SPS will work together with other respective participants for IYA 2009 in the special Cornerstand project, which is aimed at enabling 1M students to build their own telescope to experience the effect on how the great Italian mastermind could have observed the heavens. Coined as “Galileoscopes” these telescope will help amateurs to enjoy and feel the presence of IYA 2009 to the bottoms of their hearts while it lasts. SPS SOCKs – Science Outreach Catalyst Kids- will look into the matters of Galileoscopes and their function.

In its endeavours of popularizing the universal ambition, YoS is launching a large range of public awareness projects, to enable better understanding of the science and its being. Meantime COPUS network – Coalition on the Public Understanding of Science – is also supporting the cause by getting together with allied bodies, such like, SPS and APS. They will strive together to unveil profiles, websites, games, videos, and of course, experiments to the March’s “Physics & Technology” thematic hub on YoS 2009 website. In connection of this effort, SPS looks forward to conduct an experiment on “the science of rolling objects“. You too can contribute your own data, related to this experiment by submitting them on the YoS 2009 web portal , and later they will be used to analyse the ultimate report of the project.

Although Galileo’s telescope was so primitive relative to present telescopes, it was smart enough to let Galileo observe the purified cosmos. Among his observations, were Jupiter’s satellites, Saturn’s rings, phases of Venus and Moon’s craters.

Now Guess What?

Since it’s IYA 2009 already, you still have the rights to recall what Galileo might have seen. Not a Déjà vu for you, but for him, in case he still existed. It’s the Galileoscope.

It’s great to see that Galileoscope ranks among other equivalents Cornerstand projects and the idea is to create a replica of what Galileo used 4 centuries ago. Follwing would be what is required to assemble this phenominal legacy.

• A glass of 2-inch lens
• Plastic casing
• Eyepiece
• Barlow lens

Actually Barlow lens are used to double the magnification and the construction of Galileoscope is expremely simple. Even a child could do it with a little support of a mature. For anyone interested in buying a Galileoscope, we got good nows. It’s only $15!. Unbelieavable ha?

However the ambition of the promoters is to make telescopes as cheaply as possible worldwide ans physically enabling anyone to observe the skies, while spreading the news of the IYA 2009 in every nook and corner.

Furthermore, the organizers have made it such that you can have the privilege of donating a telescope to the needy, anywhere in the world. A telescope can be donated anonymously for only $12.50. If you have time, feel free to pay a visit to the Galileoscope page. There are many resources available to be obtained and benefited. Even if you feel so generous, don’t throw away the idea of donating a telescope to a fellow earthling on your very mother planet.