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May 03 2025

MAY 2025 – Moon and Star Party at Glendale Library

Glendale LIBRARY – MOON & STAR PARTY!

Saturday, May 3, 2025
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 pm

This event is open to the public.

Come to the Glendale Library to see the first quarter moon at its most beautiful!

The evening starts with a presentation on the History of Astronomy and Telescopes then close to sunset several telescopes will be available for viewing.

Telescopes will be provided by the West Valley Astronomy Club to view the moon & other celestial objects.

First Quarter Moon occurs on Sunday, May 4, sunset is 7:12 pm.

Glendale Library Calendar: https://glendaleca.libnet.info/events

Glendale Library Website: https://www.eglendalelac.org/
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Host: Lisa Colcord

Glendale Library Location: 
5959 W. Brown Street
Glendale, AZ 85302

Written by OR_Manager · Categorized: Outreach, Uncategorized

May 01 2025

MAY 2025 – Private STEM Event

Supported a STEM event at a K-5 elementary school. Provided information about telescopes, a presentation showing the solar system and images from club members. We also had 4 telescopes. Two were DOBs, one a SeeStar and one a Ha solar scope. We were able to see the Moon, Sun and Jupiter. The event finished just before sunset.

Host Catherine Spurlin

Written by OR_Manager · Categorized: Outreach, Uncategorized

Apr 04 2025

APRIL 2025 – Moon and Star Party at El Mirage Library

EL MIRAGE LIBRARY – MOON & STAR PARTY!

Friday, April 4, 2025
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Host: Mat Sanders

This event is open to the public.

Come to the El Mirage Library to see the first quarter moon at its most beautiful! The evening starts with a presentation on Astronomy in the library’s program room. The presentation will start at 6:15 pm and complete about 6:45 pm. The sun sets about 6:53 pm so everyone can then move outside to view the night sky through several telescopes. Telescopes are provided by the West Valley Astronomy Club.

El Mirage Library Calendar: Event Notice

El Mirage Library Website: El Mirage Library
Time: 6:00 – 8:00 pm
Host: Matt Sanders and Kristen Helm

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Written by OR_Manager · Categorized: Outreach, Uncategorized

Dec 02 2024

Selling mirror less Nikon Z6, one of the best cameras for night photography

Selling the Nikon Z6 full frame mirror-less camera body which I originally bought for Milky way and astrophotogrpahy.

It was the best camera of 2019-2020; and is still great for night photography and videography.

My camera is in excellent condition with a shutter count of only 13600 (the camera is rated at 200,00 life time shutter count). It comes with battery, charger, and screen protectors installed.

I am selling the camera with Nikon Z 50mm f1.8 S lens that i bought six months ago. The lens comes with a 62mm UV filter.

I have discovered that prime lens does not suit my shooting style. The lens is in mint condition.

I will sell the lens and the camera body together for $1050. Individually, the camera goes for $800 and the lens for $375.

Let me know if you are interested.

Contact Amin at aminpatani@gmail.com

 

 

 

 

Written by Administrator WVAC · Categorized: Uncategorized

Oct 04 2024

Celestron Evolution 8 Telescope and Camera System

For sale, my Celestron Evolution 8 go-to telescope and camera system for taking photos of the deep sky
objects, OR the option of just the telescope w/feather touch focuser, Telrad finder, and carrying case.
This camera system doesn’t work on the planets, as the planets photos would be too small to see
anything. This system is very good at taking photos of Open Clusters, Globular Clusters, Nebulas, and
Galaxies (except the very small galaxies).
I have been taking photos now for almost three years with this system from my back yard and at the
club star parties. The Evolution is a very good scope and has never given me any problems. The
HyperStar makes this a very fast scope and my photos are 10 second photos taken at f/1.9 and they are
stacked on top of each other automatically by the ASIAIR Pro. Total duration of photo capture is
anywhere from 2 to 20 minutes with most shots around the 5 minute mark.
The only reason for selling is that I purchased the new Celestron Origion so this scope needs a new
home.

I am not going anywhere so I would be more than able to work with the purchaser so they get a good
feel of the process. I use a 10.2 inch IPAD but you could use a smart phone or the IPAD Mini. Using a
smaller phone wouldn’t give you a very good look though in my opinion.

I will admit that getting into EAA (Electronic Assisted Astronomy) has a higher cost than visual
astronomy, but it is easier and less time consuming than AP (Astro Photography). Purchasing used
equipment does reduce the cost, in this case about 47%, but there is still a cost. Willing to give you
hands on training with EAA.

If you already have a Celestron SE8 or the Evolution 8 I would consider selling the other pieces as a
group which would not include the Telrad or the Feathertouch as they are both attached to the
telescope. Really would like for this to go to someone local as the scope can’t be shipped.

Option 1 – Celestron Evolution 8” (OTA, tripod, & mount), w/feather touch focuser
& Telrad finder scope $1,300  If you wanted the carrying case the price would be another $150.

Option 2 – Everything in Option 1 above PLUS HyperStar 8 v4, ASI533MC Pro cooled camera, Optolong L-
Pro filter 2”, ASIAIR Pro (this is the brains of the system), Bahtinov Mask (for focusing the camera),
Celestron Power Tank Lithium Pro Battery (to power the ASIAIR Pro & camera), & Celestron Optical tube
carrying case #94003. The telescope itself has an internal rechargeable battery which will last for at
least 6 hours.   Option 2 has an original price of $5,474, so the selling price is a 47% discount. So buying used is a big
savings if the items are in great shape. My telescope has always been looked after by Starizona in
Tucson.

More than willing to answer any questions you may have, and I am sure you will have many. The first
time I saw photos of the sky I said no way the cost was too high. One month later I walked out the shop
carrying $2,800 of astronomy camera equipment.
Dave Elder
(delder2@cox.net or 623-214-3470)

Items                                                                                                            New
cost

Celestron Evolution 8                                                                    $2,200.00
Camera ASI533MC Pro cooled color camera                                  800.00
HyperStar 8 v4 f/1.9                                                                          1,000.00
ASIAIR Pro                                                                                             300.00
Optolong L-Pro 2" filter                                                             199.00
Bahtinov Mask                                                                                          15.00
Celestron PowerTank Lithium Pro Battery                                      250.00
Feathertouch focuser 10 to 1                                                                350.00
Telrad finder sight                                                                                   50.00
Celestron Optical tube carrying case #94003                                  310.00

$5,474.00

Written by Administrator WVAC · Categorized: Uncategorized

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