{"title":"Explore Scientific Red Lights","description":"\u003cp\u003eExplore Scientific red lights stocked at Ontario Telescope. Goods ship factory-sealed. If you're unsure what fits your setup, ask us before you order and we'll confirm it.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"explore-scientific-astro-r-lite-red-flashlight","title":"Explore Scientific Astro R-Lite Red LED Astronomy Flashlight","description":"\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduct Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe Explore Scientific Astro R-Lite is a red LED flashlight made for use at the telescope. It runs on a single AA battery, weighs 2.7 oz, and has an aluminium body specified as resistant to drops and weather. A sliding control adjusts beam intensity, and the light offers high, low and flashing modes. A pocket clip is built into the body and a neck strap is supplied.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe reason for red light rather than white is physiological. Rod cells in the retina handle low-light vision and take twenty to thirty minutes to reach full dark adaptation, and they are far less sensitive to long-wavelength red than to blue or white. A dim red beam lets you read a star chart, find an eyepiece or check a focuser without resetting the adaptation you spent half an hour building.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe intensity slider is the feature that matters most in practice. A red light that is too bright still costs adaptation, so being able to run it at the lowest usable level rather than a fixed output is what makes a red torch genuinely useful under a dark sky.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWho It's For\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eVisual observers at dark sites:\u003c\/strong\u003e reading charts, changing eyepieces and finding dropped caps without undoing your dark adaptation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAstrophotographers:\u003c\/strong\u003e cable routing, filter changes and focuser adjustments in the dark, with a flashing mode available as a marker.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStar party attendees:\u003c\/strong\u003e a red beam at low intensity keeps you on good terms with everyone else on the field.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAnyone setting up and tearing down in the dark:\u003c\/strong\u003e the pocket clip and neck strap keep it where a hand can find it rather than in the grass.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eObservers who travel light:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2.7 oz on a single AA is a small addition to a case or a pocket.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKey Features \u0026amp; Design\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRed LED illumination,\u003c\/strong\u003e chosen for the wavelength range that preserves rod-cell dark adaptation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSliding intensity control:\u003c\/strong\u003e continuous adjustment rather than fixed steps, so the beam can be dialled to the lowest level that does the job.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHigh, low and flashing modes,\u003c\/strong\u003e covering close work, chart reading and signalling.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAluminium body\u003c\/strong\u003e specified by Explore Scientific as resistant to drops and weather.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSingle AA battery\u003c\/strong\u003e — a cell available anywhere, which matters more on a trip than a proprietary pack.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003e2.7 oz published weight,\u003c\/strong\u003e light enough to hang from a neck strap all night without noticing it.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBuilt-in pocket clip and supplied neck strap\u003c\/strong\u003e for keeping it to hand in the dark.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eRecommended Uses\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eReading printed star charts and planispheres at the eyepiece.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eChanging eyepieces, filters and diagonals without losing dark adaptation.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSetting up and packing down a telescope after dark.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNight photography and astrophotography work around the rig.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCamping, night walks and general after-dark use where preserved night vision is an advantage.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCompatibility and Accessory Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBattery:\u003c\/strong\u003e one AA cell. Explore Scientific supplies the flashlight with its pocket clip and neck strap; the battery is a separate purchase, and we can add one to the order.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCarrying:\u003c\/strong\u003e the pocket clip suits a shirt or jacket pocket and the neck strap keeps the light accessible with both hands free at the telescope.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUse alongside optics:\u003c\/strong\u003e the light is independent of the telescope, so it works with any instrument — refractor, reflector, catadioptric, binocular or camera rig.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStar party etiquette:\u003c\/strong\u003e the low setting is the one to use on a shared field, and the intensity slider makes that a single movement.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeather:\u003c\/strong\u003e Explore Scientific describes the aluminium body as weather resistant. They do not publish an IP rating, so no figure is quoted here.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGood to Know Before You Order\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eThe AA battery is sold separately.\u003c\/strong\u003e Explore Scientific's published package covers the flashlight, its built-in clip and the neck strap. We can include a cell with the order so it is ready the night it arrives.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eExplore Scientific does not publish a lumen output, beam distance, runtime or IP rating\u003c\/strong\u003e for this light, so those rows read as not published below rather than carrying an estimate. If one of them decides the purchase for you, ask and we will put the question to our Explore Scientific rep.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eRed light preserves night vision but changes how colours read.\u003c\/strong\u003e Printed charts using red ink can wash out under a red beam, which is why most astronomical charts are printed in black on white for exactly this reason.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBody dimensions are not published,\u003c\/strong\u003e only the 2.7 oz weight, so the physical size row is absent rather than estimated. We can measure a unit for you before it ships if that matters.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEven red light costs adaptation if it is bright enough.\u003c\/strong\u003e Running it on the low setting is what keeps the benefit intact, and the sliding control is there to make that easy.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFrequently Asked Questions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eIs it difficult to set up?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo — a single AA battery goes in and it is ready. The intensity slider and the mode control are both operated one-handed, with nothing to configure.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWhy red rather than white?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe rod cells that carry low-light vision are much less sensitive to long-wavelength red than to white or blue light, so a red beam lets you see what you are doing without resetting the twenty to thirty minutes of dark adaptation you have built up.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDoes it come with a battery?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe AA cell is a separate item. We can add one to your order so the light works the moment it arrives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eHow bright is it?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore Scientific does not publish a lumen figure, so no number is quoted here. What they do specify is a sliding intensity control plus high, low and flashing modes, which is the practical answer — the output is adjustable rather than fixed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCan I use it for anything besides astronomy?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes. Camping, night hiking, wildlife watching and any situation where preserving night vision is useful all suit a dimmable red light.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWill it survive being dropped on a field?\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eExplore Scientific specifies the aluminium body as resistant to drops and weather, which is what an observing field asks of a torch.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottom Line\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn short: a 2.7 oz aluminium red LED flashlight running on one AA cell, with a sliding intensity control, high, low and flashing modes, a built-in pocket clip and a neck strap — the small piece of kit that keeps a dark-adapted eye dark adapted. If you would like a battery included so it is ready to use on arrival, add a note to your order and we will take care of it.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Explore Scientific","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44013638778991,"sku":"ES-FL1001","price":41.95,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0686\/0049\/6239\/files\/g23v_480x480__14751.jpg?v=1766558236"}],"url":"https:\/\/ontariotelescope.com\/collections\/explore-scientific-red-lights.oembed","provider":"Ontario Telescope and Accessories","version":"1.0","type":"link"}