Stellar Products Adaptive Optics

[billdan]

Hi,

Has anyone heard of these guys or seen any reviews, there is no pricing on the website and I suspect it is vapourware only.

Quote
" Stellar Products was the first company to manufacture standard adaptive optics systems to both amateur and professional astronomers. The AO-2 adaptive optics system provided image stabilization for planetary photography. The AO-5 adaptive optics system will provide correction of defocus and astigmatism as well as image stabilization. Either of these systems allows the astronomer to improve his images to the limit of his telescope."

http://www.stellarproducts.com/adaptive/adaptive.htm

Regards

Bill

[Atmos]

It still isn't true adaptive optics, only did a 30 second skim but they mention running at 10 hertz which is the same speed as the SBIG and Starlight Xpress which both tilt a piece of glass.
True adaptive optics uses a deformable mirror and works at 1000-10000 hertz.

[billdan]

Gooday Colin,

I understand what you mean by incorrect terminology, but have they shipped any products?
How would it stack up against SBIG and SX?

Might send them an email.

Bill

[Atmos]

I wouldn't even bother. He is claiming to be a company that has been around for 21 years, making AO units for professional and amateurs, uses an SBIG ST-7 but claims to build the only one. Claims to have been through multiple product iterations but no pictures of said AO units and no product page.
Claims that AO allows him to take the best planetary images even though his exposure times are 2.5x shorter than the AO state can run at.

[billdan]

Hi Colin,

I actually got a reply. very quick.

Answer the A05 is still under development, ETA about 2 years.

Bill