altair astro
Altair Astro is a Norwich, UK-based retailer and manufacturer selling proprietary astronomy cameras, telescopes, filters, and mounting systems alongside third-party brands directly to amateur astronomers and astrophotographers via e-commerce and international shipping.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersNorwich, United Kingdom
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What altair astro does
Altair Astro Limited is a Norwich, United Kingdom-based retailer and manufacturer of astronomy and scientific observation equipment, operating since 2000 (UK company registered 2004). The company sells proprietary branded products — including the Hypercam cooled USB3 astronomy camera series, Starwave ED and APO refractor telescopes, DualBand ULTRA narrowband filters with certified test reports, and the TMS (Telescope Mounting System) line of UK-CNC-machined dovetail plates, clamps, and guide rings — alongside a broad resale catalogue of third-party brands such as Celestron, Sky-Watcher, Vixen, Baader, iOptron, Askar, SharpStar, Pegasus Astro, Lunt, Daystar, and DwarfLab. Its product range spans beginner to advanced amateur astrophotography and visual observation, with pricing from approximately £3.85 for small accessories to £3,995 for high-end refractors, and includes a recent expansion into smart telescopes and digital microscopes.
The business model is direct-to-consumer e-commerce through altairastro.com with telephone order support, UK-wide insured courier delivery, click-and-collect at the Rackheath premises, and international shipping via FedEx and DHL. Revenue is generated entirely through hardware sales, both proprietary Altair-branded inventory and third-party resold equipment, with a 24-month warranty on branded products and a 14-day return policy. Marketing is conducted through organic social channels (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), a blog, email newsletter, and the Backyard Astro community forum, with no evidence of paid advertising, B2B sales, or institutional distribution.
Operationally Altair Astro is a small, founder-owned, bootstrapped private company with no disclosed external funding, no reported headcount, and no published financial figures. There is no parent company, no subsidiaries, and no evidence of acquisitions, leadership changes, or merger activity. The customer base is described as a single horizontal segment of amateur astronomers and astrophotographers, with no enterprise or institutional customers named.
altair astro firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- altair astro
- Legal name
- Altair Astro Limited
- Website
- https://altairastro.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Altair Astro is a Norwich, UK-based retailer and manufacturer selling proprietary astronomy cameras, telescopes, filters, and mounting systems alongside third-party brands directly to amateur astronomers and astrophotographers via e-commerce and international shipping.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
altair astro industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Astronomy Equipment
- NAICS
- Navigational, Measuring, Electromedical, and Control Instruments Manufacturing (33451)
- SIC
- Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827), Photographic Equipment & Supplies (3861)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Binoculars, Scopes & Sport Optics Retail (CRACAHAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Wildlife Viewing & Optics (Binoculars, Spotting Scopes) Retail (CRAMAAAK), Optics & Sighting Devices Retail (Scopes, Binoculars, Rangefinders) (CRAMAKAC)
Keywords
Where altair astro is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Norwich
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
altair astro business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales: Sale of proprietary Altair Astro branded astronomy equipment including cameras, telescopes, filters, and accessories, as well as third-party branded products from manufacturers like Celestron, Sky-Watcher, Vixen, Baader, and others
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Consumer astronomy equipment across all price points |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
altair astro product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Altair Astro manufactures and sells proprietary astronomical equipment including cooled USB3 astroimaging cameras (Hypercam series), ED/APO refractor telescopes, certified narrowband dual-band filters, and a UK-CNC-manufactured telescope mounting system (TMS). The company also operates an e-commerce storefront reselling third-party astronomy brands such as Celestron, Sky-Watcher, Vixen, Baader, iOptron, and others, serving as a one-stop shop for amateur astronomers and astrophotographers.
Product overview
Altair Astro is a UK-based manufacturer and retailer of astronomical equipment operating an e-commerce platform. Their product portfolio consists primarily of proprietary branded astronomy hardware (cameras, telescopes, filters, imaging accessories) alongside an extensive catalogue of third-party brands. The core product lines include cooled astronomy cameras (Hypercam series), refractor telescopes (EDF, Starwave, PLANETA), narrowband filters (DualBand ULTRA), electronic filter wheels, motor focusers, dew control systems, and a UK-manufactured telescope mounting system (Altair TMS). The company also resells major astronomy brands including Celestron, Sky-Watcher, Vixen, Baader, Askar, SharpStar, iOptron, Lunt, and Daystar, covering equipment for beginners through advanced astrophotographers. Additional product categories include smart telescopes (DwarfLab, SeeStar), microscopes, star trackers, binoculars, and general astronomy accessories.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Starwave: Telescope brand featuring refractors, dovetail bars, and accessories
- Altair
- TMS (Telescope Mounting System)
Products and services
- Altair Hypercam Series Cooled USB3 astronomy cameras available in colour and monochrome variants, including TEC-cooled and fan-cooled models with APS-C format sensors capable of 16-bit imaging for deep-sky astrophotography.
- Altair 662C/662M Camera Series USB3 and USB2 astronomy cameras in colour and monochrome, including planetary imaging and autoguiding variants.
- Altair DualBand ULTRA Filters 3.5nm and 4nm certified narrowband filters for Ha, OIII, and SII wavelengths with individual test reports, designed for CMOS astroimaging cameras.
- Altair Refractor Telescopes ED and APO refractor telescopes for astrophotography, including EDF doublet, ED Quad, Starwave, and PLANETA series with flat field correction.
- Altair Electronic Filter Wheels Motorised electronic filter wheels supporting 2-inch, 36mm unmounted, and 1.25-inch filters for automated astroimaging workflows.
- Altair Motor Focusers USB motor focus kits compatible with various telescope brands including GSO, Sky-Watcher, and Celestron, supporting automated computer-controlled focusing.
- Altair Dew Heater Bands Dew heater bands designed to prevent moisture condensation on telescope optics during observation sessions.
- Altair Solar ERF Filters TRIBAND D-ERF solar energy rejection filters for H-alpha, CaK, and CaH wavelengths, available in 90mm and 185mm apertures for solar observation.
- Altair TMS Dovetails & Mounting System Precision telescope mounting system including Losmandy and Vixen dovetail plates, guide scope rings, and clamps, manufactured in the UK with CNC machining and hard anodizing.
- Altair Eyepieces & Barlows Eyepieces and Barlow lenses for visual astronomy observation and astrophotography.
- Celestron Telescopes & Mounts (Resold) Authorized reseller offering the full range of Celestron telescopes including AstroMaster, NexStar, and CGX series, plus mounts, eyepieces, and accessories.
- Sky-Watcher Telescopes & Mounts (Resold) Authorized reseller of Sky-Watcher Dobsonian, refractor, reflector telescopes and AZ/EQ mounts for various experience levels.
- Vixen Mounts & Eyepieces (Resold) Authorized reseller of Vixen astronomical mounts including SXP2, AXJ, AP series with GoTo functionality, plus quality eyepieces.
- Smart Telescopes All-in-one smart telescopes including DwarfLab DWARF Mini and DWARF3 and SeeStar series with smartphone control for automated imaging.
- Star Trackers Portable star trackers for DSLR astrophotography, enabling long-exposure deep-sky imaging without heavy equatorial mounts.
- Microscopes Digital and handheld digital microscopes for scientific observation, including the Lab Series and Zenith brand microscopes.
Companies that use altair astro
Customer profileSegments1 record
Ideal customer profiles1 record
altair astro technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
altair astro partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- CelestroncoreAltair Astro is an authorized reseller of Celestron products including telescopes, mounts, eyepieces, and accessories
- Sky-WatchercoreAuthorized reseller of Sky-Watcher telescopes, mounts and accessories
- VixencoreReseller of Vixen mounts, eyepieces and astronomical equipment
- BaadercoreAuthorized reseller of Baader Planetarium products including filters, eyepieces, and optical accessories
- iOptroncoreReseller of iOptron computerized mounts and accessories; Altair Astro branded products carry 24-month warranty matching iOptron warranty terms
- LuntminorReseller of Lunt Solar Systems H-alpha solar telescopes and filters
- DaystarminorReseller of Daystar solar filters and telescopes
- AskarminorReseller of Askar astrograph lenses and refractors
- SharpStarminorReseller of SharpStar telescopes and astrographs including Z-series
- Explore ScientificcoreReseller of Explore Scientific eyepieces, teleextenders and accessories
- Pegasus AstrocoreReseller of Pegasus Astro power management, filter wheels and mount accessories
- ToupTekminorReseller of ToupTek cameras and astrophotography controllers
- Player OneminorReseller of Player One astronomy cameras
- WarpAstronminorReseller of WarpAstron telescopes
- LunaticominorReseller of Lunatico astronomical accessories
- Sky RoverminorReseller of Sky Rover telescopes and accessories
- DwarfLabminorReseller of DwarfLab smart telescopes including DWARF Mini and DWARF3
Scale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
altair astro competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- ZWO (ASI): Manufacturer of cooled astronomy cameras and the SeeStar smart telescope line, increasingly selling direct to consumers. Direct overlap with Altair's Hypercam camera line and emerging smart telescope category.
- William Optics: Manufacturer of premium refractor telescopes and astroimaging accessories selling direct and through dealers. Comparable as a premium optics brand competing with Altair's Starwave refractors in the same target segment.
- Astronomik: Specialist manufacturer of astronomy filters (narrowband, light pollution, UV/IR cut) selling direct and through resellers. Comparable to Altair's DualBand ULTRA filter line in product category and target customer.
Broad incumbents
- Sky-Watcher: Major global manufacturer of telescopes and mounts with both dealer network and direct online sales. Comparable as both a supplier to and competitor of Altair Astro in the consumer astronomy equipment market.
- Celestron: One of the largest global astronomy equipment manufacturers and brand-direct retailers (telescopes, mounts, eyepieces). Sells directly to consumers and also through Altair Astro as an authorized reseller — a broad incumbent in the same category.
Direct peers
- Agena AstroProducts: US-based online retailer specializing in telescopes, eyepieces, filters, and astrophotography accessories. Comparable in product mix and direct-to-consumer model serving amateur astrophotographers.
- 365Astronomy: UK-based online astronomy retailer selling telescopes, cameras, mounts, and filters with international shipping. Directly comparable to Altair Astro in product range, geography, and customer segment.
- First Light Optics: UK-based direct-to-consumer astronomy equipment retailer offering telescopes, mounts, cameras, and accessories from brands like Sky-Watcher, Celestron, and William Optics. Closely comparable in product mix, geography, and customer base to Altair Astro.
- Widescreen Centre: UK astronomy retailer with both showroom and online presence selling telescopes and accessories from major brands. Comparable in geography and customer base to Altair Astro.
- Orion Telescopes & Binoculars: Long-established US consumer astronomy retailer selling telescopes, eyepieces, and astrophotography gear. Comparable in target market (hobbyist astronomers) and product mix, though US-focused.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses3 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
altair astro social profiles
Digital presencealtair astro compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
altair astro financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
altair astro leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
altair astro funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
altair astro M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about altair astro
What does altair astro do?
Altair Astro manufactures and sells proprietary astronomical equipment including cooled USB3 astroimaging cameras (Hypercam series), ED/APO refractor telescopes, certified narrowband dual-band filters, and a UK-CNC-manufactured telescope mounting system (TMS). The company also operates an e-commerce storefront reselling third-party astronomy brands such as Celestron, Sky-Watcher, Vixen, Baader, iOptron, and others, serving as a one-stop shop for amateur astronomers and astrophotographers.
Is altair astro a public or private company?
altair astro is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was altair astro founded?
altair astro was founded in 2000.
Where is altair astro based?
altair astro is headquartered in Norwich, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does altair astro make money?
One revenue line is on record: hardware Sales.
Who are altair astro's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are ZWO (ASI), William Optics and Astronomik. Broad incumbents are Sky-Watcher and Celestron. Direct peers are Agena AstroProducts, 365Astronomy, First Light Optics, Widescreen Centre and Orion Telescopes & Binoculars.
Does altair astro have an API?
No public API is recorded for altair astro.
What industry is altair astro in?
altair astro's product category is Astronomy Equipment. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRACAHAI, Binoculars, Scopes & Sport Optics Retail, with a secondary code of CRAMAAAK, Wildlife Viewing & Optics (Binoculars, Spotting Scopes) Retail. Its NAICS code is 33451 and its SIC code is 3827.