Log Astronomy: We're celebrating Galileo's birthday with a special discount!

Save 25% on the iconic Galileoscope Build-Your-Own Refractor Kit with a special discount code at checkout!

It's Galileo's birthday!

Celebrate by saving 25% on the iconic Galileoscope

As the anniversary of Galileo's birth, February 15th is the perfect day to tip your telescope to the man largely considered to be "the father of modern observational astronomy." Explore Scientific is celebrating the birthday of this astronomy legend by offering a limited-time 25% discount code on the iconic Galileoscope Build-Your-Own Refractor Kit! The discount code GALILEO25 will be applied automatically at checkout!

Galileoscope Kit

$60.00

$79.99

DISCOUNT APPLIED AT CHECKOUT

Galileoscope Kit with Solar Filter

$62.97

$83.95

DISCOUNT APPLIED AT CHECKOUT

• The Galileoscope telescope kit includes all of the parts and instructions needed to build a 50mm refractor

• Assembly is quick and requires no tools or adhesives

• Enjoy views of the lunar surface, Jupiter's Galilean moons, Saturn's rings and bright star clusters

• Kit includes a 25x eyepiece and a custom accessory that can be assembled as a 2x Barlow lens for a power of 50x or a 17x Galilean eyepiece with a right-side-up field of view less than 1/2° wide so the user can experience the views Galileo had of the expansive night sky

• Learn basic optical concepts, including how lenses form images and how magnification affects field of view

How did Galileo advance astronomy?

Galileo's list of scientific accomplishments and inventions is daunting and covers a wide range of disciplines. In terms of astronomy, his most astounding contributions began in 1609 when he made remarkable improvements to a simple Dutch spyglass that was at the time awaiting patent. Even though he had not seen the rumored device, he reasoned out how it would operate and created his own 3x telescope. Eventually his experiments led to larger magnification capabilities.

Using the scopes he designed, Galileo made many notable observations including discovering four of Jupiter's largest moons, providing proof that Venus had phases and revealing that the Moon's surface was not smooth but was instead a topographical treat that he went on to chart. He observed sunspots and confirmed that the heavens held vast amounts of stars that the naked eye could not discern.

Gear up now for the total solar eclipse!

Unistellar's new Smart Solar Filter allows observers to safely view the Sun in just two minutes with their Unistellar telescopes. This all-in-one package includes a solar filter designed to fit Unistellar telescopes with a polymer sheet selected to reduce the Sun's light 100,000 times for safe solar observing, as well as a solar mode in the Unistellar App to elevate the observing experience to new heights. For a limited time, you can get a free Smart Solar Filter with the purchase of any Unistellar telescope. Click the button below to find out how!

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Do you have safe solar eyewear yet?