Key Takeaways:
- The iOptron iAFS2 automatic focuser offers three control methods: computer, buttons, and manual wheel, includes a temperature sensor and dual USB ports, and is adaptable to various setups via an optional adapter.
- The Celestron RASA 6 optical tube assembly boasts a fast f/2.2 focal ratio, a wide 3.8° field of view, minimal aberrations, lightweight portability (8.4 pounds), and integrated cooling fan and filter drawer.
- Battle of the Big Bang, authored by Niayesh Afshordi and Phil Halper, explores competing cosmological theories on the universe's formation, drawing on Afshordi's research and interviews with leading scientists. The book comprises 360 pages.
- Pricing information is provided for all three products: the iAFS2 focuser ($368.00), the RASA 6 optical tube ($1,699.00), and Battle of the Big Bang ($32.50 hardback, $31.99 ebook).
iAFS2 automatic focuser
iOptron
Woburn, MA
The iAFS2 automatic focuser is designed to stay focused even after it is adjusted. It allows the user to control its movement three ways: by connecting to a computer, with affixed adjuster buttons, or with a manual focus wheel. The focuser also features a built-in temperature sensor and two USB ports. An optional adapter allows it to fit on most rigs.
$368.00
Buy it at High Point Scientific
support@ioptron.com
www.ioptron.com
RASA 6 optical tube
Celestron
Torrance, CA
The RASA 6 optical tube assembly is a versatile machine. It has a fast f/2.2 focal ratio for capturing deeper sky images with a shorter exposure time, while also allowing for a wider 3.8° view of the cosmos without aberrations. Weighing in at only 8.4 pounds (3.8 kilograms), it is easily portable. The scope also comes with a cooling fan and a filter drawer.
$1,699.00
Buy it at High Point Scientific
ustechsupport@celestron.com
www.celestron.com
Battle of the Big Bang
The University of Chicago Press
Chicago, IL
Battle of the Big Bang, by cosmologist Niayesh Afshordi and science communicator Phil Halper, offers a look at the competing ideas surrounding the formation of the universe. Afshordi’s research and Halper’s interviews with prominent scientists inform their examination of the many theories of how the cosmos came to be, in this 360-page book.
$32.50 hardback
$31.99 ebook
(773) 702-7700
https://press.uchicago.edu
Buy it at Amazon.com
