Galileo Telescope Makers

Galileo Telescope Makers began making telescopes for the Indian amateur astronomers in 1989. Since then it has been a pioneer and the only manufacturer making Dobsonian Telescopes in India. The first telescope that was made by us was an eight inch, a large one as the market in India goes. The telescope was an instant success because of many reasons.

It has an easy to use design, even a novice could use the it on the first instant under the stars. It is a very user friendly telescope. The price is right, without any compromise in optical quality. The design is such that it can easily be made portable. The telescope is very stable and has no vibrations which are inherent in a German Equatorial.

For a newly introduced mounting it was a great success. Galileo Telescope Makers has been associated with Amateur Astronomers Association of Delhi since long. We have guided them throughout the the making of a 13" and a 16" telescope- The largest telescope owned by any amateur in India.

From the beginning there was no advertisement done, all of our customers came to know of our products by word of mouth by existing satisfied users. The word spread because the telescope was seen more often under the stars rather than collecting dust in your house store. The company now offers a broad range of telescope and accessories for the serious amateur. Galileo telescope owners will tell you that they have a telescope manufacturer who provides quality telescopes at a reasonable price, that continually updated its products technically, and , above all, stood firmly behind every sale.

Quality and Value of its products is the basis of any successful company. Does each product offer good and fair value for the customers money? Does it perform well within the advertised specifications? If the product is by Galileo Telescope Makers we know that the answer is yes in both the cases. We look at our products, study them, use them, and regularly compare them with our competitors. When we say that the Dobsonians and other products from our company are the "Finest" we mean it, because we don’t say it unless we have personally tested all aspects of each unit that goes out to the customer.

We offer an excellent product warranty, a warranty that gives our customers protection of their money and time invested in any of our products. When a customer calls in with a complaint, whether or not the product is under warranty, we ask ourselves a simple question: What is the fair thing to do? If the product has not been abused or mistreated, we routinely repair or replace a defective component, beyond stated warranty terms. Our aim is to have Galileo customers satisfied with the product they have purchased, and the company they have purchased it from.

Galileotelescope.com - BUYER PROTECTION POLICY:
We truly understand that any buyer trusts us solely and buys the product from our site.
Hence, we take responsibility for any dis-satisfaction arising there-off.

100% MONEY BACK GUARANTEE:
We have a 7 Day 100% No Questions Asked Money Back Guarantee. If you are not satisfied with our product, Just return it back to us within 7 days from the date of purchase in original packing condition. We will credit you 100% of your money (less shipping cost of item) immediately. After 7 days minimum of 20% restocking fees will apply.  All returned goods must have a Return Goods Authorization number (RGA). No Cash refund. A credit note will be issued for the returned goods, which can be used for future purchases. The item needs to be returned in NEW, resalable condition with all original boxes and packing within 14 days. No returns on opened software, damaged, used items or publications. We take utmost care in packing to safeguard your interest. However we are not responsible for any damage in transit

 

100% FREE REPLACEMENT POLICY:
We have a No Questions asked Free Replacement policy. If you are not satisfied with the product received by you, you can just claim an replacement for the same. Just e-mail us and We will take care.

CUSTOMER CARE:
You can call us in our helpline 09323554536  between 9 am & 10pm.IST
You can SMS your queries to 09323554536
You can e-mail us at astrocare@galileotelescope.com regarding any queries.
Please quote your Order number for immediate follow-ups.

The single most important specification for any astronomical telescope is its aperture. This term refers to the diameter of the telescope's main optical element, be it a lens or a mirror. A telescope's aperture relates directly to the two vital aspects of the scope's performance: its light-gathering power (which determines how bright objects viewed in the scope will appear), and its maximum resolving power (how much fine detail it can reveal). There are other criteria to be considered in selecting a telescope, but if you learn only one thing from this article, let it be this: the larger a telescope's aperture (i.e., the fatter it is), the more you will see.

Unfortunately, the first question most beginners ask is not "What is this telescope’s aperture?" but "What is its magnifying power?" The truth is, any telescope can be made to provide almost any magnification, depending on what eyepiece is used. The factor that limits the highest power that can be used effectively on a given scope is, you may have guessed, its aperture. As magnification is increased, and the image in the scope grows larger, the light gathered by the telescope is spread over a larger area, so the image is dimmed. There is also an absolute limit, determined by the physical properties of light, to the resolution that is possible with any given aperture. As the magnification is pushed beyond that limit the image fails to reveal any additional detail and gradually breaks down into a dim, fuzzy blob.

The maximum useful magnification for any telescope is about 50 times the aperture in inches, or two times the aperture in millimeters. This equates to about 100x to 120x with the smallest telescopes, which is enough to see such wonders as the rings of Saturn and cloud bands on Jupiter. The 2x per millimeter figure is a rule of thumb, and can vary up or down somewhat depending on the optical quality of the scope in question and the vision of the individual observer. Experienced observers usually use much less power; 0.5x to 1x per millimeter is more appropriate for most objects. Any manufacturer claiming that their 60mm scope can provide good views at 450x (7.5 times the aperture in millimeters) is trying either to pull your leg or pick your pocket!

While aperture is the most important specification of any telescope, there are exceptions to the rule that "bigger is better." One is obvious: the need for portability. The largest amateur telescopes are very big indeed, and demand either housing in a permanent observatory or possession of a strong back, a truck, and a gang of muscular and motivated observing buddies! There is a line to be drawn between performance and portability, and where it will be drawn varies with the individual and his or her capacity for storage and portage. Beginners are encouraged to start out with a scope of sufficient aperture to feed their interest, but of a size that they can manage easily. Avoid succumbing to "aperture fever." Those infected with this psychological malady choose the largest telescope they can afford without regard to portability. Their monster scopes soon gather dust in the garage, exiled for the crime of being too heavy and bulky, while the once enthusiastic would-be stargazers wind up frustrated or in traction.

The second limitation on very large telescopes is less obvious, but becomes apparent after the first couple of viewing sessions: the Earth’s atmosphere limits how much we can see. Stars and planets viewed through a telescope appear to shimmer or wiggle, as their light passes through the air and is distorted. This effect is known to astronomers as seeing, and becomes more noticeable and bothersome as telescope aperture increases. It especially affects observations of the Moon and planets, where high power applied to reveal fine details also magnifies the air turbulence.

The amount of distortion due to seeing varies, depending upon the behavior of air currents in the upper atmosphere, and to a lesser extent upon the altitude and topography of the observing site. But on an average night, at an average site, air turbulence will limit useful magnification to 250x or 300x, and prevent telescopes larger than about 8" or 10" aperture from achieving their full potential for high-powered viewing. Telescopes larger than 10" are most often chosen by observers who want to gather as much light as possible for viewing dim galaxies, nebulas, and star clusters. These "deep sky" objects, affectionately called "faint fuzzies," are most often viewed at much lower power than the planets, so seeing is less of a problem.

The last important topic to cover before delving into optical designs is that of mounts. Telescopes are offered on either altitude-azimuth (or altaz) mounts, which move up-down (altitude), left-right (azimuth), or equatorial mounts, which are tilted to align with the rotational (polar) axis of the Earth.

Altaz mounts are generally lighter and simpler to use, and are preferred if the telescope is to be used both for both astronomy and daytime observing (or for daytime observing only). The better ones offer slow-motion controls to aid in moving the scope by small increments, and are useful for powers up to about 150x. The Dobsonian mount is a variation on the altaz mount. It employs unconventional (for telescopes) materials like plywood and Teflon in a compact mounting that moves easily, is extremely stable, and can adequately support large telescopes at a very low cost. Though there are no mechanical slow-motions or electric drives on a Dobsonian, a well-made example glides so smoothly on the Teflon bearings that with a little practice it is quite easy to track objects manually at 200x or more!

 

Equatorial mounts are designed specially for astronomy, and are not recommended for terrestrial viewing. Their advantage is that they allow easier tracking of the stars across the sky. This motion can be achieved with either a single manual slow-motion control or an electric motor drive (or clock drive). The easier viewing they provide at high power makes equatorials preferred by observers who are most interested in the Moon and planets. Also, you’ll need an equatorial mount if you want to do astrophotography.

Budget is a factor in almost every telescope purchase decision, but there are at least three major price-related pitfalls to be avoided.

Don’t buy a flimsy, el cheapo scope with the intention of getting a taste of the sky and upgrading later. Many of those scopes are so poor-quality and frustrating that they can turn budding stargazers off of astronomy for good!

On the other hand, don’t give up on astronomy if the scope of your dreams is financially out of reach at this moment. There are many reasonably priced, high-quality beginner’s scopes that can reveal incredible wonders, while helping a novice define his or her particular observing interest.

Finally, if you are one of the fortunate few for whom price represents little obstacle, think twice before buying the biggest, most expensive telescope in stock. Many of the large, fully featured scopes favored by experienced observers are also the most complicated, and are too much to grasp for someone still trying to find the Big Dipper!

Before concluding, here’s a quick word for the beginner who wants to jump right into astrophotography through their new telescope: Don’t! At least, not until you have taken some time to learn the sky and become familiar with operating your scope. Photography of the heavens can be a wonderfully rewarding pastime, but is a combination of art and science with a steep learning curve that can discourage beginners who try to take on too much at once. Of course, if astrophotography is a primary interest there is nothing wrong with selecting a first scope based on its easy adaptability to camera work in the future. While most telescopes can be used for picture-taking (with varying prospects for success), the most important qualifications for a photographic instrument are a rock-solid equatorial mounting, and ease of attaching a camera so that it can be focused. For a variety of technical and economic reasons, compound telescopes of 8" aperture and larger are most popular for photography. They also make fine instruments for general observing.

Which, then, is the right telescope? That’s a decision that must be made individually, but the three best pieces of advice are:

The best telescope for you is the one you will use most often. A huge, optically wonderful scope will bring no joy if it is consigned to the closet!

All else being equal, a larger-aperture (diameter) telescope will reveal more in the night sky than a smaller one ("I know, already!" you may be thinking.)

Buy from a company that’s knowledgeable about telescopes and astronomy, and who will support you even after your purchase (since you will likely have questions).

The advice is to select a well-made telescope, of a design matched as well as possible to your primary observing interest and most frequent observing site. Make sure it’s a size that can be handled easily (by your standards and no one else’s) and used often, and you will enjoy a lifetime of awe and wonder under the stars!

Order Processing: Your order will be shipped within 2 working days after receipt of the payment (incase of cheque / card, after credit confirmation by the bank). Any delay in shipment will be informed. Your card will not be charged till the item is shipped. Shipping cost do not include any local levies Octroi / duty charged at your end. Any statutory forms / document required under your local laws will need to be submitted in advance. Smaller Scopes, Binoculars, Books, Accessories normally delivered in 2-3 working days after dispatch. Larger scopes normally delivered in 5-7 working days Imported brands can have varied lead time. For North east sector and remote locations please add 5 more working days time. We have the right to choose carrier best suitable for your ordered item and location to ship your product. Any change / up gradation / special request can cost extra. Please confirm with us in advance. For further queries, please send an e-mail to astrocare@galileotelescope.com Please mention Order # for easy reference. Voice / SMS : 09323554536