Blog

How do you get a ten year old turned on to science? By empowering them to create designs for a new skateboard, join SETI astronomers in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, explore new ways to improve the quality of our drinking water, or invent a new candy flavor.

We’re proud to announce the launch of the Kids’ Science Challenge on October 1, 2008, supported by a major grant from the National Science Foundation. The project involves a nationwide competition, the Kids’ Science Challenge, which encourages third to sixth graders to submit experiments and problems for a group of scientists and engineers to solve.

http://www.kidsciencechallenge.com/

Last Thursday night Griffith Observatory played host to over a hundred Celestron employees and their families. Even though observing conditions weren’t the greatest, everyone had a good time. There is plenty to see and do while visiting the observatory. On the top of the list has to be the live presentation of the “Centered in the Universe” show in the Samuel Oschin Planetarium. It’s a great overview of the history and future of astronomy presented in a very entertaining fashion. Just an FYI, the visuals can be a bit disorienting and may cause mild motion sickness. Closing your eyes for a few seconds will get rid of that queasy feeling.

The observatory also has many other exhibits where each room has a theme. The primary goal is to get you to ponder your role in the universe. What I really like about the exhibits is that many of them were interactive. My favorite exhibit has to be the Tesla Coil. There is just something about witnessing arching electricity and the noise it makes.

Another big attraction at the observatory is the 12-inch refracting telescope which had a steady flow of visitors waiting for their turn to have a look through the scope. If you don’t feel like waiting in line you can tune into the live video feed provided by the Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tube that is mounted to the 12-inch telescope.

I would highly recommend a trip to the observatory. It’s a great place to take visitors from out of town or to just get away from the hectic pace of Los Angeles and let your mind go somewhere else.

For more information on Griffith Obseratory visit: http://www.griffithobservatory.org/

The Universe: Get Your Mind Blown Sweepstakes Sponsored by The History Channel Gives Viewers a Chance To Extend Their Knowledge of The Universe With SkyScout® Personal Planetariums™ And NexStar® 60 SLT Computerized Telescopes

  TORRANCE, CA – (July 13, 2007) – Celestron®, a leading designer, manufacturer and importer of high-quality optical products including computerized and non-computerized telescopes, binoculars, spotting scopes and microscopes, is teaming up with The History Channel® and its new series The Universe, to give space enthusiasts a chance to win a trip to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex and a cache of award-winning Celestron products, including the revolutionary SkyScout® Personal Planetarium™ and the NexStar® 60 SLT computerized telescope. Consumers are encouraged to watch The Universe Tuesdays at 9pm/8c then enter the sweepstakes by logging on to http://www.history.com/universe/sweepstakes/index.jsp, from July 11th to September 11th, 2007, to test their “universe” of knowledge in an online trivia game for the chance to win mind blowing prizes. Read the rest of this entry »

Adamson House Loggia - This classic Malibu home was built in 1930 for Rhoda Rindge Adamson and her husband, Merritt Huntley Adamson. The house shares its location with one of the most beautiful beaches in Southern California.

Celestron is pleased to partner with the historic Adamson House in Malibu, CA as part of their Full Moon Tour schedule.

Tour this California Landmark and view the moon from a Celestron NexStar 6SE computerized telescope from the balcony while enjoying the cool ocean breeze!

Call 310-456-8432 to reserve a spot to participate in their summer Full Moon Tour.

The next tour is June 29, 2007. Read the rest of this entry »

LA Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa speaking at the ceremony

Griffith Observatory officially re-opened its doors on November 2, 2006. Celestron was honored to be a part of the dedication and ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Celestron donated two custom-built Schmidt-Cassegrain optical tubes to the Griffith Observatory. The observatory has piggyback mounted the 8” and 9.25” telescopes to Griffith’s 12” Zeiss telescope to provide live images of targeted objects for the general public to view on the observatory’s ground floor. Read the rest of this entry »