serber
journeyman
Reged: 07/27/09
Posts: 5
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My order of the 7th March is still not here in Paris, I'm starting to be desperate 
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Elias_Jordan
member
Reged: 12/26/08
Posts: 74
Loc: Derby, Kansas
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Just ordered another 20 =) E-mail confirmation says it will take only 2-3 weeks! (but thats of course what the e-mail says)
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mischief
super member
Reged: 04/26/08
Posts: 146
Loc: Northern California
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Thanks for the information. I did find info on the Galileoscope on their website. I see where you focus by sliding the focuser tube or eyepiece in its tube; sort of what I figured, but I didn't try it outside. So when Jupiter rears his head (or maybe the moon), I'll try it out.
I sent the other two to my great-grandkids for their birthdays. The oldest, a girl will be 9 on Monday, the youngest, a boy will be 6 on Wednesday. My daughter sent me a message that Xander, the boy had just finished reading a book by Stephen Hawking about black holes and he told her that black holes formed from exploding stars and that everything got sucked into the black hole and there was one in the middle of the Milky Way. Sorry I had to brag a little. I think they will both enjoy their Galileoscopes and, of course, I am trying to get them interested in Astronomy and Science in general.
So, 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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GregAlt
member
Reged: 06/23/09
Posts: 30
Loc: Seattle, WA, USA
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FYI, here's the latest from the official galileoscope site:
Quote:
Thank you all for the great response for Galileoscopes! As orders have come in, we are seeing increases in costs to manufacture and ship Galileoscopes. Therefore, as of Monday, August 10th, the prices for Galileoscopes will have to increase:
Purchases of Galileoscopes of up to 99 units will be $20 each, plus shipping and handling. Block orders of 100 units or more will be priced at $15 each, plus shipping and handling. All orders placed and paid for prior to August 10th will receive the current pricing of $15 per unit, $12.50 in blocks of 100 or more. Order now to avoid the price increase!!
Also, for those still waiting, I ordered a couple more in May, the order number was around 20,000 - and I haven't received those yet (though my order from March, roughly #2000, has come). I expect the update to the webpage suggests they've mostly cleared out the first batch of 60,000 and anyone that got their order in by the end of May should be getting theirs in the next few days.
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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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WhenTheDarkFalls
member
Reged: 07/02/09
Posts: 12
Loc: Amman, Jordan
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I am losing my patience!! Ordered back in April and still nthg!! Aren't we the 3rd world developing countries supposed to be the ones who would benefit the most from this project. I paid a vast amount of money in this Galileoscope (compared to our salaries) and still nothing! This is the only chance in my life to get a telescope since none are sold here in Jordan! I am sad and very disappointed!
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mischief
super member
Reged: 04/26/08
Posts: 146
Loc: Northern California
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I hope it is ok to post this here. In a previous post, I asked about focussing the GS. I found out that you have to move the eyepiece and/or the focuser tube in and out to focus. My problem is that I can't seem to move either one without their falling out of the tube. I tried focussing with an Orion Expanse 20mm eyepiece with no luck. I did manage to see the moon, but I don't think it was focussed. Any suggestions welcomed. Is there any kind of extension tube that would allow more travel of eyepiece/focuser?
On tripods, I have an Orion Paragon tripod which I think will work if I can easily put an adapter I have on the head. I can put it on, but it gets stuck. The tripod has alt/az controls so should work quite well. So will keep trying. Again, help on the focussing welcomed.
Dorothy  
--------------------
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
Let's see what we can do to help. (You know how hard this is to do by writing messages!) Let's start with the focusser tube. It should not fall out of the telescope, nor be able to be pushed into the telescope. The two o-rings that you put around the focusser tube to hold it together prevent it coming all the way out and from being pushed into the scope. If that is not what is happening for you, please have another look at how it is built.
The design is for the eyepiece to be fully inserted and the focusser tube to be pulled out and pushed in to achieve focus. You will achieve focus on objects from some metres away to infinite distance (the stars) with the built 25x plossl eyepiece.
Perhaps double check the orientation of the four lenses in that 25x eyepiece. If they are not in correct orientation, you may well not get clean focus.
If these thoughts don't help, can you take a few photographs of the focusser end and put them up here. That may give us some ideas.
We'll get it working. 
EDIT:- Dorothy, there is a new Youtube video showing assembly here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oi7-xlMcrTc It is quite good - I've noticed one missed step - placing the dew shield in place.
Edited by erick (08/04/09 09:57 PM)
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GregAlt
member
Reged: 06/23/09
Posts: 30
Loc: Seattle, WA, USA
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Quote:
I found out that you have to move the eyepiece and/or the focuser tube in and out to focus. My problem is that I can't seem to move either one without their falling out of the tube. I tried focussing with an Orion Expanse 20mm eyepiece with no luck. I did manage to see the moon, but I don't think it was focussed. Any suggestions welcomed. Is there any kind of extension tube that would allow more travel of eyepiece/focuser?
Have you tried focusing with just the 25x eyepiece during the day? After I put mine together, I went out, put it on my tripod, and aimed it at a parked car a block away. If you can't get something like that to work, I'd suspect something went wrong with the assembly.
For focusing, I shove the eyepiece in all the way so that it's snug, and then hold onto the focuser tube and slide it all the way in and then pull it out slowly until it's clear I crossed the focus point. Then I hold onto the focuser tube and twist it in and out to finely adjust the focus, crossing back and forth across the focus point, slowing down each time until I just can't get any better. Part of the trick is re-aiming the scope with one hand while you focus with the other, since I tend to keep losing my target.
As for the focuser tube coming out - I think the small O-ring should stop it from coming all the way out, or at least should give some resistance. If you're aiming at something far away and using the 25x eyepiece, I think the ideal focus should be much closer to shoved all the way in than pulled all the way out.
Using the barlow was similar but trickier - I was sure I had put it together wrong because it was just a dark grey smudge no matter what I did, but I just had to be more careful about keeping it aimed at something reasonably bright so that I could keep it in view while focusing. With the barlow, you can't really see anything until you're fully focused and aimed - except as someone mentioned, you can use the glow from internal reflections to know that you at least have something bright near your field of view.
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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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alido2boord
newbie
Reged: 07/31/09
Posts: 3
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Well, I don't know if anyone still haven't gotten theirs and ordered theirs in February. Very sad that I have to wait so long for this. My order number is only 2150 and people many digits above mine already got theres. Has anyone in the Los Angeles area gotten theirs?
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serber
journeyman
Reged: 07/27/09
Posts: 5
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I'm a bit conforted with the idea that I'm not the only one to be still waiting for my galileoscopes 
I really hope I will get it before mid-august ..
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Elias_Jordan
member
Reged: 12/26/08
Posts: 74
Loc: Derby, Kansas
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First: Alido2 There are people everwhere getting their scopes, and I have hear of many in the LA Area, just wiat a little onger, they will be coming, your might have just been a latter order, but if you cant wait I know for a fact that Griffith Obs, has a bunch for sale: $25
Second: Serber, might be a little longer, but you never know, the time that I thought they were never coming and I gave up my first order arrived!
Last: I am happy to announce that I have just been able to hook up a webcam to our beloved Galileoscope, and now I offer FREE Broadcasts through the scope! During this "tour" I will first show the Galileoscope, and explain the main concepts and even put one together (if you would want me to) then I will set-up outside (weather permitting) and broadcast, the moon, Jupiter, Venus, Pleadies, and any other object that is visible at that time! So if you are wanting a FREE Galileoscope Tour, please contact me, either through this thread or:
316-734-4843
This program is available through the "modern" view or the "Galilean View"
We also offer normal programs through "more advanced" scopes if you would like a comparison....
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senortim
member
Reged: 12/27/08
Posts: 21
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Finally had clear skies Monday and saw Jupiter's moons and two, very dim bands. Very exciting! I stood out on my front lawn and showed everyone who happened by. Frankly, I didn't believe it would happen for me -- we have so much light pollution, but I had no trouble, even with a street light 45 degrees off the objective end.
Also, a shout out to Stellarium.org. Since I'm an astronomy newbie (and have been sky watching unassisted for a couple of years with only Stellarium to guide me), it was great to be able to zoom in on Jupiter and see the position of the moons (and 45 Capricorn). It really helped me know what to look for!
Thanks, too, for all the tips here. The Barlow-glare tip has been quite helpful, and focusing tips, too.
--Tim
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nugget
member
Reged: 07/30/09
Posts: 51
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I'm waiting for mine... I bought it as a birthday present for myself about two or three days before my birthday, so it will end up being a late one I guess lol... I bought it about the 25th of July, maybe. So I'm not expecting it until at least after my classes start up in college again.
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Current Gear:
-10x50 Alpen binoculars (Wal-Mart clearance $15) and Tripod adapter
-50mm GalileoScope Kicks and giggles
-76mm Celestron FirstScope IYA 2009 Kicks and giggles too
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PolyEx
newbie
Reged: 02/03/09
Posts: 1
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Ordered mine June 2, 2009. Has not arrived as of August 09, 2009. I sent an email to them about two weeks ago, but never got a response.
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yitping
journeyman
Reged: 06/24/07
Posts: 6
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Latest update from https://www.galileoscope.org/gs/content/update
"Delivery Schedule: All orders numbered below 20,000 have shipped and should have been delivered by now. Higher-numbered orders will ship when our next batch of inventory arrives in late August, with delivery by mid- to late September 2009."
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alido2boord
newbie
Reged: 07/31/09
Posts: 3
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Quote:
Latest update from https://www.galileoscope.org/gs/content/update
"Delivery Schedule: All orders numbered below 20,000 have shipped and should have been delivered by now. Higher-numbered orders will ship when our next batch of inventory arrives in late August, with delivery by mid- to late September 2009."
Well, that's very unpromising, since my order number is 2150 and I still haven't gotten it. And they never replied to my email. Calling seems unpromising also since we'd have to leave a voicemail with no one to talk to directly.
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senortim
member
Reged: 12/27/08
Posts: 21
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Definitely call them and email them. Bug them!! I'm sure they'll respond eventually. I, too, emailed without reply before receiving my scopes, but I feel sure that calling -- even if probably several times -- will get results.
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Elias_Jordan
member
Reged: 12/26/08
Posts: 74
Loc: Derby, Kansas
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Teh E-mail box is way to flooded for any to get a answer, the more you send the more they are discouraged to finish. (More e-mails means lots of more work!) The calling them and demanding for your scope now, wont do anything, (Might make you fell better) but if they dont have any to ship, they dont have any to ship.
and as they said in one of their first e-mails:
"We know that many customers have encountered problems when placing
orders and/or have been frustrated by a lack of responsiveness from
the Galileoscope team. We sincerely apologize for these
inconveniences. There are several explanations. First and foremost,
this is a big project run by a small staff of volunteers who have
full-time professional jobs -- that’s one of the keys to our being
able to offer such a high-quality telescope at such a low price.
Unfortunately, this also makes it very difficult for us to promptly
answer queries or resolve individual problems with orders. We are
diligently following up on all outstanding issues, but it’s taking far
longer than any of us would like."
I have a order above 20,000 but since I couldn't wait I went and bought one, Some are selling online if you really need one ASAP. But other then that please be patient....
and if you need any help with the Galileoscope just contact me! (No shipping problems though)
All the Best,
Elias Jordan
P.S. This message was not pointed towards anyone, and I am sure I will hear back about it soon.. =)
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senortim
member
Reged: 12/27/08
Posts: 21
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If there is anyone on this list who is affiliated with the Galileoscope project, please know that there are almost certainly people reading this list who'd be willing to help deal with mail and other administrative headaches. I don't have much time to volunteer, but I'd be able to offer an hour or two a week.
What I was mainly advocating before was "don't give up!" But elsewhere in this thread you'll see "be patient" from me as well. I don't think I would have been nearly so excited to get my box if I hadn't had to wait and wonder, so for me, it was worth the wait! 
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AndySocial
journeyman
Reged: 08/12/09
Posts: 5
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I have order #1733 from 2/25/2009. On August 9th, after an email query followed by an unanswered voicemail, I got an email saying they'd look into my completely absent pair of scopes. I'm hoping they show up soon, but at least before the IYA is over. :-)
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