Astronomy light?

I’m curious what the community would suggest for an astronomy light. I’m thinking something Emisar D4-ish but with fewer LEDs as max output is far less important and some way to have red or white light. Beams should be very smooth and floody.

Years ago, I probably would have purchased an Arc AAA with a red LED but I’m not sure I want something quite that small.

For budget check following link out.

https://www.amazon.com/Nitecore-Tube-RL-Rechargeable-Flashlight/dp/B01JMZXGKE/ref=asc_df_B01JMZXGKE/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=312157158608&hvpos=1o3&hvnetw=g&hvrand=17097541736341895785&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9028123&hvtargid=pla-570983609663&psc=1

If no. Check out the currently all popular Wurkkos WK30

WK30: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TKJH528/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1567614374&sr=1-9&keywords=night+flashlight&m=A3LR54K3TBFH54

When photographing aurora in Iceland last fall I really liked my Sofirn SP10B. The low mode is really low, too low for some around here, but fine for adjusting the camera without wrecking your dark adjusted sight. And it was great as a nightlight in the bathroom. Small and easy to carry too. If you want a more diffuse beam just use some DC Fix on the front. I actually used some diffuser film I salvaged from an old laptop screen.

Did you mean SP10S?
.

WK30 is 26650 size and bigger than I’d like. I’d rather have something that I can replace the battery in, but the Nitecore Tube is still mildly intriguing.

D4v2 with a frosted optic. You can set the aux lights to red when off and set red high for lockout mode.

So you have moonlight, red low and red high. Red high is enough do do close by things.

The best light for viewing the stars is no light at all!

Wanna piss off a bunch of astronomy geeks? Show up to their viewing area with a flashlight, or even just a cell phone with the screen brightness to high…

Haha, funny thing is I showed up to some astronomy outing I saw happening in town with the R90C, let’s just say they weren’t very friendly after what happened….

I guess I don’t understand. Why would you need a light with flood, red and white light? Could you explain the exact applications? Thanks.

When I read the thread title, I recall a post in the GigaThrower thread where some folks from NASA were asking for one modded with a very warm emitter. I figured it would be so you could point to certain constellations in the night sky but not blow all of your night vision with a cold, harsh light.

The last paragraph could be WAAAAAAAYYYYYYYY off base as my memory has been known to make a fool out of me a few times.

Well, so far, I’ve needed a light so I can see which eyepiece for my telescope is which and to find things that I dropped on the ground. The white light would be for times when you actually want to be able to identify colors or maybe when you’re packing up.

I’d prefer a smooth flood beam so, I’m not seeing spots after using the light.

Dunno the S, but got the original/old A version, and old B version, and the B’s moonlight is very low. Perfect for nighttime viewing.

The ’30 can charge via usb, so no need to even open up the tube.

Even its lowest red is “low”, not “moonlight”, so it’ll appear bright but probably not ruin your vision too much. Even though it’s quite floody, some stick-on diffusion film can spread it out some more and make it not as intense.

Draw is quite low unless you blast the white LED, so the 26650 will seemingly last forever.

WK30, seriously.

The ’351 is reeeeeeally nice, and the die size and small reflector makes the beam nice and floody (which I like).

I missed that the WK30 has a UV LED. That’s actually kind of cool but for astronomy purposes, I’d really like it to be a smaller light than 26650 size.

I may end up getting one anyway though. =P

When I said, “tube” earlier, I was referring to the Nitecore. I edited the post to prevent future confusion.

Nitecore EA11 and EC11. EA11 is the AA format but hard to come by. EC11 is the 123A format and easier to find. Of course, these are not as floody as WK30 BUT more compact for sure.

Just like for the RJ02, I think I should get a commission for WK30s… :laughing:

While the diameter is a bit thicker for the 26 vs 18/21, lengthwise it’s incredibly compact. Clenched in my fist, it barely sticks out ¼– / ½–inch on either side.

Compared to other lights that take 26es, this one practically disappears. My Cometa feels like a metal traffic-cone in comparison (size and weight).

Seriously, pick up one while the coupon’s still good (someone posted it, forgot who; 20% off). Otherwise, by the time you decide, “yeah, I’ll pull the trigger…”, you’ll be paying full price, and/or it might be discontinued, or who knows what.

Even if you don’t use it for astronomy, you’ll still end up playing with it quite often, Just Because.

coupon for WK30 coming soon……

For astronomy, I would strongly suggest having separate lights for red and white light. If they have different enough shapes that you can tell which is which in the dark, so much the better, otherwise put different lanyards on them or something.

That way, you can’t accidentally mis-click your combination light and end up firing up the wrong LED.

If you fire up a white light while amateur astronomers are observing (or even while people are stargazing with the naked eye) they will lynch you. Even using a red light that’s too bright will get you a talking to.

I got one of those key-blanks with integrated light at Home Despot. Literally, this one.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000J56HIA

They come in red or blue (surprisingly, not white). Squeeze while going for the keyhole and it lights the area.

Coin cell, not easily replaceable, so use it sparingly.

If you’re only using it seconds at a time, it should fit the bill nicely.

I’ve heard these sorts of behaviors are “normal” and frankly, if people get that bent out of shape over a red flashlight or a white one on moonlight then they need to relax a bit.

Wellp, once upon a time when I went to an AAA event (astronomy, not flat-tire), it was held waaaaaaaaaaaay out in the boonies for real Dark Sky™ viewing. One of the park-rangers(??) escorted us there, and when he got to a certain point, went to marker-lights only, and we followed suit. At some point, he went dark, and so did we.

Go through all that trouble to get dark-adapted (ruining it costs 20min or so), and yeah, they’ll get bent out of shape. They only have the area up until a certain time, then have to leave (or get booted out), so costing them 20min of viewing, I wouldn’t blame them for getting all PMSed out.

Astrolux K1 is an interesting looking option that I just stumbled across.