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Telescopes allow us to peer into the vast sky, but have you ever thought about how to assemble one yourself? OJO Images / Getty ImagesAt its core, a telescope is a device that brings distant objects into clear view. It works by collecting light from a faraway object (the objective lens or primary mirror) and focusing that light (image). A second component (the eyepiece lens) magnifies the image and directs it to your eye. To construct a basic telescope at home, you'll need the following materials:
- two magnifying glasses - preferably with diameters between 1 - 1.5 inches (2.5-3 cm), with one being larger than the other for best results
- a cardboard tube - such as a paper towel or gift-wrapping paper roll (longer lengths are preferable)
- duct tape
- scissors
- a ruler, yardstick, or tape measure
- sheet of printed paper - a newspaper or magazine works well
Follow these steps to build your telescope:
- Start by gathering the two magnifying glasses and a sheet of printed paper.
- Hold the larger magnifying glass between you and the paper. The print will appear blurry.
- Next, place the second magnifying glass between your eye and the first one.
- Adjust the second glass forward or backward until the print becomes sharp. You’ll notice the image looks larger and upside down.
- Ask a friend to measure the distance between the two glasses and write it down.
- Cut a small slot in the cardboard tube near the front, about one inch (2.5 cm) from the opening. Don’t cut all the way through. This slot should hold the larger magnifying glass.
- Cut another slot at the same distance from the first one as your friend measured. This is where the second magnifying glass will go.
- Place the magnifying glasses into their respective slots (larger one in front, smaller one in back) and secure them with duct tape.
- Leave a gap of about 0.5 - 1 inch (1 - 2 cm) behind the smaller magnifying glass, then trim off any extra tube length.
- Test the telescope by looking at the printed page. You may need to adjust the distance between the glasses to achieve a sharp focus.
Congratulations! You’ve just built a basic refracting telescope! With this telescope, you can now observe the moon, star clusters, and even some land-based objects like birds.
