Rigel Systems
Rigel began as a simple flashlight manufacturer but would grow to design many other telescope accessories. Started in 1983 by Leon and Linda Palmer, the pair noticed how inefficient rechargeable flashlights were and sought to design a red LED flashlight suited for the astronomer. The result was the Starlite! Unlike other flashlights in the ’80s, the Starlite uses red LEDs, resulting in a bright red light that lasts for hours without compromising an observer’s adapted night vision. Since then, Rigel Systems has improved their original design for brightness variations, ruggedness, and even made a version using red and white LEDs, called the Skylite.