How to Design a Simple Telescope?

[Alawadhi]

Hi and hello. I’m new here and this is my first post. How to design a telescope guys?

 

[cepheid]

That's a HUGE question and is something on which there is TONS of literature. Don't expect a five minute step by step set of instructions. Take the initiative! Look it up online, at the library, ask members of the local astronomy club etc. I hear some of the veteran members of those clubs even grind their own mirrors from scratch! Local science centres tend to have camps for telescope-building (if you are a kid, that is--otherwise it's a solo project for you). I have never attempted it, but I want to, when school is not so pressing. It's a great amateur project, and you will have fun. Just decide what kind of telescope best serves your observing interests and practical needs. What aperture size? What design? Reflector or refractor? Good luck man...

 

[Astronuc]

One needs a knowledge of optics and the physics of light.

For the best image, I would recommend a reflector telescope, and the best type appears to be a Dobson type, and something on the order of 15 inches (38 cm).

Here are some plans - http://members.aol.com/sfsidewalk/intro.htm

or http://www.willbell.com/tm/dobtel.htm

or buy a Dobson - http://telescopes.com/johndobson.htmlhttp://telescopes.com/johndobson.html

recommendation - http://www.phys.vt.edu/~jhs/dobsonian.html

Notes from John Dobson's telescope making class
http://sfsidewalkastronomers.org/telescopes/building/dobnotes

and his site - http://www.johndobson.org/index.html
and http://www.sidewalkastronomers.com/index.html

Finally, if you are obsessed - http://www.globaldialog.com/~obsessiontscp/OBHP.html

 

[cepheid]

Finally, if you are obsessed - http://www.globaldialog.com/~obsessiontscp/OBHP.html

WOW...

 

[Gokul43201]

I second Astronuc's suggestion.

If you are a first-timer, I would recommend you try your hand at a simple Newtonian (reflector) scope with a Dobsonian mount. These are reasonably uncomplicated as far as construction is concerned, and you can buy all the parts you need for about a couple of hundred dollars (US). The dominant cost is in the primary mirror - and if I recall correctly, you can buy a decent 6" or 8" mirror for about a hundred bucks. Other notable costs will be in the secondary (diagonal) mirror and in eyepieces. The body and mount can be made from relatively cheap raw materials. Access to a woodshop or woodworking tools will be most useful.

While the dobsonian is the easiest "nice" telescope to make, it has drawbacks in that the mount is usually bulky and the scope itself is fairly long (3 to 4 ft long for a 6 to 8 inch scope).

I've referred to this site, and found it quite nice.

Cassegrain scopes are much fancier (smaller for a given resolution) than Newtonian scopes but are way harder to build.