Building a Telescope for Physics Class: Choosing Lenses & Mirrors

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on building a telescope for a physics class using three lenses and one mirror, with a focus on achromatic telescope design. Participants suggest considering the use of converging lenses, specifically two for the eyepiece and one as the objective lens. The conversation also highlights the importance of the mirror's curvature, as it provides additional optical power. Furthermore, the feasibility of using a Newtonian design, which includes a secondary mirror, is questioned regarding project constraints.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of optical principles, specifically lens types (converging and diverging).
  • Familiarity with telescope design, particularly achromatic and Newtonian designs.
  • Knowledge of mirror curvature and its impact on optical performance.
  • Basic grasp of variables in optical design, including surface shapes and glass types.
NEXT STEPS
  • Research achromatic lens design and its advantages in telescope construction.
  • Explore the principles of Newtonian telescope design and its optical configurations.
  • Investigate the effects of mirror curvature on telescope performance.
  • Examine existing telescope designs and eyepiece configurations for practical insights.
USEFUL FOR

Students in physics, amateur astronomers, and educators involved in optics and telescope construction will benefit from this discussion.

Dgolverk
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Hi,
I need to build a telescope for my physics class.
I need to use any 3 lenses(converging or diverging) and 1 mirror.
I was thinking of using an achromatic telescope design for that.
However I am not sure what kind of lenses to use and whether I should make the eyepiece from two lenses or just one.
Should I use 3 converging lenses? 2 for eyepiece then one as an objective lens?
Thank you in advance.
 
Last edited:
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There's several proven telescope and eyepiece designs out there, no need to re-invent something.

Must you only use one mirror? That rules out a lot of designs. Can your mirror be curved? that gives you an extra surface with optical power. Are you free to pick and design the lenses, or must you use lenses pre-chosen? 3 lenses plus one mirror gives 13 variables- each surface shape (7), the spacings (3) and the thicknesses (3). Glass types are another variable, but I suspect you are stuck with BK7 or the like.

I suggest you poke around and see what designs are out there.
 
Also, is something like a Newtonian design allowed? Besides the primary mirror, Newtonians have a second flat mirror whose sole purpose is to redirect the light out to the side. This 2nd mirror has nothing to do with the focusing properties of the telescope, so does this constitute one-too-many mirrors to qualify for this project?
 

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