Telescopes make distant objects appear closer by using a combination of lenses and mirrors. If you don't have a telescope or binoculars at home, you can make your own! But be aware that images can be turned upside down.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Making a telescope with magnifying glasses
Step 1. Gather your material
You will need a piece of corrugated cardboard about two feet long. This material is easy to find at stationers and packaging stores. You will also need to use two different sized loupes. Also take strong glue, scissors and a pencil.
The telescope will not work if the lens is the same size
Step 2. Hold the larger magnifying glass between you and the cardboard
The image will look blurry. Place the second magnifying glass between your eye and the first.
Step 3. Move the second magnifying glass forward or backward until the image is clear
You will notice that the image will look larger and upside down.
Step 4. Wrap the cardboard around one of the magnifying glasses
Mark the diameter on the paper with the pencil. Keep it tight.
Step 5. Measure along the edge of the paper from the first mark
You will need to measure about 3 cm from this marking to leave extra space to glue around the magnifying glass.
Step 6. Cut the line marked on the cardboard to the other side
You should cut lengthwise, not lengthwise. The cardboard should be about 2 feet long on one side. Cut a slit in the cardboard tube near the front opening, about 2.5 cm from it. Do not cut to the end of the tube. The slit will need to hold the larger magnifying glass.
Step 7. Cut a second slit in the tube, the same distance that was measured between the two lenses of the first slit
This is where the second magnifying glass goes.
You will now have two pieces of corrugated cardboard, one slightly larger than the other
Step 8. Place the two magnifying glasses in their slots (the big one on the front and the small one on the back) and tape them together
Leave about 1 to 2 cm of tube behind the smaller magnifying glass and cut off the excess.
Step 9. Glue the first piece of cardboard around one of the magnifying glasses
You'll need to glue the edges of it too, as you left about 3 cm of cardboard.
Step 10. Make the second tube for the magnifying glass
It will need to be a little bigger than the first one, but not much; just enough for the first to fit the second.
Step 11. Thread the first tube into the second
You can now use this telescope to observe distant objects, although it doesn't allow you to see stars clearly. This type of telescope is great for observing the Moon.
The images will be upside down, as astronomers don't care about orientation in space (there's no "up" or "down" in space, anyway)
Method 2 of 2: Making a Telescope with Lens
Step 1. Gather the materials
You will need two lenses, a postal tube with an inner and an outer tube (can be purchased at stationers or packaging stores and needs to be 5 cm in diameter and 110 cm in length), a saw bow, a stylus, glue strong and a drill.
- The lenses need to have a different focal length. For best results, purchase a concave-convex lens with a diameter of 49 mm and a focal length of 1350 mm, and a plano-concave lens with the same diameter and focal length of 152 mm.
- It's easy to order lenses online, and they're not very expensive.
- The saw bow is the most effective for making straight, clean lines, but you can use any other saw or cutting tool if you need to.
Step 2. Cut the outer tube in half
You will need both parts, but the inner tube will serve to distance them. The lenses go into both parts of the outer tube.
Step 3. Cut two pieces of inner tube
They will be the spacers and need to be 2, 5 to 4 cm in diameter. Try to cut straight and at once with a saw or another tool.
Spacers hold the second lens in place at the outer end of the tube
Step 4. Drill the eye hole in the tube cap
Use the drill to apply light pressure to the middle of the lid, making the hole. Again, it will need to be kept as clean as possible for best results.
Step 5. Drill holes on the outside of the larger tube
You will need to drill holes where you are going to place the lens in the outer tube, as these will allow you to put glue on the inside of the tube. The best place is about 2.5 cm from the end of the inner tube.
You will also need to drill holes in the end of the outer tube to fit the eyepiece and cap
Step 6. Stick the eyepiece against the removable cap
The eyepiece is the plano-concave lens, and the flat side must be against the lid. You will glue through the holes you made and turn the lens to spread the glue. Press the tube against the lens until the glue sets.
Step 7. Cut off the closed end of the outer tube
You're going to thread the inner tube into the outer one through this hole.
Step 8. Insert the first spacer into the outer tube
It will need to be flush with the inside of the outer tube to hold the concave-convex lens in place. Make holes and apply the glue as you did with the eyepiece.
Step 9. Attach the lens and second spacer
You will have to drill the holes, put the glue and spread it. Press firmly until glue sets.
Step 10. Insert the inner tube into the outer one
You can slide the pieces as needed to get focus. Since this lens magnifies about nine times, you'll be able to see the Moon's surface very well, and even Saturn's rings. Everything else will be too far away for your telescope.
Step 11. Finished
Tips
Buy the right lenses for the second telescope, because with the wrong lenses you won't be able to see anything
Notices
- Do not look directly at the Sun or other bright objects using the telescope as you can damage your eyes.
- Be careful not to drop the magnifying glass as it breaks easily.