The Acuter Starlight Seer 60 explains 400 years of optical history by letting you recreate it yourself. Start with the Galilean telescope, featuring an objective lens and a negative eyepiece – exactly the configuration Galileo used to observe Jupiter in 1610, producing the narrow but upright image he is thought to have seen. Then swap the negative eyepiece for a positive one and add an extension tube, and you’ll have the improvement Kepler made: a wider, brighter field of view, but with an inverted and laterally reversed image. Both configurations produce 8x magnification using the same 60mm lens and 300mm focal length.

The third step is the modern version. Fit the achromatic lens and the H20mm eyepiece, and the tube becomes a genuine achromatic refractor with 15x magnification, featuring the colour correction of earlier designs – similar to the principle that every refractor has used since the 1750s. Three telescopes, one tube, and an explanation of why each design has replaced the previous one.

All parts are assembled by hand – the dew cap, objective lens, optical tube, focuser, adapter ring and eyepiece holder can be easily screwed together and slotted into place, whilst the optical path is simple to follow. The 90-degree zenith mirror, which is also included, makes viewing comfortable when the telescope is pointed at a high object, whilst the table tripod with its swivel handle can be set up anywhere in seconds.

Ideal for school classrooms and training programmes, and the perfect gift for any keen young astronomer who wants to understand this observational instrument and the sky.

INCLUDED IN THE SET:

• Optical tube: D=60mm F=300mm Optical tube with objective lens, dew cap, focuser, adapter ring, eyepiece holder
• Eyepieces: H20mm eyepiece, negative lens as eyepiece (Galilean) and positive lens as eyepiece (Keplerian), plus extension tube
• Zenith mirror: 90-degree zenith mirror
• Achromatic lens set
• Mount: Table stand with swivel handle
• Documentation — Assembly and Observation Guide