Markarian Fine Optics
1481 Kingsway V5N 2R6 Vancouver, BC, Canada

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Setting up for a night of observing! Sky was clear, moon was quite bright unfortunately, seeing was poor until midnight, but it was great to get out there!

OBSERVING tonight (Friday April 16) at Porteau Cove (the trailhead parking lot). We appreciate if you would: 1) practise social distancing (!) 2) as usual, be aware of your headlights and don't bring a flashlight unless it is red ... 3) please DON'T SMOKE ... if you need a smoke, walk down the road away from everybody. Thanks! And it looks like conditions will be great tonight! See you there?

We will be closed for our annual inventory this Wednesday through Friday (March 24 - 26). We'll be open again Saturday ... so we'll expect a line-up at the door Saturday morning

Wishing everyone happy holidays and a fabulous new year!

Observing tonight at Porteau Cove (trailhead parking lot). Please respect SOCIAL DISTANCING norms and if you have to smoke, please leave the area so that everybody can enjoy themselves.

When was the last time you visited Markarian Fine Optics? You won't recognize the store! All cleaned up withnew LED lighting and fresh paint. Much more spacious with room for social distancing. Come check it out!

Observing tonight at Mount Seymour. (Please note, this would NOT be a good place to watch the comet). Seeing is supposed to be "above average" tonight and Jupiter is near opposition. Saturn should also have great viewing. Just a reminder ... covid is still a threat so please maintain social distancing if you come. And remember that the eyes are a good entry point for corona virus. As amateur astronomers, we love to share the experience and let others look through our scopes ... please be aware that brushing eyes lashes or lids etc up against an eyepiece cup is a potential risk. If you have some wipes with only alcohol (and no moisturizer or gunk to mess up your lens), wiping the eyepiece cup between people would be advised. Maybe see you there!

Happy Easter everyone. We're closed Sunday and Monday but open again on Tuesday. Check out our sale prices next week! Stay safe!

This so so cool! Right here at UBC!

OBSERVING at Porteau Cove TONIGHT! sorry for the short notice ... few of us our heading to Porteau Cove tonight ... trailhead parking lot!

Put a smile on somebody's face: give them a real telescope! We'll help you choose the most appropriate accessories and give you a FREE TUTORIAL. Think Amazon can do that?

See you in 2020! We re-open Friday January 3d

Telescope sale this month! Get great deals on Celestron, Meade and Sky-Watcher. Come in the store today! https://markarianfineoptics.ca

"Nespresso: what else?" Actually, Harout found something else. So take a break from your Christmas shopping and have a coffee with us!

We are an now an authorized distributor for Kowa Sporting Optics. Come in and check out these fantastic binoculars and spotting scopes!

Setting up for a night of observing. What a great turnout.

Setting up last night (Aug 4) for a fantastic night of observing. These were the early arrivers. What a fantastic turnout and outstanding conditions. No clouds, above average transparency, above average seeing, no bugs, frequent meteors, and an extremely rare (for our latitude) display over the northern lights at the end of the night.

Are you interested in our Star Parties? Join our amateur astronomy meet-up group "Markarian's Meet-eors" to find out about upcoming events and share in your observing experiences! https://www.facebook.com/groups/markariansmeeteors/

Star party on Saturday night, July 27, 2019

Weather permitting, we will be going to Porteau for a Star Party this Saturday night! See a map on our website https://markarianfineoptics.ca/-/news

Setting up for observing Sunday night June 30th at Porteau Cove

Dark sky places - this is an important issue for human health and well-being, for birds ... not to mention amateur astronomers!

Total lunar eclipse coming soon! Sunday night, January 20th ... starting to eclipse around 7:30PM ... total eclipse will occur from roughly 8:40PM to 9:40PM. Cross your fingers for clear skies! Last bit of partial eclipse ends around 10:50PM

Wishing you all a happy holiday season!

Buying your first telescope? Big thank you to Scott McGillivray (Royal Astronomical Society of Canada) for recommending us on Global TV's "Space Talk". Click this link to watch: https://globalnews.ca/video/4743840/space-talk-4

And the voice from the heavens above said...

And the voice from the heavens said: look up!

Some stare at their own navels while others look outward. Astronomers are always "looking outward"! Happy holidays to all!

"Oh holy night, the stars are brightly shining!" TELESCOPE SALE on now ... great prices, expert advice

Sale starts November 15th! https://markarianfineoptics.ca/-/news

What just walked in! Questar Duplex telescope complete with accessories. The smallest micro personal observatory in a box!

MEET-UP Tonight! (Saturday) Mount Seymour parking lot (at the hairpin near the top). We'll be there from ~9PM. Full moon tonight ... let's spot the Apollo mission landing sites!

Hosted a fantastic astronomy meet-up last night. We had over 20 telescopes and a range of people from beginners to advanced. Mostly visual observers but some astrophotographers as well. #telescope #astronomynerd @ Porteau Cove Provincial Park

Pollux’s Astrophotography from last nights outing at Porteau Cove Road exit parking lot. Looking forward to Friday! Well done Pollux! https://www.facebook.com/1013431891/posts/10214978044457258/

Congratulations to our friend and customer, Steve Hosein, who built a Dobsonian #telescope that appears in the August issue of "Sky &Telescope" magazine. We had the pleasure of providing him with a used mirror set, used Telrad, used Antares finderscope and lots of support and encouragement. And we get to go observing with him too! #amateurtelescopemaking #astronomy @ Vancouver, British Columbia

Had a great night at Porteau Cove lookout on Saturday. Here are a few pics as we set up. There were at least 8 telescopes there, including an 18" Dobson. Seeing wasn't the best but we still had great views of M13, M57 and several galaxies. Beautiful naked eye views of the milky way were fantastic too!

Newest toy at MFO right now. The Daystar 80mm combo chromosphere 2 solar prominences and surface detail.. impressive view.

Interesting article and interesting to see the CBC use such a "casual" headline!

Leica: if you're looking for exceptional quality in a binocular, contact us today. We've just become an official dealer.

Wanted to acknowledge this inspiring photograph taken by Jamie Ball. He graciously allows us to use it on our "telescopes" page. He has some pretty cool kit!

Wanted to acknowledge this great shot we're using on the "birdwatching" page of our website. It was taken in Squamish by Mike Szmigielski.

SALE until March 31. More info https://markarianfineoptics.ca/news.php

Show her how much you love her with this gorgeous pendant and chain ...

Nothing says "I love you" like ... a 16" diameter Newtonian reflector with computerized Dobson Go To mount

TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE - Wednesday January 31! The eclipse begins around 3AM and reaches a maximum eclipse at 5:29AM. Let's cross our fingers for clear skies

Observing tonight?? Weather might be clear ... URANUS (magnitude 5.8) will be at meridian (due south), 50 degrees above the horizon, at ~ 7:48 PM and the moon will be down already!!

Season's greetings and all the best for 2018! Please take note of our holiday hours.

Who can tell us something about these creatures? (In exchange, we'll be happy to tell you about microscopes!)

Tired of outrageous claims on the internet? We are too. However, we do like to have some fun. Come in before Christmas and talk to us about BINOCULARS. It will be way more fun than just clicking "add to shopping cart" at some online store!

Christmas is approaching at light speed ... if you're still looking for a gift that's out of this world, try here :)

Interested in astronomy? Our best-selling beginner telescope is on sale now for $392 ... and we can teach you how to use it too!

Telescope accessories make great stocking stuffers for the astronomer you love!

Like birdwatching? These two watch birds ... (or anything that moves, really)

Harout with the first $10,000! Nikon WX 10X50 IF Binocular’s sold in Canada! At Markarian Fine Optics.... I love Optics, admittedly I’m obsessed with good optics and these Nikon binoculars are simply not only the most expensive 10x50’s ever made but also the best humans have ever produced period!

Star light, star bright, First star I see tonight ...

Digital USB microscope...fun fun fun

Can you confirm our theory? We've just realized why those in a certain age group (those who recognize this "giant" of a man) are into astronomy! Let us know if you relate!

Harout showing off the new "opera glasses" ... these were designed to fit in your tiny Gucci handbag

Happy Thanksgiving everybody! (please note we're closed Monday for the holiday)

Starting to add some USED gear to our website. Quite a few telescopes, mounts and accessories available now. https://markarianfineoptics.ca/usedgear.php

A couple of interesting pieces on consignment ... TeleVues never seem to hang around long :)

https://markarianfineoptics.ca/telescopes.php Manufacturer's PROMOTION - Skywatcher Telescopes - now until September 30 while quantities last!

https://markarianfineoptics.ca/astronomy.php

A photo from our first weekend open. Thanks to everybody who stopped in!

At last .... we're open!!!!!