I'm 17 years old and just finished building this 14.7" f/2.89 Newtonian reflector telescope. Despite its stubby size it collects roughly 2500 times more light than the human eye and is bigger than the scope at my local observatory.
How to make your own telescope and mirror - Very easy plans, you can build your own scope for a few hundred bucks and with basic tools. Mirror is a little harder but I've made a 6" with little difficulty - while it is time-consuming it's a perfect project to work on at home!
Also if you're interested in building a scope check out /r/atming, have posted some good resources there too
I really want to stress that anybody, and I mean anybody, can do this! Telescope making and astronomy are no harder than building a PC and look how many folks do that!
Okay, some more edits since this is pretty visible:
I am considering an AMA, probably Tuesday (tomorrow)
Considering a Patreon as well. Thanks for the suggestions folks.
HIGHLY recommend joining your local astronomy club. Even if you can't physically visit right now there are still tons of great resources you can access and folks you can meet! Plus a lot of clubs can really use the cash - astro is kinda a niche hobby!
This scope is NOT usable for astrophotography. Isn't designed to be.
Will add more edits when I have the time.... so many questions to answer! Thank you so much everyone!
EDIT AGAIN (7:45 AM EST):
Over 160,000 upvotes - thank you all so much! I don't understand the weighting system so I'm not sure how this translates in terms of the number of people, but just the fact that over 160,000 people liked this post so much that they gave me some useless Internet points means a lot. I really thought I'd end up with about 5,000.
AMA tomorrow. Check my profile for updates.
Done answering comments, I really don't have the time for another 1000+ of them! Sorry! Most of the questions I'm seeing have already been answered anyways - check my comment replies or the links I've posted and you will probably find the answer.
Doing research on the whole Patreon thing - not sure if I produce enough "content" or if I'd have to start doing so to qualify? Really not the best YouTuber or anything here and not sure if I want to be locked into all that either.
I am speaking at the Black Forest Star Party in Coudersport, PA about telescope making in September. Register here: https://bfsp.org/ - will also be at the Cherry Springs Star Party at the same location in June, as well as Stellafane in August and potentially the Oregon Star Party in July and Peach State Star Gaze in October.
You're telling me that the person who runs the best telescope review site on the web and who writes the r/telescopes recommendations, as well as builds their own amazing telescopes, is only 17?!
__Augustus_ on March 29th, 2020 at 21:10 UTC »
Build thread on Cloudy Nights - I didn't make the mirror, but built/designed the structure myself.
How to make your own telescope and mirror - Very easy plans, you can build your own scope for a few hundred bucks and with basic tools. Mirror is a little harder but I've made a 6" with little difficulty - while it is time-consuming it's a perfect project to work on at home!
Telescopes I recommend to beginners for as little as $100
Read over 75 of my unbiased reviews of telescopes, with some reviews sprinkled in by a few other folks here and there
My Instagram page
Also if you're interested in building a scope check out /r/atming, have posted some good resources there too
I really want to stress that anybody, and I mean anybody, can do this! Telescope making and astronomy are no harder than building a PC and look how many folks do that!
Okay, some more edits since this is pretty visible:
I am considering an AMA, probably Tuesday (tomorrow)
Considering a Patreon as well. Thanks for the suggestions folks.
HIGHLY recommend joining your local astronomy club. Even if you can't physically visit right now there are still tons of great resources you can access and folks you can meet! Plus a lot of clubs can really use the cash - astro is kinda a niche hobby!
This scope is NOT usable for astrophotography. Isn't designed to be.
Will add more edits when I have the time.... so many questions to answer! Thank you so much everyone!
EDIT AGAIN (7:45 AM EST):
Over 160,000 upvotes - thank you all so much! I don't understand the weighting system so I'm not sure how this translates in terms of the number of people, but just the fact that over 160,000 people liked this post so much that they gave me some useless Internet points means a lot. I really thought I'd end up with about 5,000.
AMA tomorrow. Check my profile for updates.
Done answering comments, I really don't have the time for another 1000+ of them! Sorry! Most of the questions I'm seeing have already been answered anyways - check my comment replies or the links I've posted and you will probably find the answer.
Doing research on the whole Patreon thing - not sure if I produce enough "content" or if I'd have to start doing so to qualify? Really not the best YouTuber or anything here and not sure if I want to be locked into all that either.
I am speaking at the Black Forest Star Party in Coudersport, PA about telescope making in September. Register here: https://bfsp.org/ - will also be at the Cherry Springs Star Party at the same location in June, as well as Stellafane in August and potentially the Oregon Star Party in July and Peach State Star Gaze in October.
Thanks for the gold and awards, kind strangers!
Lewri on March 29th, 2020 at 21:27 UTC »
You're telling me that the person who runs the best telescope review site on the web and who writes the r/telescopes recommendations, as well as builds their own amazing telescopes, is only 17?!
jamie_zips on March 29th, 2020 at 21:30 UTC »
I had absolutely no idea one could build a telescope of this size and scale at home, but this is awesome! Just, like whoa, incredible, man.