Orion website, telescope.com

[Jeff Newland]

Wow, hard for me to believe, but they might be going out of business.

https://skyandtelescope.org/astronomy-news/meade-and-orion-cease-operations-maybe/

 

You can do a google search and find other references.

[Jeff Newland]

Upon further review, looks like they are toast.  If they took your money, you may be out of luck.

[Randy H]

Hi Colin,

You are correct. Orion’s website went dark July 31 and they along with Meade (who is another major astronomy equipment vendor being acquired by Orion) is gone too. Very unexpected and surprising since Orion has been perhaps the major supplier for amateur astronomers for decades.

If you have money sent for your purchase, I would contact your bank or credit card company and cancel the payment.

Orion apparently has had a large manufacturing plant in Mexico which must have shut down also. Who knows what company if any will acquire their assets. Celestron, and perhaps Explore Scientific are now the big players in this market.

Hope this helps. Let us know if hear anything else because I’m sure you’re not alone!

Randy Hemann

 

 

[Colin Graves]

Thanks for the info all.

We haven’t seen a charge on our credit card, so thinking I’ll be okay.

Any suggestions for an alternate green laser pointer?

Colin

[Randy H]

I think any of the <$20 options on Amazon are decent options. I’ve been ordering more of the rechargeable types. So far they seem to work OK.

For example:

 

[Macastronomer]

I posted to this thread yesterday, and my comment is not here today. This site is very frustrating. I’ll do it over again.

My favorite pointer is:

https://www.opticsplanet.com/z-bolt-military-pride-green-laser-briefing-pointer.html

I don’t know if you can get it as a non-military pride version or not.

What I like about it is that it has a double-click to have the laser stay on. Another click turns it off again. Otherwise it behaves like a normal laser. It takes regular batteries, which rechargeable is nice until your battery dies and then you have to wait for it to recharge. If you keep spare batteries on hand you just pop a couple more in and you’re up and running again.

This laser has a decent brightness without being scary dangerous like the one I got on Amazon (which is no longer listed as available). The one I got on amazon has a button that’s too easy to accidentally push… and it’s so flippin’ bright. If you’re aiming over people’s heads it is actually disturbing to those people and their night vision. Obviously not saying all Amazon lasers are the same, but the one I got needs special care when using.

Hopefully this post will post today.

[Colin Graves]

Thanks again for all the great info, I actually just ordered a zbolt green laser pointer,

not the exact one you mentioned. I really like my Orion skyline deluxe green laser pointer,

and I’ll let you know how the z-bolt compares, hopefully the friend I’m getting it for will like it.

Colin

[Macastronomer]

If you want a crazy bright laser… the one that I bought on Amazon that disappeared was listed as this:

UNBIU Long Range Laser Pointer High Power – Green Laser Pointer Flashlight with Adjustable Focus for Night Astronomy, Outdoor Camping, Hunting, and Hiking – USB Charging

It was only $13. But like I said, I basically treat it like a gun. I don’t point it at anything I don’t want to destroy. I’m seriously thinking about creating a safety ridge around the button so it’s not so darn easy to press.

[Josef Chlachula]

Two videos about Orion / Meade / Coronado abruptly closed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wjsx2T55PHc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9VFVsz_sb8

[Colin Graves]

Thanks for the links Josef.

I did get the ZBolt green laser pointer, I don’t care for the on/off button being on the bottom end. It’s just a little awkward using your thumb to actuate it. But it does have a constant on option. Still prefer the Orion one I have.

Colin Graves

[Author]

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