Galileo at NEAF...

Even Galileo was impressed with the selection of telescopes at NEAF

NEAF

Michael.

Was watching that live on the CloudyNights Webcam. Well the static Webcam at the Astronomics/CN booth and then all hell broke loose with shouting in the background and one guy being chased by another. Thought for a second that someone had done a smash and grab on a 150mm triplet apo or something and was being chased by security until I realised they were in costume. Straight away I knew one of them was the CEO of Optcorp. He is always dressing up in funny costumes for the Optcorp adverts. He was the Pope. Galileo was the CEO of Stellarvue.

Were there any major announcements at NEAF this year?
Did CN do any intereviews this year?

Michael.

No major announcements as far as I am aware. Ioptron did showcase a 'real' heavy duty 'big ass' GEM more akin to an El Capitan than their 'Toylike' Alt AZ goto mounts. There were other things that got their first puplic viewing at the show like the 10mm Ethos and the 14mm ExplorerScientific 100º 'Waterproof' eyepiece but these were known about before hand. You'd want to have seen the 10inch APM Apo!! :woohoo: It was in the 'background' of some of the static CN booth shots. It looked like it was in the mid to foreground......that was until someone walked beside it and one realised this thing was way way back in the background of the shot. Gi-normous is not the word.

CN interviewed several people afair. 2 very interesting ones were Norman Fullum from Quebec. The guy that makes the excuisite wooden Jules Verne themed dobs. There was also a great interview with Al Nagler.

A few walkabouts, other short interviews and lectures.

All was archived and will be posted on CN soon.

Biggest news I think was a bit of a slip of the tongue. Alan Traino the Head Neaf guy was asked were William Optics were this year. He replied forgetting he was on camera and within earshot of the mic, " WO?? you mean, bankrupt, foreclosure, receivership, thats why they're not here WO?

hmmm...interesting!
I had heard in the last few days alright that WO had closed their US office.
Hopefully they can survive the economic downturn as they make excellent products at very good value for money.

Michael.