International Year of Astronomy 2009 Galileoscope

[Dale]

Anyone here plan to purchase one? I'm looking forward to the first lens reviews of this prime telephoto lens, costing around $15.

The project is quite worth a read, and the scope seems to be at least worth the money if not way more. A standard converter will let you hook up your Pentax to snap away.

The scope

[Eaglerapids]

Thanks a lot Dale, I ordered one, I couldn't help it:-). What a cool project and I've always wanted a telescope, lol. Now, how much does that dang converter thingy cost and where do we get one?

[Dale]

No worries, a bunch of us at work are clubbing together to get five. The telescope has a standard 1¼-inch (31¾-mm) barrel which accepts heaps of optical accessories.

The easy way might be a 1¼-inch barrel to screw thread adapter, thence to a k mount. I'm off hunting for the solution as I type.

If we get these working, we'll be the toast of Pentax SLR lens world!!

[Ex Finn.]

B&H. Celestron T-mount adapter for Pentax K for $ 15.95 hooked up to Celestron 1.25" T-mount, $ 24.95.
I doubt that the focuser can handle the weight of the camera, you will need to add support. Have fun but don't expect too much as far as IQ goes.

Cheers. Mike.

[Dale]

I'll expect I"ll have the fun of exactly $15 worth of IQ. If I get $50 of IQ, I'll be sure to complain about it!

And I'll be able to post images of upside down ducks that have purple fringes, and have bragging rights over anyone posting F*400 images!!

I'll use the T mount on a mates $5k Meade as well just so I do get my moneys worth.

[Ex Finn.]

"If we get these working, we'll be the toast of Pentax SLR lens world!!"

Funny with different expressions, when we say "we`ll be toast", it usually means " crash and burn" or a miserable failure..

Cheers. Mike.

[Dale]

Good one Mike,

I didn't intend that at all, but the double meaning in this case may well be apt.

[Ex Finn.]

Originally Posted by Dale

I'll expect I"ll have the fun of exactly $15 worth of IQ. If I get $50 of IQ, I'll be sure to complain about it!

And I'll be able to post images of upside down ducks that have purple fringes, and have bragging rights over anyone posting F*400 images!!

I'll use the T mount on a mates $5k Meade as well just so I do get my moneys worth.

Sounds like a plan, the images will be right side up with purple fringing.

Cheers. Mike.

[Eaglerapids]

Ex Finn, you must have missed this part:-)



The Galileoscope features higher-quality achromatic doublet lenses.....so there:-).
BTW, thanks for the tips on the xtra stuff we'll need, I never have understood exactly how to hook up to a telescope.

[ytterbium]

How does this compare to those 500mm f8 mirror lenses?

[vizjerei]

Great... you guys just made me spend $33.40

[Ex Finn.]

Originally Posted by Eaglerapids

Ex Finn, you must have missed this part:-)



The Galileoscope features higher-quality achromatic doublet lenses.....so there:-).
BTW, thanks for the tips on the xtra stuff we'll need, I never have understood exactly how to hook up to a telescope.

Oversight on my part. I failed to read the whole description, Achromatic focuses red and blue so you still end up with some CA. Apochromatic, as far as I know, would have a better handle in bending red, green and blue. Then again, you are only spending pocket change so who cares.
Here are the T-mount and adapter, separate and assembled.

Cheers. Mike.

[Ex Finn.]

Originally Posted by ytterbium

How does this compare to those 500mm f8 mirror lenses?

Mirror lenses have minimal CA but normally suffer from lack of contrast, at least the cheap ones. whereas it is opposite with refractors, decent contrast with some CA.

Cheers. Mike.

[Dale]

Originally Posted by Ex Finn.

Mirror lenses have minimal CA but normally suffer from lack of contrast, at least the cheap ones. whereas it is opposite with refractors, decent contrast with some CA.

Cheers. Mike.

Hey thanks for the pointers there Mike. I did some quick searching on the astronomy forums for the adapters, and found only arguments about the price of this scope.

[Ex Finn.]

Clad to be of some help. I am not the best source of info on astro-photography.
There are some folks on this forum with decades of hands on experience in using scopes for astro and for birding.

Cheers. Mike.

p.s. They spend little more than 19.95 on their gear.