Elias_Jordan
member
Reged: 12/26/08
Posts: 74
Loc: Derby, Kansas
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Kevin,
Yeas I tried using it with the Galileoscope, its actually the Tripod used when first Displaying the scope.
All I can say is that it works Great, but Don't bring it out in the wind.  Other than that it works just as good as my Orion tripod, but it cost $100 more....
Then, Zoeff, Yep! you are right the Main Doublet lens is made of Glass!
Lastly, Has anyone else taken a few images through the galileoscope So Far?
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ixeru
member
Reged: 06/15/09
Posts: 18
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Hi!!
I used the Galileoscope last night! It was the first time that I use a telescope and I have to say that I loved it 
I could see the Moon stunningly (even without tripod), with 25x and 50x. Then I could see Jupiter and two of his moons
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Elias_Jordan
member
Reged: 12/26/08
Posts: 74
Loc: Derby, Kansas
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Thats great! Happy to see that you are enjoying your self! To bad you only saw 2 moons, hope you get to use it some more!
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ixeru
member
Reged: 06/15/09
Posts: 18
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Elias, the problem was that I couldn't use my Galileoscope with a tripod, so it was difficult to focus Jupiter.
I can not wait to the next oportunity when I can reuse it!
I have a question: what astronomic software do you recomend me to use? Thanks!
Sorry for my english :S
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GregAlt
member
Reged: 06/23/09
Posts: 30
Loc: Seattle, WA, USA
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Quote:
Lastly, Has anyone else taken a few images through the galileoscope So Far?
I bought a $20 camera attachment for my point-and-shoot, and it worked reasonably well, mechanically. I was able to click off several shots of jupiter with the 10-sec timer. The trouble was that I wasn't sure what camera settings to use, so the pictures came out pretty awful. When I get some free time next week, I plan on giving it another go.
Any thoughts on good starting settings?
Eyepiece: I tried it with the 25x eyepiece, but I suppose other options might be: no eyepiece, just the barlow, or 25x eyepiece with barlow. I imagine some of those are not possible and the full eyepiece/barlow setup is maybe too tricky to aim and focus.
Focus: if shooting through camera lens and eyepiece, I focus the camera at infinity and adjust the galileoscope to get focus, right?
Optical zoom: shouldn't make much difference, since I won't get any extra pixel information by zooming in due to the limits of the galileoscope and my in-city location. But zooming allows me to see better on the LCD screen on back, so maybe it's good.
Digital zoom: ordinarily I avoid it, since it just fakes zoom by dropping pixels. But at 12 megapixels, I have a lot of pixels to drop before I hit the limits of what is possible to capture - and most of the image when looking at Jupiter is just black space. And digital zoom will make it easier to see the image on the LCD on the back. So probably a good idea. First get things lined up, then zoom in, trying not to lose aim, then shoot with 10-sec timer.
Aperture/ISO/ShutterSpeed: Here's where I have no clue. What's a reasonable starting point to get just Jupiter and which should I adjust first to try to get a better shot?
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Orion XT8i - 8" f/5.9
Nikon Action 10x50 Binoculars
Galileoscope 50mm f/10 (20mm ep + 2x barlow)
25mm, 10mm Sirius Plossl eyepieces (1.25")
12.5mm Black Knight OWL Super Plossl
2x Knight OWL Barlow
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Elias_Jordan
member
Reged: 12/26/08
Posts: 74
Loc: Derby, Kansas
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First: ixeru, There is a whole bunch of cool softwares out there but I am thinking that you are looking for something to tell you whats out now. lets see free planetarium softwares:
How about Stellarium, http://www.stellarium.org/ , its probably one of the best beginner softwares out there, but earlier in this post someone was talking about a Galileoscope software, maybe you can try that out: http://www.nexstarsite.com/_RAC/gsc.html
Now: Greg, Thats great that you bought an adapter and that you are trying to take pics. Well first thing, Shoot in Manual mode (if your camera has one) Then set the aperture as wide as you can (lowest f/ number). For summer time use 800ISO, then start out shooting at 1/20 and increase.... As for how to shoot, I am a little confused, can you upload a picture of how you are already doing it...
So again here is how you should start,
ISO: 800 or lower
Aperture: lowest f/ value
Shutter-speed: start at 1/20 and play around from there. (here its all trial and error.
Hope this helps...
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GregAlt
member
Reged: 06/23/09
Posts: 30
Loc: Seattle, WA, USA
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Quote:
Well first thing, Shoot in Manual mode (if your camera has one) Then set the aperture as wide as you can (lowest f/ number). For summer time use 800ISO, then start out shooting at 1/20 and increase.... As for how to shoot, I am a little confused, can you upload a picture of how you are already doing it...
Thanks! That should get me started. Trying to adjust multiple settings at the same time, without a reasonable starting point, in the dark, on a shaky tripod didn't go so well.
As for my setup and how I'm doing it...
I got one of these:
http://www.opticsplanet.net/konus-digital-camera-adapter-1300.html
The camera mounts on a plate, and the adatpter clamps onto the focuser, so that everything is supported by the galileoscope, similar to this, though pointing in a straight line behind the galileoscope rather than a right-angle, of course:
http://www.scopetronics.com/assets/ez2scope.gif
And here's how I did it:
- adjusted the adapter to fit my camera and galileoscope and attached the camera - before I even went outside.
- set the galileoscope up on the tripod and aimed and focused at Jupiter with the 25x eyepiece.
- carefully clamped the adapter (with camera already attached) onto the focuser tube.
- turned the camera on
- Using the LCD screen on the back and sights on the galileoscope, re-aimed at Jupiter
- carefully change camera settings
- re-aim to center jupiter
- zoom-in with the camera
- carefully set the 10-sec shutter timer on the camera
I took half a dozen shots or so, but since I didn't know what settings to use, my experiments didn't amount to much. Starting from something reasonable should make things go much smoother.
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Orion XT8i - 8" f/5.9
Nikon Action 10x50 Binoculars
Galileoscope 50mm f/10 (20mm ep + 2x barlow)
25mm, 10mm Sirius Plossl eyepieces (1.25")
12.5mm Black Knight OWL Super Plossl
2x Knight OWL Barlow
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newbir1970
member
Reged: 05/05/09
Posts: 25
Loc: Hudson Valley, NY
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Well, I put mine together last night. Now I am just waiting on the weather...
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Looking for the stars!
Mike C.
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Elias_Jordan
member
Reged: 12/26/08
Posts: 74
Loc: Derby, Kansas
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Sounds Great Greg! I hope it the images turn out for you! Be sure to post hem here!
Then newbir, Thats great that you scope arrived! Hope the weather clears up for you!
Well, off to process some more images!
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serber
journeyman
Reged: 07/27/09
Posts: 5
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Hi everybody !
I ordered two galileoscope at the beginning of March.
I never received any confirmation email after my order (paid with Paypal and my account was charged).
I'm still waiting for my babies 
I live in France, is there somebody in France who already has it ?
Sebastien
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ixeru
member
Reged: 06/15/09
Posts: 18
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Hi serber!
I never received any confirmation email and I have already received my Galileoscopes (a week ago). I live in Spain, so I think you'll get your telescopes soon, don't worry!
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pierce
member
Reged: 09/18/07
Posts: 28
Loc: Santa Cruz, CA
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I got mine last week, and assembled it on the kitchen table immediately. thankfully I recalled an email I'd gotten from them some months back saying there would be better instructions online, as I couldn't decipher how to assemble the barlow element from the included instructions.
When I use the regular eyepiece at 25x, I get a nice clean image, but with the barlow, its a rather restricted FOV with a fuzzy edge, and rather dim. I use a barlow (Celestron UltimaSV 2X) on my other scopes very frequently and don't see anywhere near that level of degradation.
I'm quite sure I built the barlow's element according to the online PDF docs.
I did try the scope with one of my regular plossls (worked nicely enough) but didn't think to try the galileoscope's eyepiece with my regular barlow.
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Zoeff
sage
Reged: 06/10/09
Posts: 252
Loc: Haarlem, Netherlands
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Make sure the 2 lenses are orientated and in the correct order like in this image:
Thanks carolune!
Notice how the 2 lenses aren't equally tick and that one has asymmetrical sides.
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Telescopes: NexStar 8SE, 90ED f/5.5 doublet, Galileoscope
Accessories: Hyperion 36mm, GSO 32mm, E-lux 25mm, Hyperion 8mm,
DBK 41AU02.AS, 2x Barlow, 0.63x Focal Reducer, Solar Filter, UHC Filter
My (astro-)photos can be found on flickr.
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dymy24
member
Reged: 07/28/08
Posts: 34
Loc: Fayetteville, NC
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Order #12655, order date 29 March.
Big Brown Box on the front porch today when I got home. I have better observing platforms immediately available, but I was still excited. Well packaged and the order was complete. Scope appears exactly as advertised. 4 will be gifts, one packed away for the first grandchild - hopefully years away.
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Astrophotograhphy novice
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bsim
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 01/04/08
Posts: 1047
Loc: New York City
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Finally received my GS. I tried using a diagonal but not enough in focus. I used the tip on how to make it work. I unscrewed the barlow element from my Celestron 2x barlow and screwed it on the end of the diagonal. It worked!
It's a very nice scope for $15. The diagonal makes it much more comfortable. Pair it up with a cheap tripod and it makes a nice beginner's scope.
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mrkorb
journeyman
Reged: 01/01/08
Posts: 9
Loc: Tigard, OR, USA
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Order #6854, March 10th.
Nothing yet.
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Celestron FirstScope & accessory kit
Celestron NexStar 8SE, 2x Barlow, Baader Hyperion Clickstop Zoom 8-24mm
Galileoscope
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mischief
super member
Reged: 04/26/08
Posts: 146
Loc: Northern California
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HI, all,
As of yesterday, July 28, I received my 3 Galileoscopes. I don't know how they arrived; I just noticed the box dumped on my porch outside my front door. I plan on giving 2 to my great-grandkids; one for me.
So today I decided to put it together. I must say, the directions could be a lot better. It would be nice to have the parts labelled on the directions page. I think I may have put the lenses for the eyepiece in wrong because I couldn't see anything. Also does anyone know how you are supposed to focus. I probably didn't put that together correctly either. I hope the great-grandkids or their parents can put them together. Actually my great-grandson even tho he is only 6 years old seems to be quite good at that sort of thing.
Will try the Galileoscope web page, maybe they'll have more instructions. But for $15..... I got tired of messing with it, but I will get it together.
And I'll check more on this forum; there seems to be lots of info.
Clear skies,
Dorothy 
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Lunt 60T H alpha B600
Orion StarBlast
Vixen VMC 110
AT Voyager
Orion TeleTrack GoTo alt/az mount
Orion Binoviewers
Canon 10x30 IS binoculars
Celestron "FirstScope" (3" aperture) mini-Dob in honor of IYA 2009 ( just got it) only weighs 4 lbs.
Galileoscope 2" refractor similar to one that Galileo used (ordered and coming)
Astro-Tech AT80LE
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erick
member
Reged: 11/21/07
Posts: 77
Loc: Bacchus Marsh, Australia
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Dorothy
All the information you need is in this thread and on the GS website.
Enjoy
Eric
Quote:
HI, all,
As of yesterday, July 28, I received my 3 Galileoscopes. I don't know how they arrived; I just noticed the box dumped on my porch outside my front door. I plan on giving 2 to my great-grandkids; one for me.
So today I decided to put it together. I must say, the directions could be a lot better. It would be nice to have the parts labelled on the directions page. I think I may have put the lenses for the eyepiece in wrong because I couldn't see anything. Also does anyone know how you are supposed to focus. I probably didn't put that together correctly either. I hope the great-grandkids or their parents can put them together. Actually my great-grandson even tho he is only 6 years old seems to be quite good at that sort of thing.
Will try the Galileoscope web page, maybe they'll have more instructions. But for $15..... I got tired of messing with it, but I will get it together.
And I'll check more on this forum; there seems to be lots of info.
Clear skies,
Dorothy
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Elias_Jordan
member
Reged: 12/26/08
Posts: 74
Loc: Derby, Kansas
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Hey Dorothy,
Just like Erick Said, all the information you need is in this thread and on the site, but you might want to take a look at the Pictorial... http://unawe.org/joomla/images/materials/instruments/galileoscope.pdf
It is much much easier and its what we recommend to people having problems with assembly!
Hope it works out for you!
All the Best & Clear Skies!
Elias Jordan
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bbasiaga
professor emeritus
Reged: 05/10/06
Posts: 724
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We ordered the galileo scopes through our local club, and got them at the beginning of July. I put it together weeks ago, but I just finally viewed something in the night sky with it today. The moon was the first target, and then a couple of random stars. I must say, I'm quite impressed. The views were sharp and detailed. Very impressive for the money. I think I'm going to give my second one to my father in law.
-Brian
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Vixen 80EDSF
Stellarvue 102ED2
Orion Atlas 11 EQ-G
15" Astrosystems Telekit w/ Discovery Optics
Lust for something Larger
Lust for something Larger than that
Past Lovelies:
Oberwerk 20x100 binocs
Meade AR5
Meade LX10 8" SCT
All sold to a good home
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