PolarAlign
Contact Us
Links (and a bit about them)
Software Bisque is the home of the Paramount ME, TheSky software, and CCD soft. The Paramount ME is one of the best mounts available. It's a robotic, observatory grade mount, precise, and accurate. It is exquisite in fit, finish, design, and function. Support is good and there are active user forums for all their products.
A few of my favorite things
Sawstop table saw. Expensive? Well yes, but it's the best saw I've ever seen and worth every penny. The selling point, of course, is the safety device which is absolutely amazing. The saw itself is superb. If you do use a table saw, check out the "hot dog" demo. If you have doubts, talk to any plastic surgeon and ask about table saw accidents. They're common and they're devastating... then look at the hot dog demo again.
Bahtinov mask. Awesome. To read about it, please see my "Easier way to focus" page.
Hobby sites, information and help
Yahoo Groups have news groups for every possible interest. The number of groups is staggering. Astronomy groups include every type of telescope, mount, software, hardware, imaging, processing, it's all here. Those seeking help and advice will find it here.
Used and new equipment, forums, reviews
Astroclassifieds has used equipment for sale, discussion forums, pictures. It's an astronomy community. No fees, no donations, few rules. This friendly site is relatively new and growing.
Astromart is the popular big player of used equipment sites with massive numbers of listings and and active forums. Dig out your wallet, though, and mind the rules. Lockout is arbitrary, quick, rude, and permanent; so be cautious if you rely on this site, otherwise, it's one of the biggest and best sites available.
Cloudy Nights is a huge site, it is by far the strongest in equipment reviews and information. Articles abound, there are monthly columns. If you use just one site, this easily could be it.
Ice In Space is an Australian site, the largest in the southern hemisphere. It is a large site rich in articles and a treasure trove of information. It has very strong do-it-yourself support, perhaps the strongest around. Their goal is to "inform, educate, and entertain", and they do it very well. There's a calendar on the front page with the current night sky events. Their appeal is world wide.
The Hubble
HubbleSite is a door to the Hubble space telescope. Don't miss this one. It's not a hobby site, it is government run and professional all the way. It's got the polish of an online branch of the Smitshsonian.
Sites with extensive link listings
Kirk Korista's link page Neat Sites in Astronomy. A physics professor at Western Michigan, his link page is extensive, well categorized, and goes well beyond what I might otherwise post here.
Here's another great links site, Michael Weasner's Meade ETX site. His links go far beyond those valuable only to the Meade, they're extensive, diverse, comprehensive, and they're current.
