#530 - Tele Vue in June & Chris Sends a Prized Possession to a Listener

In episode 530 of The Actual Astronomy Podcast, hosts Chris and Shane reveal a major upcoming guest: David Nagler, president of TeleVue Optics, who will join them in June to discuss eyepiece selection and visual astronomy. The episode is framed around a listener-driven Q&A initiative, with a May 24th deadline for astronomy enthusiasts to submit questions about eyepieces, TeleVue gear, and observational techniques. Chris shares his nervous excitement about speaking with Nagler—whose name is synonymous with high-performance wide-field eyepieces—and highlights Nagler’s deep commitment to helping amateur astronomers make informed choices, avoiding 'paralysis by analysis.' The hosts also dive into personal gear updates, including Chris’s new Skywatcher power adapter, a second Antares 1.25-to-2-inch adapter, and a new Blossel occulting eyepiece from listener Alistair. Shane discusses his experience with Zeiss 8×30 SFL binoculars and a new pie finder firmware update with sky quality metering and a double star database. A highlight is Chris’s project to convert his old 12.3-inch Newtonian mirror into an ultralight scope, built by a listener hobbyist—part of a growing community of amateur telescope makers. The episode closes with a heartfelt thank-you to the listener who designed 3D-printed rings to improve telescope balance, underscoring the podcast’s spirit of collaboration and innovation.