16 Reverse Binocular Telescopes sold are coming through Company Seven, this new 16 inch system is previewed on line with specifications and images from the prototype RB-16; this will be expanded soon after these first production models arrive.

    • Updated our article about How To Choose Your Questar 3-1/2 Telescope to provide additional details about mirror substrate choices.

    • Updated TeleVue 127 telescope page to reflect our experience with these telescopes since they were introduced at Company Seven in January 2003. Also added images of production models.

    • Updated Orion IntelliScope™ Computer Control page to reflect change to EPROM permitting longer observing time without having the power saver function cut off the unit. This is an available update to older IntelliScope™ Computer Controllers requiring return of the Keypad to Company Seven, and is standard on all new IntelliScope™ Computer Control keypads.

    • Added page describing and illustrating the TeleVue Equalizer bronze 2 to 1.25 inch reducer adapter.

    • Updated TeleVue section pages for future growth. Added page describing and illustrating the Air Chair pneumatic adjustable height observing chair.

    Changes in January 2005:

    • Wrote articles for our Questar News page with notices of the passing of Douglas Maitland Knight former president of two universities and of the Questar Corporation. And on the same day the death of Johnny Carson a national television icon, and a Questar favorite. Both men died on Sunday 23 January 2005.

    • Updated Meade pricing page to reflect price changes and the introduction of their new RCX-400 Series Advanced Ritchey-Chrétien Telescopes.

    • Updated TeleVue pricing page to reflect the end of the Fall 2004 sale, product changes and additions.

    Changes in November 2004:

    • Posted our overview of the new Astro-Physics Starfire 160 EDF Air Spaced Triplet Apochromat Telescope, a new Christen air spaced design introduced on 5 November 2004. Also updated the section availability and product pricing pages. Company Seven is now accepting new orders for the new 160 EDF telescope, but we will be offering these by invitation only, referring to our waiting list of clients who have asked to be considered for the Starfire 155mm EDF first.

    • Updated Observing Tips for The Month page.

    • Daylight Savings to Standard Time switchover made for Home and Index pages. We are certainly paying more attention to the Geochron on display in our showroom as we close in on the coming Winter Solstice next month.

    Changes in October 2004:

    • Added new illustrated article The Vixen Sphinx Equatorial GoTo Mount. An overview of the the Sphinx SXW German Equatorial Mount system written by Mr. Ron Lee written in August 2004 for Company Seven. Copyright Mr. Lee, for Company Seven's Library.

    • Updated page describing the availability of Astro-Physics products, mentioning new products too. Also revised price page. We will gradually add pages describing new telescope series, new 1200 GTO mount (now on display in our showroom), and other new products in November.

    Changes in September 2004:

    Changes through August 2004:

    • Company Seven very rarely uses the term Sale because we do not believe think that alone should usually provoke people to buy. But here for the first time we announced an unprecedented TeleVue Optics Factory Authorized Sale which provides new customers starting out, and old with voids in their eyepiece collections with a great opportunity to own some magnificent eyepieces. This sale applies to many of the more advanced TeleVue eyepieces including all of the Nagler, Nagler Zoom, and Radian series eyepieces. And the sale includes their Bandmate Nebular Filters. This is in effect from 1 August through 31 December 2004. Please refer to our TeleVue Product Prices page to see the price changes for the Nagler, Radian, and Bandmate products. Please visit our showroom to compare, or call for advice.

    • Posted article explaining and illustrating the new Astro-Physics Feather Touch® Micro Focuser. The first page describes the product, and how those whom already own an Astro-Physics telescope may be able to add this option. Also revised Traveler 4 inch Apo telescope page to incorporate new information and images about Feather Touch®, and our Universal Astronomics alt-az mounts. Prices have been posted on our Astro-Physics pricing page since these were announced in late 2003 but we waited to publish our appraisal of this new product until we could obtain production models which are now on display in our showroom.

    • Posted first installations of a new section of our Internet site describing the Vixen product line of telescopes, mounts, and accessories. We provide an overview of the company at our Vixen Index page, with a more detailed article about Vixen Co., Ltd. History on line too. The exciting SPHINX SXW, SPHINX SX Compact German Equatorial Mounts are now on line. We also provide an overview of their "Go To" computer control system at STAR BOOK; with its 4.7 inch color LCD panel, this is a unit that can also be used as a portable planetarium. Prices are posted at our Vixen products pricing page with links to many of their products which we describe on line.

    • Posted an entire new section explaining and illustrating the Carl Zeiss Lens Cleaning Fluid and Carl Zeiss Pre-Moistened Lens Cleaning Pak. These are the only lens cleaning fluid offered by Company Seven even though we also recommend that made by Kodak. With our recently posted Staticmaster™ Alpha Ionizing Brushes section, and our article Cleaning Most Consumer Optics we believe we will have answered most common questions relating to these subjects for our customers benefit.

    • Posted an entire new section explaining and illustrating the NRD Staticmaster™ Alpha Ionizing Brushes. These remain the best portable solution for eliminating dust and static attraction on optical surfaces. These devices are also suitable for use with photographic films, for cleaning scanners, compact discs, slides, lenses, and filters. Prices have been posted on our pricing page.

    • Posted article explaining and illustrating the new Astro-Physics Super Planetary Eyepieces. Prices have been posted on our Astro-Physics pricing page since these were announced in February 2004 but we waited to publish our appraisal of this new design until we could obtain a production set. We will probably update this in time as we complete additional planned testing. We have placed a set of these on display in our showroom.

    • Posted new page describing and illustrating the highly regarded Baader Mark V Großfeld Binocular Head, a top of the line system providing high resolution binocular views through telescopes. This system was introduced in 2003 and we are just getting around to placing it on line - we were in no rush since the wait list runs from six months to a year or more!

    • Introduced the new Orion SkyView Pro™ 100mm ED at Company Seven's showroom on 6 August. A complete 4" f9 Apo telescope, this is the long anticipated larger cousin of the popular Orion 80mm ED 3.15" f7.5 ED Doublet Apo. The SVP 100mm ED is provided with the SkyView Pro™ German Equatorial Mount, 25 and 10mm Plossl eyepieces, 2" Mirror Diagonal, Mounting Rings and with customers' choice of single or dual axis Drive. The 100mm ED OTA optical tube assembly is also available separately with no accessories.

    • Updated Meade Instruments product pricing page announcing the Meade summer 2004 rebate program of from $50 up to $500 on select telescopes in their product line. The program applies to telescopes sold from 6 August 2004, the Meade Rebate Promotion continues through 31 October 2004 and will not be extended.

    • Posted article "The Perfect Telescope is...a small apochromatic refractor" on line. A letter to the editor published some years ago in the "Amateur Telescope Making Journal" issue #10. The original letter is accompanied by a sketch showing an original TeleVue "Genesis" 4" refractor (introduced 1988) on a simple Panoramic head with wood wood tripod. The letter relates the authors long experience in the hobby, and his appreciation of a simple but capable telescope. Author Beat Kuechler was then 73 years old, living in New Jersey.

    • Updated Observing Tips for The Month page.

    Changes through July 2004:

    Changes through June 2004:

    • Posted new article on line "Experiencing Nova Scotia And Its Amazing Tides" by Martin Cohen for Company Seven's Archives. An overview of how tides form, and an overview of the author's travels through Nova Scotia's Bay of Fundy and Minas Basin, then on to Halifax in June 2004. Well written and illustrated with some amazing photos.

    • Updated Questar Index page, and made a number of minor changes and updates to the entire section.

    • Updated Observing Tips for The Month page.

    Changes through May 2004:

    • Updated Questar Tristand and Astropier description page, added more illustrations too.

    • Updated Observing Tips for The Month page.

    • Added preview of the new SBIG ST-402ME CCD system that is designed to be simple yet powerful, and at a moderate price. Planned availability is late Summer or early Fall 2004.

    • Updated Questar Prices page to reflect new products, and some price changes.

    Changes through April 2004:
    Changes through March 2004:

    • Updated Observing Tips for The Month page.

    • Added descriptive pages with many images taken with the new SBIG Research Line large format, dual head triple sensor, self-guiding CCD cameras and accessories. These include the new Research STL-4020M/CM, Research STL-1301E, Research STL-1001E, Research STL-11000M/CM, and Research STL-6303E CCD systems of cameras from 1 to 11 megapixel arrays!

      Also added a preview of the coming ST-2000XMC Color CCD camera. Added a number of articles and documents to our SBIG Library section. Revised and updated Santa Barbara Instruments Group Product Pricing page. Also posted updated Products listing page to reflect product changes, new products. This will be followed soon by the updating and addition of several new pages to our SBIG section.

    • Improving infrastructure of this site. For example, gradually adding links to search engine, etc.

    Changes through February 2004:

    Changes through January 2004:

    Changes through December 2003:

    • SPECIAL NOTES for December 2003

      1. Often the volume of incoming E-Mail that requires our writing a detailed technical reply precludes a more prompt reply to other E-Mails by Company Seven. We are happy to offer sound advice to those in need, and E-Mail can be good for this use especially for more distant customers. However, E-Mail is in some measure abused by some who have forgot how and when to use a telephone. Aside from the volume of inquiries, E-Mail is also subject to problems with some who accidentally provide an incorrect return E-Mail return address; there have been times when we send an E-Mail reply and it is returned or blocked by the customer's automated spam filter.

      Over recent years we have assigned additional resources to meet the high and increasing demands brought about by the Internet, and by increased word of mouth exposure. However, it is often impossible to reply to all inquiries, or to inquiries that we judge to be answered better with a simple phone call. So, when you do require a prompt reply to an urgent matter then please either telephone our showroom on 301-953-2000, or E-Mail and be patient. If no reply to your E-Mail arrives within a few days then you may send it again.

      2. On 16 December we completed hardware and software changes to our E-Mail system. So those E-Mail's that arrived between 7 December and 16 December were received, and stored, and we are gradually working through the backlog as well as new E-Mail inquiries. We apologize for the inconvenience or undue concern.

      3. The recent Mars Opposition and conservative planning by manufacturers has resulted in shortages of supply of several popular telescopes, especially those which are most popular among those entering the hobby. While the demand for new telescopes by customers contacting our Laurel, Maryland showroom has increased particularly dramatically over the past weeks. And so for new orders received after 1 December 2003 we are reserving inventories of several of the very popular instruments for pickup at our showroom only. We will continue to accept mail and phone orders for both delivery and local pickup, but those new orders placed on 1 December or later are not likely to be shipped out until after the Christmas rush, probably in January 2004 or possibly even later for some instruments. This will reduce the chances of our having to deal with shipping related losses in transit, and will make virtually every telescope we accept available for pickup in our showroom.

    • Updated Kendrick Pricing section, to reflect product line additions and deletions. Kendrick of Candada is most well known for their lines of telescope Heater and Dew/Frost Prevention systems, Dew Shields, Portable Rechargeable Battery packs, and Solar Filters.

    • Updated Leica News section to reflect new product announcements, review new binoculars, post new product prices, and product line additions and deletions. Most importantly, we began to put information on line about the new Leica ULTRAVID binocular series.

      Company Seven has been aware of this new product series since it was announced in August 2003, but we decided to wait until we could actually evaluate production models before we published our review. You may now read about the ULTRAVID 42 BR, ULTRAVID 42 BL, and ULTRAVID 50 BR models on line, and see these instruments in our showroom.

    • Made grammar corrections, and some revisions of Home and Index pages. And to Rigel section, rewriting portions of our QuikFinder reflex sight description page. Thank you Mr. E. Rosen!

    • Updated Observing Tips for The Month page.

    Changes through November 2003:

    Changes through October 2003:

    • Revisted and updated our entire Observing Aids section. Reformatting was done to facilitate navigation of this site, and we wrote the script to provide an on line Moon Phase Calendar so that our customers can see the phases of the moon in the current month, or select any month of the years between 1900 and 2199 inclusive. Programming that script was fun!

    • Added a new edition of a popular book on line. High on our suggested reading list is the "Observers Handbook 2004". Published by The Royal Astronomical Society of Canada, the "Observers Handbook" is one of Canada's oldest scientific publications continuously published since 1911 with origins to 1907. The "Observer's Guide" includes includes discussions and drawings of periodic astronomical events that are known to be coming in that year, as well as good coverage of topics and astronomical data. This is the 306 page annual paperback guide that is most highly recommended by Company Seven for the novice, or for the experienced observer.

    • Few Web Changes due to vacations. We belatedly updated Observing Tips for The Month page.

    Changes through September 2003:

    Changes through August 2003:

    • Added new article Observing Report: Planet Mars, 12 Aug 2003. An observing report of Mars while approaching the Opposition of 2003 as observed through the author's Astro-Physics 155mm EDF f7 Apochromat and 60mm f15 Achromatic refracting telescopes. This disscussion is helpful at pointing out the benefits of using color and specialized filters including the new TeleVue "Bandmate Mars A" and "Bandmate Mars B" filters. By Richard Orr.

    • Published our overview of the new Orion 80mm ED, f7.5 apochromatic refractor telescope. This instrument is suitable for use as a compact astronomical telescope, as a terrestrial telescope, or ultratelephoto lens, astrophotographic guide telescope, or large finderscope. This is the first of the economical, compact, multipurpose apochromatic refractor telescopes imported from overseas. This is also the first of this economical type of instrument judged by Company Seven to merit inclusion among our offerings.

    • Put information on line about a new evolution of the highly successful Orion XT series Dobsonian telescopes. The new SkyQuest™ XT6 Intelliscope™, SkyQuest™ XT8 Intelliscope™, SkyQuest™ XT10 Intelliscope™ add a new contemporary lightweight base design and most exciting of all, the ability to locate any of more than 14,000 fascinating celestial objects with pushbutton ease!

    • Updated Observing Tips for The Month page.

    Changes through July 2003:

    Changes through June 2003:

    Changes through May 2003:

    Changes through April 2003:

    • Added new article to our Library, this title Insurance for Telescopes, Accessories and Observatories explains the various insurance vehicles available to the consumer, advice on traveling and transporting telescopes, and advice about when and how to file a claim. This article includes a glossary of insurance terms. We have never before seen an article on this subject researched and published elsewhere.

    • Updated Orion section adding reviews of two new telescopes: SkyView Pro™ 8 EQ and Atlas™ 10 EQ. Both telescopes are equatorial reflector designs with long anticpated platforms. Also putting on line the new SkyView Pro™ and the Atlas™ 10 German Equatorial mounts.

    • Improved Search Engine infrastructure, planning for future changes.

    • Updated Home and Index Pages to reflect Daylight Savings Time. This a silly game no longer honored by some intelligent US States and counties, in fact Company Seven is considering switching to UT (Universal Time).

    • Began placing new section on line describing Meade Instruments products which we offer, a history of the company and Company Seven's relationship with Meade over the years. Numerous supporting documents for Meade products, instruction manuals, along with extracts of most of the Meade Instrument illustrated catalog are also being made available to Company Seven's customers at our Meade Library directory.

    • Updated Observing Tips for The Month page.

    Changes through March 2003:

    Changes through February 2003:

    • Updated Leica section prices page adding new Duovid 10 + 15 x 50 binocular, new RangeMaster 900 and RangeMaster 1200 Scanning Rangefinders, and compact 20 and 25mm binoculars. Revised our Leica Binocular index page, and put the new 35 page Leica Sport Optics Catalog 2003 on line; this stunningly illustrated brochure describes our Leica sport optics products. Publication content by Leica, all rights reserved from Company Seven's Leica Library section 2,354,695 bytes (in Acrobat Reader ".pdf" format).

    • Updated Celestron Prices page to help clear up exactly which Celestron telescopes Company Seven does currently offer, new products, price changes, and some of the popular alternative configurations we provide.

    • Updated TeleVue section prices page adding new TeleVue 41mm Panoptic, 2.5mm Nagler T-6, 3.5mm Nagler T-6 and 11mm Nagler T-6 introduced by Al Nagler to the public in our Laurel, Maryland showroom on 30 January 2003. Also we provide illustrations and preliminary insight into new TeleVue 127mm (5 inch) apochromat telescope and 41mm Panoptic in our TeleVue News page.

    • Updated Observing Tips for The Month page.

    Changes through January 2003:

    Changes through December 2002:

    Changes through November 2002:

    Changes through October 2002:

    • Updated information in our Questar section. Published new consumer line prices, and added information and illustrations describing the new Questar Seven Light Weight Titanium telescope.

    • Adding information and new illustrations describing the newly revised Orion XT-10 telescope, a highly successful amateur telescope that has been enhanced by design and materials features rarely found in telescopes of this relatively moderate $600 cost. Published new Orion prices.

    • Updated SBIG prices page.

    Changes through August 2002:

    • Added interesting news article about a lawsuit filed against a major manufacturer of telescopes who are not represented by Company Seven - but we would post this either way. For years Company Seven has complained to several manufacturers, some of whom we represent, that their advertising, packaging and marketing materials are misleading. We have gone so far as to post warning about what we consider to be unfair or misleading telescope sales practices in our article "Advice for Beginners (or Anyone) Seeking to Buy A Telescope" in the "Promise Them Anything" portion of this article. On May 17, 2002, two individuals filed a complaint for unfair business practices in their capacity as consumers, within the meaning of the Consumer Legal Remedies Act, and in their capacity as private attorneys general suing to enforce the provisions of California Business and Professions Code Section 17200. The complaint which was filed in the Superior Court of California, County of Ventura (Case No. CIV211644) claims that certain of the company's packaging and marketing materials are misleading.

      It may just be the the defendant in this case happens to be the first to be confronted with a lawsuit for alleged practices on their part that in our experience have been for too long, wide spread in the amateur-oriented telescope market. Read more about this story.

    • Working to prepare our Technical Innovations for further expansion, updated Technical Innovations News page.

    Changes through July 2002:

    Changes through June 2002:

    • Updated Celestron News page to include recent announcement by Celestron management discussing litigation with Meade Instruments Corp., the collapse of former Celestron owner Tasco, and the future of Celestron.

    • Updated Astrophysics Products Availability page to new telescope production runs scheduled. Also updated our Astrophysics prices page.

    • Updated TeleVue News to reflect growth of TeleVue Optics, Inc. into a new facility in Chester, New York.

    • Also updated TeleVue News with information regarding the new distribution agreement between TeleVue Optics, Inc. and Vixen Company, Limited of Tokorozawa, Japan. Included is a brief discussion of the formation by TeleVue of "Vixen North America", some background information about Vixen and the experience of Company Seven and other distributors of Vixen products over the past twenty years or so.

    Changes through May 2002:

    • Updated Celestron News. New article describing the liquidation of Celestron's parent company Tasco which was announced on Tuesday 28 May 2002. We include some discussion of our perception of how this came to happen, an examination of some of the implications, Company Seven's reaction and our discussions with the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, and the announcement by Celestron on the subject dated 28 May 2002.

      Also added to our Celestron News section is the unedited text of the announcement dated 29 May 2002 by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission FTC Authorizes Injunction to Pre-empt Meade Instruments' Purchase of All, or Certain Assets, of Tasco Holdings, Inc.'s Celestron International.

      On Monday 3 June 2002, FTC informed Company Seven that Meade Instruments, Corp. had sent letter advising FTC they would not pursue acquisition of any Celestron International

    • Updated Astro-Physics Price page to reflect announcement of 8 May 2002.

    • New page describing and illustrating one of our two most popular telescope aiming sights. By adding the 2 and 1/2 degree Rigel QwikFinder to our recently revised 4, 2 and 1/2 degree bulls eye pattern Telrad sight, and the TeleVue Starbeam which is probably the best red dot sight on the market, Company Seven is confident that we can solve any amateur astronomers pointing dilemma.

    • New section describing and illustrating our most popular Starbound Observing Chair.

    Changes through April 2002:

    Changes in January 2002:

    • New section describing the Rigel Systems products, soon to include more information, and illustrations.

    • New page describing the RASC Observer's Handbook 2002, an annual publication highly regarded by the astronomy community. This is one of the small list of titles highlighted in our on line Books Section

    • New page describing the Leica Duovid 8 + 12 X 42 binocular. Including new information, and illustrations of this new product in Adobe ".pdf" format in the site Leica Library section.

    • Numerous changes to our Questar section to improve content, provide "pdf" documents, revise changing specifications, prices.

    • Numerous changes to improve navigability of site, and better accommodate planned changes.

    Changes in November 2001:

    Changes in August 2001:

    • New section Geochron and related articles in our Library. The Geochron® developed by Jim Kilburg in 1962 and refined since, is a beautiful mechanical device that relates concepts at a glance in a graphical manner explaining Earths' relationship to the Sun, and how that relationship brings forth the seasons, and affects every minute of every part of the world. Also featured is the World Watch® software, a global timepiece and screen saver for Windows PC computers.

    • New article Orthogonality Correction Description of simple technique to measure and correct for any orthogonality error of German Equatorial Mount and Telescope. By John Menke, Technical Innovations.

    • New article "TeleVue Nagler 3mm to 6mm Zoom Eyepiece (ENZ 0306)" Review of the TeleVue Nagler 3mm to 6mm Zoom eyepiece with the TeleVue 85 and Astro-Physics 155mm EDF Apochromat refractor telescopes, by Richard Orr.

    • Numerous changes to TeleVue section. Most notably, the announcement and specifications of the new first rate TeleVue NP101 4" Apochromat telescope, and updates to TeleVue telescopes including the 85 Apochromat telescope. Also revised is our article describing the TeleVue Starbeam night sight.

    • Article revised "Advice for Beginners (or Anyone) Seeking to Buy A Telescope".

    Changes in May 2001:

    Changes in April 2001:
20 March 2008 Event: Company Seven Supporting NASA Sun-Earth Day Activities
      SunEarth Day 2008 Logo (38,886 bytes)
      NASA's Office of Space Science (OSS) explores four broad themes: "Sun-Earth Connection," "Solar System Exploration," "Structure and Evolution of the Universe," and "Astronomical Search for Origins and Planetary Systems." For each of these themes OSS has created an "Education Forum" so that educators, students and the public can share the excitement of those discoveries and knowledge generated by Space Science missions and research programs. The Sun-Earth Connection Education Forum is a partnership between NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center and UC Berkeley's Space Sciences Laboratory whose mission is to increase science literacy and steward Sun-Earth Connection science resources. To visit the Web Site of the organizations involved, simply visit http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov.

      Sun-Earth Day is a national celebration of the Sun, the space around the Earth (geospace), and how all of it affects life on our planet. In classrooms, museums, planetaria, and at NASA centers -- not to mention hundreds of National Astronomy Day celebrations -- the plan is to have a blast sharing stories, images, and activities related to the Sun-Earth connections in our solar system. Sun-Earth Day 2008 is sponsored by NASA's Sun-earth Connection Education Forum, the joint ESA-NASA Solar and Heliospheric Observatory mission, and The Astronomical League (sponsors of National Astronomy Day). This year's theme will be "Space Weather Around The World".

      In response to the annual request from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Company Seven will participate in celebrating Sun-Earth Day 2008 on Thursday March 20 with Solar Observing (weather permitting) and an Open House from 11 am into the afternoon, and on Saturday 22 March with Solar Observing (weather permitting) and an Open House at our Laurel, Maryland showroom/museum. Activities will include light fare and refreshments, and we will feature Solar Observing, with several premium apochromatic refracting telescopes equipped to observe the Sun in "white light", and in "Hydrogen Alpha" and "Calcium K-Line" with DayStar filters. Visitors who wish to take home an image of the Sun will be helped to attach their compatible film or video cameras (we suggest calling us in advance) to our telescopes. News media who wish to obtain a video feed should contact us in advance too.

      You will soon be able to Download a copy of this announcement in ".pdf" format as a reminder or for distribution.

    20 March 2007 Event: Company Seven Supporting NASA Sun-Earth Day Activities

      SunEarth Day 2007 Logo (45,218 bytes)
      Sun-Earth Day is comprised of a series of programs and events that occur throughout the year culminating with a celebration on or near the Spring Equinox. Over the past six years, the NASA's Sun-Earth Connection Education Forum has sponsored and coordinated education and public outreach events to highlight NASAs Sun-Earth Connection research and discoveries. The strategy involves using celestial events, such as total solar eclipses and the Transit of Venus, as well as Sun-Earth Day during the March Equinox, to engage K-12 schools and the general public in space science activities, demonstrations, and interactions with space scientists. This year's theme will be "Living In The Atmosphere of The Sun".

      In collaboration with partners that include science centers and museums around the world, the Exploratorium, NASA Connect, Sun-Earth Connection missions, Company Seven and others, NASA produces webcasts, other multi-media, and print resources for use by school and informal educators nation-wide and internationally. The NASA Sun Earth Forum provides training and professional development to K-12 educators, museum personnel, amateur astronomers, Girl Scout leaders, etc., so they can implement their own outreach programs taking advantage of our resources. A coordinated approach promotes multiple programs occurring each year under a common theme. The Sun-Earth Day website contains information for students, educators, scientists, museums and amateur astronomers! All web resources for prior events are archived and will remain on-line for your enjoyment!

      In response to the annual request from NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Company Seven will continue to help celebrate Sun-Earth Day 2007 on March 20 with Solar Observing (weather permitting) and an Open House from 11 am into the afternoon, and on Saturday 24 March with Solar Observing (weather permitting) and an Open House at our Laurel, Maryland showroom/museum. Activities will include light fare and refreshments, and we will feature Solar Observing, with several premium apochromatic refracting telescopes equipped to observe the Sun in "white light", and in "Hydrogen Alpha" and "Calcium K-Line" with DayStar filters. Visitors who wish to take home an image of the Sun will be helped to attach their compatible film or video cameras (we suggest calling us in advance) to our telescopes. News media who wish to obtain a video feed should contact us in advance too.

      Download a copy of this announcement in ".pdf" format as a reminder or for distribution.

    20 March 2006 Event: Company Seven Supporting NASA Sun-Earth Day Activities

      SunEarth Day 2006 Logo (45,218 bytes)
      Sun-Earth Day is comprised of a series of programs and events that occur throughout the year culminating with a celebration on or near the Spring Equinox. Over the past six years, the NASA's Sun-Earth Connection Education Forum has sponsored and coordinated education and public outreach events to highlight NASAs Sun-Earth Connection research and discoveries. The strategy involves using celestial events, such as total solar eclipses and the Transit of Venus, as well as Sun-Earth Day during the March Equinox, to engage K-12 schools and the general public in space science activities, demonstrations, and interactions with space scientists. This year's theme will be "Living In The Atmosphere of The Sun".

      SunEarth Day 2006 Logo (11,298 bytes) In collaboration with partners that include science centers and museums around the world, the Exploratorium, NASA Connect, Sun-Earth Connection missions, Company Seven and others, NASA produces webcasts, other multi-media, and print resources for use by school and informal educators nation-wide and internationally. The NASA Sun Earth Forum provides training and professional development to K-12 educators, museum personnel, amateur astronomers, Girl Scout leaders, etc., so they can implement their own outreach programs taking advantage of our resources. A coordinated approach promotes multiple programs occurring each year under a common theme. The Sun-Earth Day website contains information for students, educators, scientists, museums and amateur astronomers! All web resources for prior events such as "Sun-Earth Day 2005: Ancient Observatories, Timeless Knowledge" are archived and will remain on-line for your enjoyment!

      Right: NASA will provide LIVE WEBCAST COVERAGE of the Total Solar Eclipse from Turkey on 29 March 2006!

      In response to the annual request from NASA, Company Seven will continue to help celebrate Sun-Earth Day 2006 on March 20 with Solar Observing (weather permitting) and an Open House from 11 am into the afternoon, and on Saturday 24 March with Solar Observing (weather permitting) and an Open House at our Laurel, Maryland showroom/museum. Activities will include light fare and refreshments, and we will feature Solar Observing, with several premium apochromatic refracting telescopes equipped to observe the Sun in "white light", and in "Hydrogen Alpha" and "Calcium K-Line" with DayStar filters. Visitors who wish to take home an image of the Sun will be helped to attach their compatible film or video cameras (we suggest calling us in advance) to our telescopes. News media who wish to obtain a video feed should contact us in advance too.

      Download this year's Sun-Earth Day announcement in ".pdf" format as a reminder or for distribution.

    20 March 2005 Event: Company Seven Supporting NASA Sun-Earth Day Activities

      SunEarth Day 2005 Logo (67,207 bytes)
      Sun-Earth Day is comprised of a series of programs and events that occur throughout the year culminating with a celebration on or near the Spring Equinox which occurs this year on 20 March. Over the recent years, the NASA's Sun-Earth Connection Education Forum has sponsored and coordinated education and public outreach events to highlight NASAs Sun-Earth Connection research and discoveries. The strategy involves using celestial events, such as total solar eclipses and the Transit of Venus, as well as Sun-Earth Day during the March Equinox, to engage K-12 schools and the general public in space science activities, demonstrations, and interactions with space scientists. This year's theme will be "Ancient Observatories Timeless Knowledge".

      The Ancient Observatory theme for 2005 features solar alignments with structures that mark the equinoxes and/or solstices. In partnership with the Exploratorium, Ideum, and NASA Connect, NASA's Sun-Earth Connection Education Forum will produce video and webcast programming that will be shared with formal and informal education audiences nationally. The programs will feature several sites including: Chaco Canyon (New Mexico), Hovenweep (Utah), and Chichen Itza (Mexico). Many of these sites present unique opportunities to develop authentic cultural connections to Native Americans, highlighting the importance of the Sun across the ages. We will involve Sun-Earth Connection scientists, their missions, and research programs to share NASA solar research with diverse audiences.

      The goals of this event include that participants of our program will benefit from the following key understandings:

      • The Sun is a dynamic, magnetic star that impacts the Earth and other planets in our solar system
      • Understanding the mysteries of the Sun has been a primary motivator for Sun watchers over time
      • Human beings use technology (past, present, and future) to understand the Sun and the Universe beyond
      • Light has always provided a means of investigating the Universe
      • Human beings from diverse cultures have viewed the Sun as the source of life
      • Stewardship of these sacred sites is our collective responsibility

      In collaboration with partners that include science centers and museums around the world, the Exploratorium, NASA Connect, Sun-Earth Connection missions, Company Seven and others, NASA produces webcasts, other multi-media, and print resources for use by school and informal educators nation-wide and internationally. The NAS