From the May 2008 issue

Glenn Chaple’s observing basics: Transform telescope trash into treasure

May 2008: With a few modifications, you can transform a 60mm "trash" refractor into a treasure of a telescope.
By | Published: May 1, 2008 | Last updated on May 18, 2023
You’ve probably heard the old saying, “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.” This aptly applies to the budget telescopes department stores sold in the mid-to-late 20th century. Typically, they would be 60mm refractors labeled “500x astronomical telescope.” Beginners scooped up these “bargains,” so certain their space adventures were about to begin.