[AstroNet] Galileoscope discussion

Tue Mar 10 19:31:43 SAST 2009

Kevin: what's the chance of getting the cardboard-tube telescope kits
that SAAO used to distribute going again?  Any idea what they would
cost?  And what they can see?

We haven't considered stocking the Galileoscope here - looking at the
price of it, and then remembering it needs a tripod (not included), and
that it's a small telescope, we didn't see how it could compete in the
retail market with e.g. the Celestron Powerseeker - 60mm telescope, with
tripod, for R650.  Cheapest tripod I can find on the internet is R400.  

My ideal for outreach would be a stack of Dobsonian telescopes - bigger
aperture, solid mount, easy to point at stuff like the Moon.  Then I'd
loan them out for a sky-watching evening.  Would need at least a trailer
to transport though . . . 

The Galileoscope on a cheap tripod is going to be shaky and difficult I
suspect for a kid to use.  How are you thinking of using them for
outreach?  Have we heard from anyone who has been using them?  

Kobie and Andrie: I'd be really interested to hear your opinions . . . 

And what happened to the CSIR project to make telescopes for local
outreach?  Anyone on the list know about that one?

Claire Flanagan

Jhb Planetarium

<html><p><font face = "verdana" size = "0.8" color = "navy">This communication is intended for the addressee only. It is confidential. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately and destroy the original message. You may not copy or disseminate this communication without the permission of the University. Only authorized signatories are competent to enter into agreements on behalf of the University and recipients are thus advised that the content of this message may not be legally binding on the University and may contain the personal views and opinions of the author, which are not necessarily the views and opinions of The University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. All agreements between the University and outsiders are subject to South African Law unless the University agrees in writing to the contrary.</font></p></html>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://mail.saasta.ac.za/pipermail/astronet/attachments/20090310/20f671e1/attachment-0001.htm>