[AstroNet] Galileoscope discussion

[Case Rijsdijk]

Dear Okkie,

Your #2 is a problem that will not go away!! The best solution was the 
"Starbus", but that ran out of funding.

I think that your best answer is somewhere in between your own answer.Send 
them

1     a book - I would suggest a local publication like one of Tony 
Fairall's books
2    a couple of posters
3    a starmap - something like Iziko Museum monthly starchart

All this with a covering letter explaining that if there are any questions 
they can mail (snail or e)  you.

Once you have set-up some sort of working relation then you can go further 
with a telescope. And then the secret is to source a cheap 150 mm  Dobbie.. 
It must be possible for someone/group to locally make a simple cheap Dobbie.

I think that it is important that the communication becomes a two-way 
issue - these things should not be "hand-outs" without a follow-up.

If  IYA can achieve the availability of a cheap Dobbie, the year will have 
been a success!

Kind regards

Case



----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Okkie de Jager" <Okkie.DeJager at nwu.ac.za>
To: <astronet at mail.saasta.ac.za>; <particles at mweb.co.za>; <kg at saao.ac.za>
Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2009 3:18 PM
Subject: Re: [AstroNet] Galileoscope discussion


Dear all

I agree with what has been said, but let me state that
there are two broad approaches to outreach:

1) Where you actually visit the group/school train the people on the spot.

2) when you want to reach a large number of groups and your trainer/outreach 
person/Astronomer
cannot reach all of them.

All the discussions up to now focussed on point number (1).
I am however looking at a solution for (2): One possibility is:
You send a package by post which includes:
  (A) A cheap telescope (with very simple instructions) which should be easy 
to set up without expert supervision.
 (B) A popular Astronomy book with nice pics (e.g. "Astronomy Today" - 
Pearson)
 (C) Some posters etc.
If you go down route (2), then it is obvious that the telescope must not 
cost more than a few
hundred rand. Also, this is the very first contact with the kids will have 
with Astronomy and then
you do not need fancy stuff. This is why I thought about the Galileoscope 
(0.7 kg is OK for postage).
The kids are inventive - they will come up with an innovative idea for a 
"deadrest" structure for the Galileoscope
in the absence of a fancy tripod.

Option (2) is sowing seeds: some will be wasted but others should grow.

Any comments?

Regards
Okkie de Jager


>>> "Case Rijsdijk" <particles at mweb.co.za> 03/12/09 10:04 AM >>>
Hi All,

I have been following the discusion on the "Galilean Telescope" with
interest. To me anything more that R100 for what is effectively a "toy"
telescope is wasting money.

1    If you want to show anyone how a telescope works then the Johan Smit
route or the SAAO telescope is fine and as good as anything else. By the way
postive lenses for the SAAO scope are available form the same supplier. The
lenses for such a scope cost < R2.00. The SAAO kit is easy to assemble and
each child can walk away with their own fvor < R8

2    A 150mm Dobsonian is arguably the best alternative for a "proper" -
robust, simple, poratble and cheap - avoid cheap tripods - they are never
rigid enough. The one I have borrowed from SAAO works brilliantly and does
not cost an arm and a leg!!

I think that SAAO should start taking orders for their little telescope
rather than wasting money on imports.

Kind regards

Case

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