Galaxy Optics
Articles - Business Feature

by: Dustin Heron UrbanJohnHudekGalaxyOptics-25f5

Buena Vista is not exactly a technological hub, but that hasn’t stopped John Hudek from creating one of the most respected telescope optic companies in the world here. Galaxy Optics has manufactured high-precision Newtonian telescope mirrors in BV for 21 years now. As an amateur astronomer, Hudek began building a telescope in 1984 in order to observe the appearance of Halley’s Comet in 1986. He soon learned, however, that there was a wait of several years to get a mirror for hisIC434_Horsehead_Nebula_20_f4_Brian_Lula telescope. He saw in this a huge business opportunity and began working with glass and reading up on the technicalities of optic manufacturing. He officially opened his business in 1987, and it has been a tremendous success ever since.

Newtonian telescopes, as opposed to other types of telescopes like refractors, feature a primary mirror which gathers light and reflects it to a secondary mirror which directs thesky1 image through an eyepiece on the side of the device (see picture). Galaxy specializes in 18”-25” optics, allowing astronomers to magnify celestial bodies up to 600 times.

John Hudek works rigorously with his son Sky to remove any defects or inconsistencies in the optics surface. Galaxy Optics uses a state of the art technology known as laser interferometry to scan the mirror’s surface for any defects. This technology produces what is known as a “3D phase map” of the optic’s surface, allowing the Hudeks to locate and correct any inconsistencies. The final interferometer reading is shipped to the customer, giving them a precise data on the quality of the mirror.

The result of the high level of precision in this manufacturing process is an image of immense clarity without anysky2 distortions. Astronomy magazine described the performance of Galaxy Optics mirrors as “excellent,” and one customer summed up the viewing experience by saying "We have seen the internal structure of the Saturn nebula at 600 power!!! The views of Jupiter… were heart-stopping."

With such a reputation for quality, Galaxy Optics’ customers include institutions like MIT and Princeton University, IBM and the McDonald Observatory. The majority of their business comes from telescope companies like Obsession Telescopes which offer with their products a choice of mirror; such companies purchase these optics directly from the Hudeks.

Not all of the mirrors manufactured by Galaxy Optics are for civilian observation, however. The Hudeks recently produced some mirrors for laser weapons system to be deployed in Iraq. They supplied the mirrors to the defense contractor Raytheon for a defensive missile system to be used in Iraq’s green zone to shoot down mortars there. The system was ultimately never deployed, but the Hudeks did get valuable confirmation of the quality of their products. Raytheon ran their own laser interferometry on the optics and “Got identical results to Galaxy Optics’ readings,” Sky told me. “You don’t see that very often, especially from facility to facility with different test equipment. They were really impressed with that. The mirrors were actually twice as good as what they expected they’d be.”

Galaxy Optics is another great example of the creative ways in which Buena Vista residents are carving out a living for themselves here. The Hudeks provide an excellent example for entrepreneurs already living here or considering Buena Vista as their new home. BV might seem like an unlikely location for a business like Galaxy Optics, but John and Sky Hudek prove that with a commitment to work of the highest quality, you can make a comfortable living at most anything here. You can visit their website at www.galaxyoptics.com for more information.

Photos from top:

Owner John A. Hudek stands with Galaxy Optics-25 f5 mirror.

Astrograph photo of the Horsehead Nebula taken by Brian Lula. Brian designed and built the Astrograph himself.   He used a Galaxy Optics 20" F/4 as the primary mirror.

Sky18 Telescope inside of the Sky Observatory. Designed and built by John Hudek.

The Galaxy Optics 36" cryogenically pumped optical coating chamber. Built by John Hudek.


Each month South Main sends out an eUpdate which features new articles for and about the local Buena Vista community. To subscribe, please visit our contact us page.