We’re not sure what’s going on, but Orion Telescopes appears to have gone dark. Its website (telescope.com) is no longer working and, as far as we can tell, the company is no longer operating. There were no advance notices. The company just seems to have disappeared.
For those of you who don’t know about this company, Orion was one of the more popular producers of astronomy equipment and many of us in the astronomy club have Orion telescopes and accessories.
Back in July, Sky & Telescope reported that Optronic Technologies, the parent company of Orion Telescopes and Meade Instruments, had closed its offices and laid off all its employees. Update January 2025: Sky and Telescope is reporting that there will be an auction of Orion equipment from January 6 to January 9, 2025.
Orion’s facebook page appears to be operating, but hasn’t been updated since July.
Meade’s website (Meade.com), also appears to be operating. However, we don’t know what the future holds for this company. Update January 2025: Meade’s website appears to no longer be operating.
We will update this posting as more information becomes available.
- Keith Sowell. “Orion Telescopes Have Ceased Operation.” September 2024.
- Stuart Parkerson. “Orion Telescopes and Binoculars Ceases Operations.” Astronomy Technology Today. August 1, 2024.
- Sean Walker. “Meade and Orion Cease Operations – Maybe.” Sky & Telescope. July 12, 2024.
- Richard Harris. “Meade and Orion close California offices.” ScopeTrader. July 12, 2024.
January 2025 Update.
- “Meade and Orion Cease Operations, Go To Auction.” Sky & Telescope. Updated December 1 & 27, 2024.
- “Come Pick at the Bones of Orion, Meade & Coronado Jan 6th Auction.” Dylan O’Donnell/YouTube. December 29, 2024.
- “Optronic Asset Short Notice Sale. Intellectual Property, Inventory and Other Associated Assets. Complete Company Closures. Global Online Auction – January 9, 2025.” Onyx Asset Advisors.
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