Making Your Own Telescope

by Thompson, Allyn J.

• ISBN13: 9780486428833
• ISBN10: 0486428834
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2011-10-20
• Publisher: Dover Publications

Summary

Complete, detailed instructions and numerous diagrams for constructing a do-it-yourself telescope. No complicated mathematics are involved, and no prior knowledge of optics or astronomy is needed to follow the text's step-by-step directions. Contents cover, among other topics, materials and equipment; tube parts and alignment; eyepieces, and related problems; setting circles; and optical principles. 1973 ed. Appendixes. Index. 6 plates. 100 figures.

Table of Contents

Chapter I. STORY OF THE TELESCOPE	1	(26)
The Galilean Telescope	2	(1)
The Keplerian Telescope	3	(3)
The Gregorian Telescope	6	(1)
The Cassegrainian Telescope	7	(1)
The Newtonian Telescope	8	(3)
Further Developments	11	(3)
Herschel's Contributions	14	(2)
The Achromatic Refractor	16	(2)
The Modern Era	18	(3)
Reflector or Refractor?	21	(3)
What Size Reflector?	24	(3)
Chapter II. MATERIALS AND EQUIPMENT	27	(12)
The Template	29	(1)
Channeling Tool	30	(1)
Grinding Stand	30	(1)
Mirror Testing Rack	30	(1)
Testing Stands	31	(1)
Foucault Testing Device	31	(3)
Theory of the Foucault Test	34	(5)
Chapter III. MIRROR GRINDING	39	(12)
Strokes	39	(1)
What Abrasive Does	40	(1)
How the Curve Is Obtained	41	(1)
We Go to Work	42	(3)
How to Determine Contact	45	(2)
Cleaning Up	47	(1)
Fine Grinding	47	(3)
Examining for Pits	50	(1)
Chapter IV. THE PITCH LAP 51
Making the Lap	51	(2)
A Better Lap	53	(4)
Making Contact	57	(2)
Chapter V. POLISHING - TESTING- CORRECTING	59	(14)
Theory of Polishing	59	(1)
Polishing Procedure	60	(2)
How to Use the Foucault Device	62	(5)
Further Polishing	67	(1)
Examining for Pits	68	(1)
Correcting	69	(1)
Turned-down Edge	70	(1)
Turned-up Edge	70	(1)
Correcting the Oblate Spheroid	71	(1)
Correcting the Hyperboloid	72	(1)
Chapter VI. THE PARABOLOID	73	(17)
The Reference Spheres	75	(1)
Knife-edge Magnification	76	(1)
Surface Tolerance	77	(1)
Error of Observation	78	(1)
Testing the Paraboloid	78	(7)
Testing at Focus	85	(1)
Test for Astigmatism	85	(1)
Parabolizing Strokes	86	(3)
Aluminizing	89	(1)
Chapter VII. THE DIAGONAL	90	(21)
How Large a Diagonal?	91	(6)
Preliminary Preparations	97	(1)
How Flat a Diagonal?	98	(1)
The Light Source	99	(1)
Testing for Flatness	100	(3)
Making the Diagonal	103	(3)
The Lap	106	(1)
Polishing and Testing	106	(2)
An Elliptical Flat	108	(3)
Chapter VIII. TUBE PARTS-ALIGNMENT-THE FINDER	111	(13)
The Mirror Cell	111	(2)
The Tube	113	(1)
Eyepiece Support	114	(2)
Diagonal Holder	116	(1)
Spider Support	117	(2)
The Saddle	119	(1)
Optical Alignment	120	(1)
The Finder	121	(3)
Chapter IX. EYEPIECES AND RELATED PROBLEMS	124	(13)
Magnification	124	(2)
Field of View	126	(1)
Exit Pupil and Eye Relief	126	(3)
Eyepieces	129	(3)
Aberrations of the Eyepiece	132	(2)
Assembling Eyepiece Components	134	(3)
Chapter X. THE MOUNTING	137	(18)
The Babbitted Bearings	142	(3)
Further Suggestions	145	(1)
A Portable Mounting	145	(1)
The Tripod	146	(2)
Machining the Parts	148	(7)
Chapter XI. ALUMINIZING AND CLEANING	155	(5)
Aluminizing	155	(2)
Packing for Shipment	157	(1)
Care of the Optical Parts	158	(2)
Chapter XII. SETTING CIRCLES - EQUATORIAL ADJUSTMENT	160	(9)
Making the Circles	160	(1)
Adjustment of the Tube	161	(1)
Adjustment of the Polar Axis	162	(5)
Sidereal Time from the Stars	167	(1)
Locating True North by the Sun	167	(2)
Chapter XIII. OPTICAL PRINCIPLES - ATMOSPHERE - MAGNITUDES	169	(16)
The Diffraction Image of a Star	171	(1)
Resolving Power	172	(3)
Diffraction from Obstructions	175	(1)
Extra-focal Diffraction Rings	176	(1)
Atmosphere, and Thermal Disturbances	177	(4)
The Limiting Visual Magnitude of a Telescope	181	(1)
Aberrations of the Paraboloid	182	(3)
Chapter XIV. A SECOND TELESCOPE	185	(10)
Long-focus Telescopes	186	(1)
Short-focus Telescopes	187	(3)
A 4¼ inch Telescope of Long Focus	190	(1)
Larger Instruments	191	(1)
Testing Notes	192	(1)
Tolerable Knife-edge Error	193	(2)
Appendix A. SECONDARY REFLECTIONS	195	(7)
Disks of Unequal Sizes	195	(1)
Broken Disks	195	(1)
Concrete Suggestions	195	(1)
Blind Flanges	196	(1)
Springs	196	(1)
Working Time	196	(1)
Observing the Sun	197	(1)
An Exclusively Solar Telescope	198	(600)
A Too-bright Moon	798
Sunspot Projection	198	(1)
A Driving Clock	199	(2)
Fluoride Coatings	201	(1)
Tying the Tripod Legs	201	(1)
Appendix B. MAKING AN OPTICAL FLAT	202	(3)
Appendix C. BIBLIOGRAPHY	205	(2)
Index	207