Making & Enjoying Telescopes: 6 Complete Projects & a Stargazer's Guide

I've been reading a lot of older books on telescope making, and this is one of the better ones. It is new enough, 1995, to avoid wasting time on making your own mirror. It focuses on how to use telescopes, basic principles, and general plans for 6 telescopes with extensive notes on a 7th. It's especially nice that the author is not an expert woodworker and the skill level required to build these scopes appears to be within the reach of an average person. The projects described are as follows: - Star tracker mount for a camera - A simple 4-1/4" reflector with a PVC tube - A 4-1/4" reflector with a wooden tube - A 6-inch Equatorial mounted reflector - An 8-inch f/5 reflector - A 10" Dobsonian And extensive notes and photos of a portable 8" Dobsonian using only two aluminum struts instead of a 8-tube truss or solid tube. If you're thinking of building a telescope, this book is well worth a look.

This book makes it easier to understand the great hobby of Amatuer Telescope Making. I read this book from front to back, twice! Included in this book are easy to follow instructions on making six very usable amatuer telescopes. A must for any astronomer's bookshelf. Also included is a great chapter on a portable 8" reflecting telescope,designed by Bob Scholtz.

This book is very imformative and useful to the beginning telescope maker. It does not describe mirror grinding or optical testing but very thoroughly explains construction, design, and tips for making 10 inch or less telescopes