We classify our astronomy torches as a torch that includes a red light output.

This can be a torch that has only a red light output or a combination of white or red light options.

The ability to adjust the red light power level from high to low is an additional benefit.

The advantage of using a red light for astronomy is to preserve our eye's night vision, allowing us to see the night sky brighter.

Human vision is produced with the help of Cones and Rods inside our eyes, cones for daylight and white light, while rods are used for low light and our night vision.
To preserve our night vision a red light is essential for your telescope accessory kit, the red light wavelength is hard for rods to absorb, and at this wavelength the cones will not be functioning which leaves the rods to work as normal and our eyes to stay dilated.

We want our eyes fully dilated and our pupils to allow as much light in as possible when stargazing, which takes approximately 20 to 30 minutes in darkness. At this point our eyes are at their optimum for night vision.

The ideal astronomy torch should have a red light output in the colour temperature range of 1000 Kelvin.
Adjustable brightness is desirable to be able to reduce the light's power output to a soft glow.
High brightness is great for moving around during setup or packing away your telescope or photography gear.

The ideal hiking torch should be light, compact enough to fit inside your pocket or backpack and bright.
Adjustable zoom is desirable, zoom is the ability to focus the light beam via a movable lens system.
A narrow light beam is called a spotlight, great for looking long distances down a track or into a tree's branches.
A wide light beam is called a flood light, this is the perfect setting for illuminating your immediate area and track while walking.

The ideal camping torch should be mutifuntional to offer the features we desire for all aspects of camping.

Such as:
Spotlight and a flood light output - having the ability to use a spot light for looking into the distance down a pathway or a flood light to light up a area duing pitching a tent.

Battery power level indicators - what good is a torch if the battery is flat?, having a way to check the battery capacity is invaluable

Magnet and hanging hook - a camping torch needs to be able to be handheld to help illuminate the track when walking at night and also be stable and balanced when put down or hung up for that required illumination when both hands are requied.

Adjustable brightness - the light output for a good camping torch does not need to be as bright as the sun, but a balance of illumination is preferred.
Low light for inside the tent at night and with the ability to turn up the power when wanting to see what you are cooking.

Astro Night torches are not just red lights for astronomers the following models include all the above features with the dual light outputs of white light or red light, ideal for camping.

BG-58
White flashlight - red or white COB flood light, Dual magnet, hanging hook, LCD battery or power display, USB power output.
100% brightness control

NLM-C
Dual white flashlight - red or white COB flood light, magnet, hanging hook, battery level display, USB power output.
100% brightness control

GAC-X
White flashlight - red or white COB flood light, magnet, handing hook, battery level display, USB power output
Dual brightness control (high or low)

USB output is the feature and ability to recharge or power other USB devices from your Astro Night torch.
The output socket on all Astro Night torches that support this feature is the standard USB Type A socket, allowing you to use your devices supplied USB cable to connect to your torch if or when additional power is required.

Some examples of devices you can recharge are:
Mobile phone
Smart watch
GPS
Camera equipment and batteries
Digital radio
Walkie Talkie
Headlamp

Note: Your device will need to be USB compatible, the amount of power (recharge time) the torch can supply will vary depending on Astro Night torch model and the batteries remaining capacity.

This power will come from your torches internal battery, reducing the power the torch will use for illumination, so, becareful not to discharge your torches battery so much that you can not operate the torch if illumination is required.

In general terms: The Lumen is the measurement of the visible light emitted from the light / torch.

Lumens is not just for measuring LED lights and torch brightness, all light sources should have a lumens rating and this rating can be used to determine the brightness, the higher the lumens the higher the brightness.

The units for lumens is (lm)

Examples of everyday light products and their lumens:

 iPhone Light: 25 – 50 lm

Solar garden light: 25 – 50 lm

60W light bulb: 500 lm

100W light bulb: 800 lm

10W LED downlight: 1000 lm

Modern car headlights: 1500 – 2000 lm

Astro Night torches: maximum lumens

 BG-58 flashlight: 300 lm

NML-C flashlight: 300 lm

V4-11: 350lm

AX Micro: 600 lm

Alpha C: 3500 lm

ORI-44: 6000 lm

Most lumen ratings are a maximum rating and will only output this light power at the
torches highest power setting, which will put a large demand on the torch’s battery at a reduced runtime.

LED is the abbreviation for a light emitting diode.

A light emitting diode is a semiconductor device that emits light when electricity flows through it, releasing energy in the form of photons.

LEDs have many advantages over older incandescent light bulbs, such as:

 Lower power consumption

This allows us to operate our torches longer with a brighter light output or have a smaller battery size with a similar runtime to that of older light bulb torches

 Longer lifetime

The LED chip or bulb will not blow, burn out or fail as often as the older filament light bulbs, you should be able to use your LED torch for life without ever needing to replace the LED bulb.

LED lifespans are in the range of 50,000 – 100,000 hours.

 Improved robustness

LEDs are encapsulated inside a high-quality plastic resin, not glass as the older light bulbs were.

The LED design chip is stronger which prevents accidental damage to the LED chip from a knock or fall making it ideal for a torch or flashlight product. 

 Smaller size

LEDs are a lot smaller and more powerful than older light bulbs, allowing torches to be more compact and even include multiple LED chips for a similar size compared to older torch designs.

For example, our ORI-44 flashlight utilises 4 high-powered LED chips instead of one large bulb.

 Faster turn-on / activation

A LED chip can turn on or off instantly or change brightness with a push of a button. This fast switching is very convenient and does so without the warm-up time an older blub required, providing you’re the lumens you want when you want them.  

Torch is the term used in Australia and Europe, described as a
small portable electric lamp powered by batteries.

In the USA the term flashlight is used.

With Astro Night torches, the electric lamp can be a single or
multiple LED chip or COB light strip.

COB is the abbreviation of Chip On Board.

They consist of multiple LED chips bonded directly to a substrate to form a single module, the modules can be made into a variety of sizes and shapes.

As the individual LEDs used in a COB are chips and are not traditional LEDs, the chips can be mounted more densely where the highest potential of the LED chips can be obtained.

When powered, it appears more like a light panel than multiple individual LEDs and can include a variety of different colours, such as red or white light output.

COB LEDs have a number of advantages over older LED technologies such as allowing for a much higher packing density of the LED array which results in higher intensity, greater uniformity of light, and superior thermal performance for increased life, stability, and reliability.

 All of these features of COB LEDs are great for compact flashlights, powered by a small and lightweight lithium-ion battery that can power a COB LED torch for very long periods of time.

 The below Astro Night Astronomy Torches utilise the COB led with red, dual - red and white or white light outputs.

• AX Micro (white light output)
• NML-C  (Red and white light output)
• BG-58   (Red and white light output)
• GAC-X  (Red and white light output)
• Pi-6       (Red light output)
• V354-C (Red and white light output)
• Proxima 1 (Red light output)

A flashlight is an alternative name for a torch.
In Australia, the torch is the go-to description for a handheld, battery-powered portable light, the term flashlight is most commonly used in the USA.

Astro Night refers to the flashlight as the white LED light which outputs as a spot light, as per the white light LED on the end of our NML-C and BG-58 torches and our high-powered white lights, the ORI-44, V4-11 or Alpha C.

The other lighting types we offer is the COB light and some of our torches include both a COB light and a flashlight output.