How Can I Build a Telescope?

[Vphysics2013]

Hi
I am very much interested to build a telescope on my own.
I am looking for a complete guide to build a telescope and getting the apparatus needed ?
Thank you in advance for all suggestions.

 

[NTW]

A classic (somewhat dated, but a classic anyway) is Jean Texereau's book 'How to build a telescope'.

 

[Chronos]

Ingalls is still considered by many to be the bible for ATM. I've ground a small [~6"] mirror, but, I'm far from an expert. It is a pretty fun way to master an artisan skill on something fairly easy to buy anymore. You can buy a mirror now about as cheaply as you can a mirror kit, so it should be something that really interests you, as opposed to a work around for poverty. And the optics are just for starters. Putting together a decent mount is probably a bigger challenge than figuring a mirror. I would advise against grinding your own eyepieces, that is a real specialty at which few amateurs achieve proficiency. Even making mirror can be pretty tricky.

 

[NTW]

If Texereau is dated, the three volumes of Ingall's ATM are overdated... But they are useful, of course, and very informative... I bought the three volumes of ATM (and the 'Everyman's' version of Texereau, an excellent translation) 20 or 30 years ago, and I'm not sure if they are still available. At least, Texereau's book (in the original French: 'La construction du télescope d'amateur') is freely (and legally) available in the internet...

 

[Chronos]

Yes, Ingalls is probably closer to a petroglyph than merely 'dated'.

 

[Vphysics2013]

thanks for the textbooks reference but could not get the proper link to download .

Putting together a decent mount is probably a bigger challenge than figuring a mirror. I would advise against grinding your own eyepieces, that is a real specialty at which few amateurs achieve proficiency. Even making mirror can be pretty tricky.

I agree, mounting would be more challenging than getting mirrors . Still on the way to decide which telescope, refractor : reflector ?

 

[Borek]

Please check "Similar threads" at the bottom of the page, this was discussed many times in the past.

 

[brianhurren]

i have designed and built a small 3" f11 refractor. the optics are available from the suplus shed for about under $50. all the other parts are available from the Depot. only need a hacksaw and a screwdriver to put it together. total cost under about $80 usd. it is a two element acromat. good for planets and solar. I can send you all of the build details if you like. should be able to fully asemble it in a couple of hours or less. it is called the little golden telescope. it is simple to build and easy to use. here is a pic of it fully assembled with guide scope and tripod. ( can be baught , cheap servayours trypod about $40. the mount is a simple unifork altitude azimuth mount built out of scrap 4x2 timber. very solid and stable.

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

@Dennis Roscoe built his own telescope, maybe he has some ideas for you

 

[scott mcleod jr]

Ive used all youtube videos and kinda looked up each part as I went. The most difficult phase I have found is the figuring of the mirror into a paraboloid from a sphere. The foucault tester involved has to be very sensitive. So make sure to build a very sturdy tester. This is the best one I have found is here http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=FL61C1Lsgudm9Db_s6qRQOag, the cheapest place for grinding/polishing supplies ishttp://firsthanddiscovery.com/. The blank itself is hard to find cheap. I got one on ebay for 13 dollars and it was beat to hell, but easy to clean up, unfortunately that was two years ago and I haven't seen another cheap one since. Here is the cheapest site I have found for blanks.http://www.telescopemirrorblanks.com/. I had to restart my mirror twice so I have a real good idea on what to do and what not to do.
Here is the best site for grinding and polishing directions. http://stellafane.org/tm/atm/. And for figuring I used thishttp://www.loptics.com/ATM/mirror_making/full_lap/full_lap.html and this http://www.bbastrodesigns.com/JoyOfMirrorMaking/Parabolizing.html. There is a good video explaining the different test types on the ATM link as well. I am sending my mirror off to be aluminized as we speak. Happy Grinding!

 

[montoyas7940]

Mirror blanks can be hard to find and expensive. I bought grit from gotgrit.com, he was inexpensive but very slow. I think he is a one man garage operation.

 

[scott mcleod jr]

Mirror blanks can be hard to find and expensive. I bought grit from gotgrit.com, he was inexpensive but very slow. I think he is a one man garage operation.

Yeah I agree. I looked for individual grit sizes on ebay and Amazon they were expensive.

 

[brianhurren]

if this is your first telescope build I would advise against grinding your own mirror. I would by a good quality parabolic aluminumized one. GSO in Taiwan make quality inexpensive ones.

 

[davenn]

if this is your first telescope build I would advise against grinding your own mirror. I would by a good quality parabolic aluminumized one. GSO in Taiwan make quality inexpensive ones.

yup, buy a main and secondary set and spend your fun time on assembling the tune etc and getting the optics collimated ...
that's still going to give you a big challenge

Dave