Telescope Bargain for IYA2009

Get the Inexpensive Galileoscope for Just $15

Mar 4, 2009 Kelly Whitt

One of the goals of the International Year of Astronomy was to brings space to the masses. This is now easier than ever with a low-cost easy-to-assemble telescope.

The Galileoscope is a cornerstone of the International Year of Astronomy 2009 (IYA2009). Developed by astronomers, optical engineers, and science educators, the Galileoscope has been designed to make astronomy easy and affordable to the general public.

The Inspiration Behind the Galileoscope

Although Galileo did not invent the telescope, he was one of the first to turn these new optical devices toward the sky. What he saw there changed the course of astronomy. Galileo Galilei was an Italian astronomer who, 400 years ago, revolutionized the way we saw our world and our place in the Universe. He saw that rings of Saturn (although he though the bulges on either side were moons), he saw the phases of Venus, the satellite moons circling Jupiter, and the craters and mountains on the moon. All these sights and more are visible with the Galileoscope. And with the advance in optics over the last 400 years, your views will be even better!

The Telescope's Specifics and Details

The Galileoscope comes unassembled but with few parts it is relatively simple to put together. The Galileoscope is a high-quality 50-mm f/10 telescope, with a glass doublet achromatic objective. A 20-mm Plossl-like eyepiece with twin plastic doublet achromatic lenses gives a magnification of 25x across a 1.5-degree field, and a 2x Barlow lens (also a plastic doublet achromat) gives a magnification of 50x. (Barlow lenses are added to the existing lens, essentially doubling the magnification of the existing lens.) The Barlow lens can also be used as a Galilean eyepiece to give a magnification of 17x and a very narrow field of view to simulate the “Galileo experience”. The standard 1.25-inch focuser will fit commercial accessories to expand the use and relevance of the scope.

The difference between this telescope and other ones that cost 10 times as much is that there is no finderscope or tripod. The Galileoscope's standard 1/4-20 tripod adapter will work with any standard photo tripod. In order to find your observing target, you will have to star hop your way there. First practice on the moon, which is the easiest to capture because of its large size, and then move on to bright targets such as the planets before trying for star clusters and other deep-sky (beyond the solar system) objects.

Most Inexpensive Telescope

The Galileoscope is not a money-maker, it is part of a project from the IYA2009 sponsored by the International Astronomical Union, UNESCO, the American Astronomical Society, the National Optical Astronomy Observatory, and the National Science Foundation, among others. The goal is to make telescopes available to any who wish to use them. Telescopes can be ordered for $15 each or for $12.50 for orders of 100 or more. There is also an option to buy one for yourself (or family member, friend, school, organization, etc.) and purchase an additional telescope for $12.50 that will be donated to less advantaged schools and other organizations worldwide, especially in developing countries. This opportunity will help bring a modern education to students in poor schools and empower them to pursue science and technology knowledge.

To learn more about the Galileoscope or to make an order, visit the web site for the IYA2009.

The copyright of the article Telescope Bargain for IYA2009 in Astronomy & Space is owned by Kelly Whitt. Permission to republish Telescope Bargain for IYA2009 in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Galileoscope for $15