View the Heavens Just Like Galileo, Except Better

By Nancy Atkinson - March 4, 2009 at 7:13 PM UTC | Observing
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Galileo's first telescope was basically a tube containing two lenses, and was a three-power instrument. His next effort magnified objects approximately nine times. Now, you can have a Galileo-like experience, and view the things he saw looking through the "Galileoscope." But the view will be much better. The Galileoscope, now on sale for the great price of $15 each USD (or less -- see below), is a cornerstone project of the

International Year of Astronomy

, aiming to promote astronomical observing. These scopes are high quality, easy-to-assemble and easy-to-use. Order one or a ton at the Galileoscope website.

Galileoscopes are available for US $15 per kit. Discounts are available for group purchases of 100 or more, bringing the price down to US$12.50 each, reducing costs for schools, colleges, astronomical societies, or even parties of interested individuals.

Remember the first time you looked through a telescope? Consider sharing that experience by donating Galileoscopes to less-advantaged schools or organizations. Donating increases the project's global impact and gives people who might otherwise never have the opportunity to look through a telescope the chance to join millions of skywatchers worldwide in a shared experience of astronomical discovery. Find out more about donating at the

Galileoscope website.

The Galileoscope is a professionally endorsed scientific instrument, developed by astronomers, optical engineers and science educators to make the wonders of the night sky more accessible to everyone. Orders can now be placed through

www.galileoscope.org

for delivery beginning in late April.

The Galileoscope is a high quality 50-mm f/10 telescope, with a glass doublet achromatic objective. A 0-mm Plossl-like eyepiece with twin plastic doublet

achromatic lens

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. 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 accepts commercial accessories.

Source:

Galileoscope project

Nancy Atkinson

Nancy Atkinson

Nancy Atkinson is a space journalist and author with a passion for telling the stories of people involved in space exploration and astronomy. She is currently retired from daily writing, but worked at Universe Today for 20 years as a writer and editor. She also contributed articles to The Planetary Society, Ad Astra (National Space Society), New Scientist and many other online outlets.

Her 2019 book, "Eight Years to the Moon: The History of the Apollo Missions,” shares the untold stories of engineers and scientists who worked behind the scenes to make the Apollo program so successful, despite the daunting odds against it. Her first book “Incredible Stories From Space: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Missions Changing Our View of the Cosmos” (2016) tells the stories of 37 scientists and engineers that work on several current NASA robotic missions to explore the solar system and beyond.

Nancy is also a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador, and through this program, she has the opportunity to share her passion of space and astronomy with children and adults through presentations and programs. Nancy's personal website is nancyatkinson.com