About Us

Cloud Break Optics is an astronomy supply store located in Seattle, Washington. With the goal of fostering a lively community of astronomers, this Seattle telescope store provides a friendly environment to meet and discuss the tools and techniques for the entire range of astronomical pursuits. Whether you are new to astronomy or a well versed pro you’ll find classic equipment and the latest technology here to enhance your sky searching experience.

 

Matt Dahl-

Matt received his first telescope as a Christmas gift from his mother when he was 17 and from that moment on, he was hooked.  As his interest grew, he began searching for a larger telescope, and in his search he met Stephanie. She sold him his first large telescope, which solidified his love for Astronomy. Matt switched his major from music to physics, with minors in mathematics and astrophysics, and focused his research on extra-solar planets.  After college, he took a job at the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics in Boulder, CO as a mission operations flight controller and operational planner for the Kepler spacecraft, an orbiting telescope looking for planets outside our solar system.  Matt moved to Seattle in 2012.

 

Stephanie Anderson-

Stephanie has been interested in outer space for as long as she can remember. But it wasn’t until she already had a job at the Denver Planetarium that she had the opportunity to look through a telescope. One look was all it took though, after that she was hooked. She joined the robust and lively Denver Astronomical Society, and her connections there led to a job at a locally owned telescope store. She worked there while pursuing her degrees in math and physics, and after college went on to teach physics and astronomy at both the Metropolitan State University and the University of Colorado Denver.

 

As the owners of Cloud Break Optics, Matt and Stephanie want to share their passion for astronomy with the world. Their varied experiences with different telescopes and technology inform all of their recommendations both in person and online. Because they’ve tested their share of sub-par gear, you don’t have to. They love introducing people to their first telescope, and they eat juicy questions from experienced astronomers for breakfast.