Astronomy: Amateur: Amateur Telescope Making

How-to's and information about various telescope designs.

Offers links to completed telescopes, free mirror testing software, and the "Telescope Making Web Ring".

Features several unique solutions for telescope issues.

The builder of the world's largest portable amateur telescope, Hercules, presents this 41.2" Newtonian reflector. The site has many pictures of the scope and its construction.

Provides pictures of the various stages of building this amateur observatory, with progress cataloged on the site. The observatory specializes in the Dog Star.

Tools and software for most types of amateur telescopes.

Amateur telescope making, mirror grinding.

Telescope mirror making testing equipment.

Areas covered include optics, woodworking, metalworking, electronics, programming, and telescope equipment.

This site is the home page for Ronchi for Windows, a software simulation program for Amateur Telescope Makers. Use RonWin to simulate the Ronchi Test on your PC.

The San Francisco Sidewalk Astronomers bring you complete plans for building a Dobsonian telescope.

Information and photos on the construction of the observatory, with pictures documenting each phase.

Specializing in optical design services for amateur telescope makers and providing custom high-performance optical tube assemblies for amateur astronomers.

Designed around a 13.1" f/4.5 mirror and the desire to get it inside a suitcase that meets the requirements for carry-on luggage of most airlines so that no part of the scope would have to be checked.

Amateur astronomy and telescope making including do-it-yourself projects and observing techniques and records. Also a short guide to protein structure, and some other personal interest stuff.

Personal log of making a 10 inch Newtonian telescope including pictures and web ring.