Abstract: A microscope (10) having an improved light source assembly (40) that provides sufficient illumination for sophisticated microscopic applications while requiring so little power that it may be operated with a small, rechargeable battery pack (46) that provides over 40 hours of continuous operation from a single charge. The light source assembly (40) has a bulb life of approximately 100,000 hours and operates at temperatures significantly below the operating temperatures of conventional microscope bulbs.