The Widescreen Centre

07/02/2026

The Widescreen Centre is back in London for Astrofest 2026! Day 2 is today, Saturday, from 10-6. We’re very grateful to have been joined on our booth by Dr Lee Sproats from Baader Planetarium, Jörg Eberle from Omegon, Kerin Smith from Bresser UK, and last but not least David and Sandra Nagler from Tele Vue. Booths 1-6 The Widescreen Centre, Booths 7-10 for Sky-Watcher@The Widescreen Centre. Show offers valid until the end of Monday.
See us next month at the Practical Astronomy Show (Stoneleigh Park, March 7th) and the Kelling Heath Star Party in Norfolk, March 21st.

28/10/2025

The Widescreen Centre has been selling Tele Vue eyepieces, telescopes and accessories for almost two decades. We are deeply saddened today to hear of the death of Al Nagler, founder of Tele Vue and somebody who has left a huge mark on the world of amateur astronomy over the decades, and leaves a remarkable legacy and has touched shelves of so many people.
Al and Judy came to Astrofest a few years back, alongside David and Sandra Nagler who have all been so supportive to us in the time we've known them. Our son Alex went to Tele Vue in upstate New York a few years ago for trainings and these days mans the Tele Vue section of our exhibitions. Many of you will have met members of the Tee Vue family at Astrofest, the Kelling Heath Star Parties or the Baker St Irregular Astronomers.
At the time of writing we're 4 days away from the International Astronomy Show in Warwickshire, and The Widescreen Centre will be there on Saturday (November 1st, 9-5), with Alex at the Tele Vue table.
The Tele Vue flag may be at half mast, but please stop by and leave messages in the book we will have there which will be forwarded to Tele Vue after the show.
Clear skies, and see you at ukastroshow.com

𝐀𝐥𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭 𝐍𝐚𝐠𝐥𝐞𝐫
𝟏𝟗𝟑𝟓 — 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

It is with the most profound sense of loss, a broken heart, and tears in my eyes, that I tell this beloved community of amateur astronomers that I lost my father today. As I write, it's painfully hard to look over at the empty chair in our office we shared for the last 23-years. He passed suddenly and unexpectedly. Thankfully, it happened here at Tele Vue, a place he loved, with people he loved, and even with a telescope in hand.

My father was a naturally joyous person. It was just his nature. No matter what was happening around him or to him personally or professionally, he always saw the bright side of in any situation. Not having that gift myself, I was both in awe and jealous of how he could let things go and just be a grateful, happy person. Maybe that's because my father always had the stars to look up to and, with that, felt comfortable with his little place in the Universe. Now he's among his beloved stars and I'm sure he loves the view.

I could not have wished for or been blessed with a more loving, caring, and nurturing father. I hope that every time that first day of the weekend comes, you'll please just spare a moment to think of him on "SaturNday."

— David Nagler

18/10/2025

We're back in exhibition season once more! After a superb Autumn Equinox Star Party in September, the countdown is now on to the spectacular International Astronomy Show coming up on Saturday November 1st - 2 weeks from today.
It's free entry 9-5 and it's CV8 3FL for your Satnav. We have an abundance of new and exciting products to show you, including the new ranges from Sky-Watcher and demonstrations of the SmartEye (And NYX mounts) from Pegasus. See ukastroshow.com for full details or contact us in store. Our showroom is open until Thursday 30th, then reopens after the show on November 4th.
Show offers to be announced... watch this space.

Its show time, As ever we bring you a show to remember Your favourites as well as new items . A brand new lecture line up and a new food outlet .

07/02/2025

We were very privileged today to have David and Sandra Nagler from Tele Vue introduce the new groundbreaking Nagler Type 7 eyepieces on our stand at Astrofest in London.
I was fortunate last week to be able to try the new 19, 14, 9 & 5.5mm 82deg long eye relief eyepieces under clear skies at base in Sutton. Building on the technology of the world-class Apollo 11 eyepiece, this new range will undoubtedly become 2025’s ‘must have‘ item. They are due in April.
Ellie and I stayed out one night and tested the new eyepieces on 6 planets and multiple deep sky targets and the experience is breathtaking.
Astrofest continues tomorrow (Saturday) so please come and see us if you can. www.EuropeanAstrofest.com/exhibition
Clear skies,
Simon

06/02/2025

One year on, Widescreen is back at Astrofest which is coming up on Friday 7th and Saturday 8th February. We’re joined by David and Sandra Nagler from Tele Vue, and for the first time in Tele Vue’s history an exciting new product announcement is to be made out side the US - on our booth at the show.
A great place to meet friends old and new, consider coming along if you can! Even if you can’t make it, we can offer show deals up to and including Monday, so contact us via [email protected] with any questions. https://europeanastrofest.com/exhibition/

The Widescreen Centre returns to Astrofest in London on February 2nd & 3rd 2024. This will be 20 years since my first time there as an employee of The Widescreen Centre, and more importantly, marks 20 years since Elena and I met at the event in February 2004. This time around we have the two big island booths on the entrance level - our own, and that of Sky-Watcher who we also represent at exhibitions. After a break during the pandemic, Astrofest has bounced back as the UK’s No1 show thanks to the efforts of Steve Kelly and the team at Astronomy Now.
A lot of work goes into our exhibitions, but it brings us face to face with our customers, and our goal is for them to see a memorable display. Even if people don’t buy at the show, we want them to remember us when they are ready for that next purchase - or if they have any questions. A hard working team of people supplement our own staff to man the booths at Astrofest, and we’re greatly indebted to our many suppliers who support us even if they are unable to attend themselves. The support list is long, but includes Celestron, Baader Planetarium, Tele Vue, William optics, Explore Scientific, Lunt Solar Systems, Gerd Neumann & Astronomik, Daystar, Pegasus, Avalon, APM, Starlight Instruments, Starizona, Founder Optics, Omegon, Telegizmos - not to mention ZWO, Primaluce Lab, Askar, Optolong and many more besides.
A chance to catch up with old friends and new, this is the first of many shows we will do in 2024, including the Spring Star Party in Norfolk a month later, and the Practical Astronomy Show 2 weeks after that. The return of SW Astrofair in June and IAS (International Astronomy Show) in September are also on the list.
If you’re in London at the beginning of February, consider coming along and seeing us at Astofrest. See https://lnkd.in/enDyAYsS or www.europeanastrofest.com for details. More info to follow in the coming days.
Clear skies, Simon

29/11/2024

First play with the new 'Acuter Elite Phoenix 40' Hydrogen alpha solar telescope today, here at Rosemary Lane. This new entry into solar astronomy costs £999.00 and is in stock now. Very detailed high contrast views with an abundance of solar activity, all very impressive given that the Sun is now less than 12 degrees above the horizon in the middle of the day. A good advertisement also for the Sky-Watcher SolarQuest mount & tripod, and the ZWO ASI533MC Pro and 533MM Pro camera used. Thanks to John Adair.
https://www.widescreen-centre.co.uk/acuter-elite-phoenix-40-h-alpha-solar-telescope.html

23/11/2024

Things to do on a rainy afternoon…

William Optics Redcat 51 Mini with ZWO ASI2600 Air and filter drawer. Uniguide 32 with ASI715MC as guide camera

Askar FMA135 with ZWO OAG, helical focuser, M42 Filter Drawer and ASI533MC Pro main camera, ASI120 Mini guide camera and ASIair Mini

Teleskop Service 50mm F4 ED with TeleVue 1.25” diagonal, ASI585MC and ASIair. Works as solar telescope with Coronado diagonal and 40mm front mounted etalon.

Ask us for more details!

22/11/2024

Black Friday Promotion from Sky-Watcher! Esprit 80ED APO Triplet for £599.00! Was £1,199.00/ was £899.00/ now £599.00. In store now & available for collection (Saturday 10-4) or courier despatch.

Sky-Watcher Esprit-80ED Super APO Triplet Refractor Telescope for sale in the UK at the best price⚡️. High quality and fast delivery⚡️.

13/11/2024

Our showroom will be open by appointment every day between now and Christmas Eve. Come and see the latest products and Christmas best-sellers including ZWO SeeStar S50, Celestron Origin, William Optics Pleiades and Redcats (including the new RC51 Mini), Sky-Watcher telescopes from tabletop Dobsonians to EQ6-R and Wave harmonic drive mounts, Founder Optics, WarpAstron, Tele Vue, StellaLyra & StellaMira and much, much more. Whether you are buying for yourself or looking for a gift, we can help!
We rotate our display stock so let us know in advance if there's anything in particular you would like to see or talk about. We hold very good stocks and you can usually take away with you anything you choose to purchase from us.
Our published showroom hours are 10-6 Monday to Saturday, but visits outside these times are generally possible. Call us on 01353776199 or 07990646466 to arrange a visit.
Sign up for our Newsletter by going to www.widescreen-centre.co.uk/news-letter and get notified of special offers, new products, our events schedule and other exciting news!
Clear skies, Simon

24/06/2024

The Founder Optics Draco 62 has just arrived with us! A stunning, portable, fast Astrograph that can be used at f/4.8 as standard, or down to f/3.9 with the included reducer! Also works great for visual use with the included 1.25" diagonal.

Available here:

Founder Optics Draco 62 5-Element ED Refractor Telescope for sale UK, Best Telescopes for Beginners and Advanced, Astrophotography, Solar Observing, Celestron, Sky-Watcher, Lunt, ZWO, Binoculars

22/03/2024

Tomorrow, March 23rd 2024, is the Practical Astronomy Show at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire (CV8 2LH). We’re there and here’s a taste of what’s in store. The show is 9-5 and entry is free.