Welcome to the 4th issue of Celestron's 2009 Newsletter.

As we continue the celebration of the International Year of Astronomy, the focus of this issue is the part Celestron plays in the global astronomical community....

Introducing SkyScout IYA Edition

Just in time for an official "kick off" of IYA festivities in Philadelphia, Celestron has announced the release of a (very) Limited Edition IYA2009 SkyScout.

This version of SkyScout features the limited edition IYA Expansion card that contains detailed information regarding important IYA and Celestial events taking place each month throughout 2009.

SPOTLIGHT: 100 Hours of Astronomy

100 Hours of Astronomy (100HA) was a tremendously successful global astronomy event that took place from 2nd to 5th of April with a sole purpose to expose as many people as possible to the timeless hobby of astronomy! Celestron sent out teams to three of the numerous events taking place around the world. Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, PA see photos »   Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles, CA see photos »   Irvine Spectrum, Irvine, CA see photos » Across the pond, in Germany, our local distributor, Baader-Planetarium participated in a tremendously successful 100HA event held in the center of Munich. See Munich photos: Gallery 1 | Gallery 2 | Gallery 3 We have brought back priceless memories and awesome photos. Most importantly we made a few new friends and renewed our passion for the hobby. Read 100HA blogs from around the world on CelestronLife.com » You may also share your 100HA stories, images and even videos on CelestronLife.com

	NEW ON CELESTRON.com: FirstScope Update
	The talented folks in our multimedia department have recently unveiled a trailer for the upcoming FirstScope Tour.

BTW, did you know that...

• FirstScope is now available for purchase on Celestron.com
• We have just announced the accessory kit for FirstScope

INSIDE CELESTRON: Community Relations

In 2008 Celestron launched an innovative community outreach program. There are two key aspects to the program, development of online communities (like CelestronLife and CelestronImages) as well as "boots on the ground", old fashioned human outreach. To accomplish the latter, the Community Relations department was formed. In this issue, we would like to highlight the great work done by these brave men and women led by our Community Relations Coordinator, Kevin Kawai. Check out Kevin's CelestronLife.com Profile and our Flickr Photo Album to see the awesome places their work has taken them and the wonderful people they met along the way.

Happy 2009 - The International Year of Astronomy!

From all of us here at Celestron, we would like to wish you a happy new year! 2009 marks the 400th anniversary of the telescope and Galileo’s first observations through a telescope. In celebration of these events, the United Nations has declared 2009 the International Year of Astronomy! Celestron is a proud global sponsor of IYA2009. Throughout this special year we will be exhibiting at many events, attending and holding star parties and encouraging you to do the same! Please watch our website for updates on events and announcements on special projects surrounding IYA and Celestron.

	Announcing the launch of CelestronLife.com
	Celestron is very proud to announce the launch of CelestronLife.com - a premier online community for Celestron users and fans. At CelestronLife.com you can interact with your peers via forums, blogs, images, videos and variety of other activities. To kick off the new website Celestron staff will be posting live reports from the floor of the 2009 International CES...
	visit CelestronLife.com »

	New Products for 2009
	We are excited to introduce the new products for 2009. CGE PRO Series Telescopes - not to be confused with the CGE, this new series of heavy duty computerized telescopes features a robust, ultra stable german equatorial mount. CGEM Series Telescopes - Celestron's CGE Telescopes are the perfect fit between the Advanced Series and CGE Series. Offering the portability of the Advanced Series and the precision of the CGE. Ambassador Series - by popular demand, we are now offering a new series of attractive brass telescopes at equally attractive prices. Regal F ED Spotting Scopes - new series of high end Fluoro ED (Extra Low Dispersion Glass) spotting scopes. New Digital Microscopes - microscopes has become the highest growing and most successful category at Celestron in 2008. We are following this up with a brand new series of attractively priced digital microscopes with even more features..
	view New 2009 Products online »

IYA2009 Updates

Welcome to the second issue of Celestron's 2009 Newsletter.

By now you have already heard that 2009 was declared the International Year Of Astronomy by the United Nations. As a proud global sponsor Celestron will bring you up-to-date info on this remarkable year-long celebration:

Celestron SkyScout Personal Planetarium is now an Official Product of IYA2009

"Celestron's SkyScout is a must-have tool for astronomy beginners. Its high-quality features and educational value make it the perfect instrument to explore the sky during 2009, the International Year of Astronomy." said Pedro Russo, International Year of Astronomy Coordinator... read more »

Celestron is pleased to announce that they are global sponsors of 100 Hours of Astronomy, an IYA2009 Cornerstone project

Celestron is also sponsoring the opening ceremony of 100 Hours of Astronomy at The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia, PA on April 2nd. This weekend will also be the grand opening of the much-anticipated exhibition "Galileo, The Medici and The Age of Astronomy." This exhibition features many Galileo artifacts including one of the two remaining telescopes built and used by Galileo... read more »

For more information on IYA2009 and to meet other IYA fans, please join our growing IYA2009 User Group on CelestronLife.com

SPOTLIGHT: User Submitted Content

We are extremely excited about the tremendous response we've received from our customers after the launch of CelestronImages.com and CelestronLife.com communities. In this issue we would like to highlight some of the impressive content contributed by Celestron users: Astrophotography by John Buonomo on CelestronImages.com: click to view John 's profile » Terrestrial Photography by Luc Delisle on CelestronImages.com: click to view Luc's profile » Delta-4 heavy Rocket Launch by Brent on CelestronLife.com: click to view the Brent's video »

INSIDE CELESTRON: Tech Support News

In this issue's INSIDE CELESTRON section we are featuring some usefully tips and information contributed by our Technical Support Department: Did you you that our revolutionary All Star Polar Alignment is now available on all CGE and Advanced GT models? Simply fire up your Hand Control Firmware Update Software and download the latest update. We have recently tripled the amount of articles in our online Knowledge Base (KB). With Celestron's new and improved KB all the knowledge and experience of our technical staff is just a mouse click away. Easily compare technical specifications of up to 5 products side by side with our revamped Product Comparison tool. Just click on Compare tab from almost any product page to begin comparing.

Introducing FirstScope Portable Telescope

Welcome to the 3rd issue of Celestron's 2009 Newsletter.

In celebration of International Year Of Astronomy 2009, Celestron is proud to announce our brand new FirstScope Telescope.

Named Official Product of International Year of Astronomy 2009, FirstScope pays tribute to the men and women who brought us one step closer to understanding the universe around us!

Be one of the first people to own a piece of history by pre-ordering the FirstScope Telescope from Celestron.com.

	SPOTLIGHT: Comet Lulin
	In February of this year, Comet Lulin presented earthlings with some amazing sights as it traversed our solar system. Many of Celestron users have reported viewing this comet with their telescopes or binoculars. In this newsletter we are featuring some of these eyewitness accounts: Read John Buonomo's series of blog entries on CelestronLife.com » View Comet Lulin photos on CelestronImages.com »

	NEW ON CELESTRON.com: CONTESTS
	We have added a new section to Celestron.com that features exciting contests and sweepstakes offered by Celestron and a few hand-picked partners. To get you started, here are a couple of upcoming challenges:

INSIDE CELESTRON: Who is OrangeTube?

There is a rogue secret society of like-minded individuals inside the Celestron team. Their night-time meetings are shrouded in secrecy. No one is allowed in without a password and a secret handshake. They are known simply as the "OrangeTube". Their mission is to produce quality videos that reveal the long kept secrets of telescope setup to the general public. Check out OrangeTube's YouTube Channel »

Welcome to the 5th issue of Celestron's 2009 Newsletter!

Being a leading telescope manufacturer in the world has many perks. One of them is that we get to sponsor and therefore attend Star Parties all over the globe. So in this issue we'd like to Star Party Like It's 2009!

SPOTLIGHT: C-Row Star-B-Q 2009

When the nice folks from The Huachuca Astronomy Club asked us to sponsor an All-Celestron star party, we figured that it was a pretty good idea. In addition to donating generous door prizes, we decided to dispatch a team of highly qualified technicians to perform some free basic maintenance on attendees' Celestron equipment. So if you happen to be in the High Southeastern Arizona Desert on June 19th or 20th come star party with us at C-Row. « visit C-Row website | download registration form»

	NEW ON CELESTRON.com: Support Tab
	Our web team has recently upgraded the Support Tab found on every product page of Celestron.com The new and improved Support Tab now contains: Setup Videos Related Knowledge Base Articles Manuals & Drivers User Groups Product Registration Tech Support Contact Form See NexStar 6 SE Support Tab »

INSIDE CELESTRON: The Star Party Tour Bus

Imagine for a moment... being on a tropical island chain in the middle of the Pacific Ocean where the sea meets the sky in an annual celebration of astronomy and native culture. It must be AstroDay Hawaii! The 8th annual AstroDay Hawaii took place on May 2, 2009 at the Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo, Hawaii... read more » If the tropical paradise is not really your cup of tea, you would have surely enjoyed the historic Prude Ranch near Fort Davis, Texas, a home to the Texas Star Party. Recognized as one of the top ten star parties in the world, we decided that this would be a great opportunity to attend such a highly regarded event, especially since Celestron has never made an appearance at TSP in recent memory... read more »

	Event Calendar 2009 RTMC May 22 - 24 Big Bear, CA Originally called the Telescope Makers Conference, the Riverside Telescope Makers Conference (RTMC) was founded in 1969 by Clifford W. Holmes as a way for amateur telescope makers to share their craft... read more » ScopeX 2009 May 30 Johannesburg, South Africa Interested in Astronomy, sky-gazing, astrophotography, buying/building a telescope? Visit the astronomy event of the year... read more » Celestron Day At Orion June 06 Cupertino, CA In early June, Celestron reps will be onsite at Orion's Cupertino location to offer information and advice. We will also be raffling off some Celestron merchandise... Stay tuned, more info coming soon to Celestron.com C-Row Star-B-Q 2009 June 19 - 20 RepoGazer Observatory, Arizona The Huachuca Astronomy Club, in cooperation with Celestron and Starizona present: C-Row Star-B-Q at the RepoGazer Observatory (RGO), an All-Celestron Two-Day Star Party and BBQ in the High Southeastern Arizona Desert... read more »

post your own Star Party on CelestronLife.com »

Welcome to the 6th issue of Celestron's 2009 Newsletter!

Whether it is starting a new hobby or a new career path, being a beginner can be quite intimidating. Most of us have been called a rookie, a newbie or n00b at some point... In this issue we would like to focus on these newcomers to the amateur astronomy scene and on the resources we make available to help you get started with this exciting and rewarding hobby.

Beginners Wanted!
Earlier this year, Celestron proudly introduced FirstScope, an ultimate beginner telescope. FirstScope was even declared an official product of, the International Year of Astronomy 2009! Today, we'd like to share with you a brand new video tour that provides a complete overview of this small but mighty telescope:

BEGINNINGS: Remember Your First Scope?

We all had to start somewhere. For Celestron, it all began almost 50 years ago when our founder, Tom Johnson, introduced the first ever consumer Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope. We'd like to know where you started in this awesome hobby. Come to CelestronImages.com and share the pictures of your first Celestron equipment with the world. While at it, enter your image into the "My First Celestron Scope" contest for a chance to win your own FirstScope Telescope. visit contest page »

DIGGING DEEPER : Astrophotography 101

Astrophotography could be one of the most sophisticated tasks you ever perform with your scope. Yet it is probably the most rewarding one... Recent advances in Digital SLR technology made astrophotography much more accessible to the average consumer and sparked renewed interest in this exciting hobby. To get started, head over to CelestronLife.com and join the AstroPhotography User Group. There you will find a growing number of knowledgeable and friendly folks ready to share their experiences with you. Another great resource is Celestron's growing Knowledge Base. There you will find articles on how exactly to use your particular Celestron telescope for photography. Lastly, visit CelestronImages.com. There you can share your photography with the world and, most importantly, see astrophotos taken by others. Look at the optics they used to capture their images to learn about relative capabilities of various Celestron products. Don't hesitate to ask questions or leave comments. Most CelestronImages.com users love to trade tips with fellow astroimagers.

	Event Calendar C-Row Star-B-Q 2009 June 19 - 20 RepoGazer Observatory, Arizona The Huachuca Astronomy Club, in cooperation with Celestron and Starizona present: C-Row Star-B-Q at the RepoGazer Observatory (RGO), an All-Celestron Two-Day Star Party and BBQ in the High Southeastern Arizona Desert... read more » SCAE 2009 (Day 1) July 11th Oceanside, California SCAE Swap Meet, Movie, & Star Party. Yes, I said swap meet! This year we are mixing things up a little bit for our first SCAE Saturday! On Saturday, July 11th, we will host an astronomy swap meet in the OPT parking lot! read more » SCAE 2009 (Day 2) July 18th Oceanside, California Telescope & Astronomy Demonstration. On Saturday, July 18th, almost forty telescope, CCD, and other astronomy product manufacturers & organizations will be on hand at OPT to show off their latest and greatest gear, and you’re invited! read more »

Post your own Star Party on CelestronLife.com »

Event Recaps
by Kevin Kawai

	2009 RTMC May 22 - 24 Big Bear, CA
The 41st annual Riverside Telescope Makers Conference and Astronomy Expo took place on May 22 through May 25, 2009 (Memorial Day weekend) at Camp Oakes near Big Bear City. Located above the 7000 foot level, this well known Southern California astronomy event is held yearly at a YMCA campground nestled in the lush San Bernardino Mountains. Unlike last year, which an unexpected late season snow storm quickly brought RTMC 2008 to a standstill, we were blessed with clear skies, warmer days, cold nights and no Moon - just the right combinations for making a great star party...
« view photos | read Blog entry »

	Celestron Day At Orion June 06 Cupertino, CA
On Saturday, June 6, 2009, Orion Telescopes held its first ever "Celestron Day" in the parking lot of its retail store. Being an Orion customer myself for many years, I was excited upon hearing the news of a Celestron Day and jumped at the opportunity to travel to Northern California (Cupertino) to be a part of a collaborated event between Celestron and a fellow respected name in the telescope industry - Orion Telescopes. Celestron firmware Engineer, Derik DeVecchio, and I headed out the day before and yours truly had the privilege of driving the cargo van up Interstate 5 for the 7 hour drive from Los Angeles to Cupertino...
« view photos | read Blog entry »

• Purchase Optical Products
• Blogs, Forums, User Groups & More
• Astrophotography Community
• Personal Planetarium
• NightWatch: A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe

Welcome to the 7th issue of Celestron's 2009 Newsletter!

In our last issue we focused on the newcomers to the hobby of amateur astronomy and the resources available to them. This month we are looking at the other side of the spectrum: the bleeding edge, the state of the art, the frontier of innovation... and we'll even attempt to "See the Universe in HD"

During the International Year of Astronomy, Celestron is proudly introducing yet another revolutionary technology - the EdgeHD Optics - a new state-of-the-art optical system designed specifically for astro photographers. EdgeHD is an Aplanatic Schmidt telescope, designed to produce aberration-free images across a wide field of view. Watch this short video and learn about this exciting new product straight from Celestron's engineering team.

• Visit CGE PRO EdgeHD Telescope Series webpage
• Visit CGEM EdgeHD Telescope Series webpage

STAR TREK EXHIBITION: WIN A VINTAGE C11

Celestron is proud to have its vintage C11 telescope signed by a previous owner, Leonard Nimoy, exhibited at the Franklin Institute as a part of "STAR TREK: THE EXHIBITION"

The exhibition features the world's most comprehensive collection of authentic Star Trek objects and transports visitors into parallel universes of the future and past. This 12,500 foot exhibition, an amalgamation of all five television and ten film series spanning over 40 years, is the ultimate opportunity to connect with iconic Star Trek moments and characters, while celebrating the creative spirit of science fiction and science that gave rise to many of today's modern marvels. From the Next Generation Bridge, to the Engine Room, to sitting in Kirk's original captain's chair, STAR TREK: THE EXHIBITION not only relives the legacy but invites you to be a part of the Enterprise!

« learn more about THE EXHIBITION   |   enter to WIN A VINTAGE C11 »

NEW ON CELESTRON.COM: Twitter

As you have probably already noticed, Celestron has been actively engaging its end users via the social networks. We have even launched a couple of our own social networking sites. Recently, we have added Twitter, a social networking service that has been spreading like wild fire.

We find Twitter to be extremely useful for keeping track of interesting people and organizations. More importantly it allows us to quickly send short updates to our users. So, if you wish to be the first to know what Celestron is up to... Follow us on Twitter »

We really hope you've enjoyed reading this newsletter.
Please submit your feedback here:
http://www.celestronlife.com/blogs/entry/2009-Newsletter-Issue-7

Clear Skies!

Celestron Marketing Team

	Event Calendar SCAE 2009 (Day 2) July 18th Oceanside, California Telescope & Astronomy Demonstration. On Saturday, July 18th, almost forty telescope, CCD, and other astronomy product manufacturers & organizations will be on hand at OPT to show off their latest and greatest gear, and you’re invited! read more » Starfest 2009 - A Celebration of Astronomy August 20-23 Ontario, Canada Starfest is Canada's largest annual observing conference and star party. It attracts over nine hundred astronomy enthusiasts from Ontario, and neighboring provinces and states. It has been ranked among the top star parties in North America by Sky and Telescope magazine. read more »

Post your own Star Party on CelestronLife.com »

Event Recaps
by Kevin Kawai

	C-Row Star-B-Q June 19 - 20 RepoGazer Observatory, Arizona
The Huachuca Astronomy Club of Sierra Vista, AZ, in cooperation with Celestron and Starizona, presented an all Celestron star party this past weekend - June 19 and 20, 2009, named "C-Row Star-B-Q" which was held at the RepoGazer Observatory (RGO) in Palominas, AZ. Keith Mullen, Vice President of the Huachuca Astronomy Club and brainchild of this event, originally put together his first "C-Row" back in 2003 during his term as Treasurer and Observatory Director for the Sacramento Valley Astronomical Society. During that time, he organized a group of 50 or so members, all owning Celestron scopes, in what was called the "C-Row gang."... read Blog entry »
photo GALLERY 1 | photo GALLERY 2

Connect with Celestron on Social Networks:

Welcome to the 10th issue of Celestron's 2009 Newsletter!

We'd like to start this issue off by applauding the White House and President Barack Obama for their support of astronomy and science education.

On Wednesday, October 8, 2009, President Barack Obama and the first lady Michelle Obama hosted what is believed to be the first star party ever to be held at the White House.

« learn more | view video »

	Reporting From 2009 PATS

On September 26th and 27th Celestron had a chance to show off our newest technology at the 2009 Pacific Astronomy and Telescope Show (PATS). Our media team was on hand to capture some interesting interviews with Celestron staff, as well as some other exhibitors...
watch video »

Outdoor Channel's Gear Up and Go! Sweepstakes

It’s October and that can mean only one thing… its time again to GEAR UP AND GO! 

This year’s prize pool is the most valuable ever and includes all kinds of outdoor gear as well as great trips and CASH prizes. Enter ever day for daily prizes such as paintball gear, wall tents, kayaks, telescopes and hiking boots.

Every time you enter to win a daily prize you’ll also earn an entry into each of the three Grand Prize drawings held at the end of the month.

This year’s Grand Prizes include a trip to the Silverton Casino, a Celestron Computerized telescope and trip to the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles and an ATV plus $5,000 CASH courtesy of Peak Antifreeze.

Visit http://gearupandgo.dja.com/index.html every day in October to enter.

We really hope you've enjoyed reading this newsletter.
Please submit your feedback here:
http://www.celestronlife.com/blogs/entry/2009-Newsletter-Issue-9

Clear Skies!

Celestron Marketing Team

	Event Calendar Reto Mexico 2009 October 24 Mexico This event continues the celebration of the International Year of Astronomy 2009, which began in Mexico with a great event called "Night of Stars"... read more » Advanced Imaging Conference October 30 - November 1 San Jose, CA The Advanced Imaging Conference is a non-profit organization operated by a team of astro-photography enthusiasts... read more » Sea & Sky Spectacular November 6-8 Jacksonville, FL Join the City of Jacksonville, Naval Station Mayport and City of Jacksonville Beach, City of Neptune Beach and City of Atlantic Beach as the skies and waterways of the First Coast are transformed into the backdrop for the most exciting air acts and military demonstrations in the world! read more » IDA Annual Meeting November 14-15 Tucson, AZ The IDA is pleased to announce the AGMs first move out of Tucson, AZ. We've gone 100 miles north to Phoenix. Known as the Valley of the Sun, Phoenix is also home to the USGBC GreenBuild 2009 conference (November 11-13), the largest convention of "green" businesses and products in the world... read more »

post your own Star Party on CelestronLife.com »

Event Recaps
by Kevin Kawai

	Astronomy at the Beach September 26-26 Michigan, USA
With sand, water, stars and sky, the 13th Annual Astronomy at the Beach took place September 25 and 26, 2009 at Maple Beach, Kensington Metro Park, Milford, MI. Astronomy at the Beach, more commonly known as AATB, is a yearly event hosted by the Kensington Metro Park and the Great Lakes Association of Astronomy Clubs (GLAAC)...
« photo GALLERY | read Blog entry »

Connect with Celestron on Social Networks:

Welcome to the 11th issue of Celestron's 2009 Newsletter!

We would like to salute everyone who, in celebration of IYA 2009 Galilean Nights, took to the streets all around the globe, to see the wonders that Galileo observed 400 years ago.

As a global sponsor of the International Year of Astronomy 2009, we are proud to be a part of this global celebration both in the US and abroad. We'd like to encourage you to share your stories and photographs of this momentous occasion.

Star Party in Seal Beach California

Event in Munich Germany

Learn More » Post Photos » Submit Story »

	Your Galileo Moment with Jupiter
	by Rick Fienberg

Throughout 2009 stargazers the world over are celebrating the International Year of Astronomy, which marks 400 years since the great Italian scientist Galileo Galilei first turned a telescope to the sky. Galileo's discoveries launched a revolution in our understanding of the cosmos, one that's still going strong four centuries later...
read post »

	McGyver's Tips with DarkMatters
DarkMatters is an active contributing member of CelestronLife.com. This month we'd like to spotlight a couple of his articles on making a solar filter and tripod attachment for FirstScope Telescope... read posts »

We really hope you've enjoyed reading this newsletter.
Please submit your feedback here:
http://www.celestronlife.com/blogs/entry/2009-Newsletter-Issue-11

Clear Skies!

Celestron Marketing Team

	Event Calendar IDA Annual Meeting November 14-15 Tucson, AZ The IDA is pleased to announce the AGMs first move out of Tucson, AZ. We've gone 100 miles north to Phoenix. Known as the Valley of the Sun, Phoenix is also home to the USGBC GreenBuild 2009 conference (November 11-13), the largest convention of "green" businesses and products in the world... read more » 2009 T.A.C.O. November 21 Oceanside, CA Don't miss the first annual "Telescopes and Cameras in Oceanside", affectionately known as TACO, on Saturday, November 21st from 10AM until 8PM at Oceanside Photo & Telescope! Celestron representatives will be on-hand with product demos and more. Enjoy special one-day only discounts on all of your favorite (or soon-to-be-favorite) gear... read more »

post your own Star Party on CelestronLife.com »

Event Recaps
by Kevin Kawai

	Toberman House Event October 26 San Pedro, California
Just a few miles south down Interstate 110 from Celestron headquarters in the port city of San Pedro, California, resides the Toberman Neighborhood Center. This multi-purpose, non-profit community center provides various social services to nearly 14,000 inner-city individuals and families in need of assistance...
« photo GALLERY | read Blog entry »

Connect with Celestron on Social Networks:

Welcome to the 3rd issue of Celestron's 2010 Newsletter!

We are extremely proud to announce the release of the first installment of "The Path Of Light" documentary that celebrates astronomy, telescope making and human ingenuity.

The first episode called “Generation of Dreamers” focuses on Celestron's founder, Tom Johnson, an electrical engineer, who developed the techniques for mass producing Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescopes, making these powerful astronomical instruments accessible to amateur astronomers.

To comment or discuss please click here.

	2010 San Diego Bird Festival
	by Kevin Kawai

On March 4th through 7th, 2010, the 14th annual San Diego Bird Festival took place at the Marina Village Conference Center, located on scenic Mission Bay in San Diego, CA.  Birding enthusiasts from all over the United States and abroad, joined together for the 4 day event.  Activities were plentiful with birders taking part in numerous guided field trips to some of the most popular birding hotspots in and around the San Diego area...
read post »

Shooting Star's First Light Weekend by DarkMatters

ShootingStars was out for first light Valentine's Day weekend. It was great! I had a mini star party with friends up in Ridgecrest. We looked at Mars, Saturn, Vesta, Orion Nebula and Pleiades on Saturday night...
read post »

Wiseburn School District Star Party by Webmaster

On March 24th volunteers from Celestron along with a few other outreach enthusiasts held a first annual Stargazing Night for the students of Wiseburn School District.

The event ROCKED and we met some pretty awesome kids, their parents and teachers.

Despite the patchy marine layer we had some excellent viewing of the Moon, Saturn and Mars. Students also got to meet a geologist from Cal State Long Beach with a neat collection of fluorescent minerals and an aerospace outreach enthusiast with a variety of flying RC gizmos. It was heart-warming to see kids display genuine interest in science and nature.

We also had a screening of our documentary in an impromptu outdoor theatre. it was extremely rewarding to see 8-10 year-olds sit through the whole thing. Perhaps we're doing something right after all...

view photo album »

We really hope you've enjoyed reading this newsletter.
Please submit your feedback here:
http://www.celestronlife.com/blogs/entry/2010-Newsletter-Issue-3

Clear Skies!

Celestron Marketing Team

	Event Calendar ScopeX 2010 03/14 Johannesburg, South Africa Interested in Astronomy, sky-gazing, astro-photography, buying/building a telescope? ScopeX is a public outreach initiative designed to promote interest in astronomy, telescope making, astrophotography and related disciplines within Southern Africa... learn more » 2010 NEAIC - NorthEast Astro-Imaging Conference 04/15 - 04/16 Suffern, NY This year NEAIC will feature three sequences of talks. The first sequence will be a five-part workshop on A Basic Introduction to Telescopes & Astro Imaging with Dave Snay. (You know Dave from his column in Astronomy Technology Today.) Our second sequence will focus on the preparation and processing of aesthetic images. Our third sequence will focus on scientific imaging... learn more » 2010 NEAF - Northeast Astronomy Forum 04/17 - 04/18 THIS EXCITING TWO-DAY EVENT FEATURES: More than 100 on-site vendors, World-renowned speakers, Astro-imaging workshops, Daily solar observing, STARLAB planetarium shows, Getting Started classes for beginners, Space & Astronomy events for kids... learn more »   post your own Event on CelestronLife.com »

	Earth Hour US 03/27 @ 8:30pm PST Nationwide
In what was the largest public demonstration in history, hundreds of millions of people around the world turned out their lights for one hour yesterday in support of World Wildlife Fund’s Earth Hour, calling for action on climate change. Individuals, businesses and government officials in 4,000 cities across 125 countries turned out for Earth Hour, calling for a cleaner, safer and more secure future for the planet....
learn more »

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Dear Customer,

Welcome to the 5th issue of Celestron's 2010 Newsletter!

Celestron continues the year-long celebration of its 50th anniversary with the release of a second installment of "The Path of Light" mini-series.

"The Path Of Light" is a documentary celebrating astronomy, telescope making and human ingenuity.

Episode 2: “The Enlightenment” focuses on the importance of science education and the role astronomy plays in raising the next "Generation of Dreamers".

view, discuss and comment »

Celebrating 50 years of optical innovation, Celestron proudly offers the Limited Edition 50th Anniversary CPC 800 GPS. This elegant telescope features a hi-tech carbon fiber tube, striking 50th Anniversary graphics and a limited edition eyepiece kit.

Only 300 50th Anniversary Edition CPCs are being made available worldwide, making this a must have collector’s item. Get yours today!

« 50th anniversary merchandise | view Anniversary CPC 800 GPS »

	OUTREACH: Weemes Elementary School Astronomy Club's awards ceremony and star party at USC
	by Kevin Kawai

In September of 2009, Celestron joined the University of Southern California (USC) Department of Physics and Astronomy as co-sponsors of a local elementary school's new astronomy club.  Mr. Ray Wong, who teaches at Weemes Elementary School near downtown Los Angeles, came up with the idea of forming a new type of club for his students that would be uniquely different from more traditional school club activities.   It had occurred to him "why not form a club that would be fun and interesting for his students to learn more about astronomy, science and space?"  The astronomy club gained acceptance with students, parents, faculty and administrators right away and became a great opportunity for the students to learn more about astronomy from visits by USC physics and astronomy graduate students and Celestron personnel.  These volunteers would not only share their astronomical knowledge but also serve as mentors and role models for the children...
read post »

This summer, Northstar-at-Tahoe™ Resort will again host a series of Tahoe Star Tours, led by star guide and poet Tony Berendsen, president of the Northern Nevada Science Coalition. A unique experience offering a breathtaking view into the heavens through Celestron optical equipment, Tahoe Star Tours will for the eighth season, offer the premiere star tours experience in Lake Tahoe and an educational evening for guests of all ages. And, new this summer, four of the 18 tour dates will include performances by Reno-based string quartet, Accent Nevada...
visit site »

	OUTREACH: Roosevelt-Garfield Community Adult School Star Party
	by Kevin Kawai

Celestron on-the-go continued on this week, and this time team Celestron met up with the Los Angeles Astronomical Society's Outreach team to help conduct an evening star party for the Roosevelt-Garfield Community Adult School.  Located in East Los Angeles, the school provides a variety of classes in job training, computer skills, High School Diploma preparation, GED, U.S. Citizenship, parenting skills and more.  Principal, Dr. Penny Kunitani, is a member of "Friends of the Observatory" (FOTO) at the Griffith Observatory and learned of LAAS Outreach programs and invited the club to conduct a star party for her school.  The LAAS holds their monthly meetings at the Griffith Observatory...
read post »

Win Celestron 50th Anniversary FirstScope.

We really hope you've enjoyed reading this newsletter.
Please submit your feedback here:
http://www.celestronlife.com/blogs/entry/2010-Newsletter-Issue-5

Clear Skies!

Celestron Marketing Team