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:
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.
Over 195,000 upvotes - thank you all so much! I really thought I'd end up with about 5,000.
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.
".. bigger than the scope at my local observatory."
That's a pretty damn good science flex if I ever saw one.
Edit: My first award, thanks stranger! But if anyone feels like they want to give any awards, give it to the man of the post because he definitely deserves it!
__Augustus_ on March 29th, 2020 at 21:10 UTC »
Update: AMA Tomorrow (Tuesday 3/31) @ 12:30 PM EST here on /r/space!
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 - please do check it out!
My YouTube
Podcast I was on a while back
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:
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.
Over 195,000 upvotes - thank you all so much! I really thought I'd end up with about 5,000.
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!
Again, TYSM everyone!
Lunatik21 on March 29th, 2020 at 21:24 UTC »
".. bigger than the scope at my local observatory."
That's a pretty damn good science flex if I ever saw one.
Edit: My first award, thanks stranger! But if anyone feels like they want to give any awards, give it to the man of the post because he definitely deserves it!
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.