The Starbeam non-magnifying red dot finder for TeleVue scopes seems to project a 10 arc minute diameter ball of red light wherever your telescope is pointing at night, making it easy to quickly center the scope on planets and deep space objects. The Starbeam is normally used as a straight-through finder, similar to the heads-up display in a military aircraft cockpit. However, the Starbeam has a pivoting light-weight first surface flip mirror that also allows the Starbeam to be used as a straight-through finder, a right angle finder for observing at the zenith, and at any angle in between. This standard flip mirror (also available as an inexpensive retrofit for older Starbeams) makes the Starbeam a truly universal finder.
This version of Starbeam comes with the Tele Vue Quick Release Bracket (QRB-1002) and the Dovetail (QRD-1006). The Quick Release Bracket easily mounts to channels in the Tele Vue ring mounts and mount rings. The Dovetail is mounted to the base of the Starbeam.
The Starbeam can quickly be swapped in and out of the Quick Release Bracket for transportation or transfer to different scopes. The Dovetail also allows this Starbeam to mount on Orion and Sky-Watcher finder shoes as well as on some Vixen scopes not made in Japan. (If the finder shoe narrows our dovetail may not fit.) It may be necessary to remove the "stop" screw from the bottom of the Dovetail to fit non-Tele Vue finder brackets.
The Quick Release Bracket accepts Vixen, Orion, and Sky-Watcher "stalk" type finders as well as the Starbeam and is available separately.
An on/off switch and integral rotary brightness control allow you to match the finder brightness to your eye's dark adaptation. In addition, a rotary control in the side of the illuminator lets you gradually vary the blink rate of the illuminator from constantly on, to a rapid blinking, down to a slow half second on/half second off pulsing rate for more comfortable viewing. Uses a Duracell XL DL 1/3N lithium or equivalent battery (supplied, but not guaranteed by TeleVue to be at full strength).
