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Curriculum Resources for the Alaskan Environment
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Subject Areas: math,
physics, astronomy, (optics)
Timeline:open
Grade Levels:
7-12
Purpose: to demonstrate
the problems of light magnification; to understand
the properties of telescopes; to enjoy the rewards
of telescopes
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Achim
Brauser
6" Newtonian
Reflecting Telescope
Construction
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 Activities
- Obtain materials for building telescope and mounting
stand. For the telescope:
some kind of rigid tube about 5' long
(e.g., PUC pipe, stove pipe, or cardboard); fora 6" telescope
the pipe diameter should be 6" or slightly larger; if cardboard
is used it might be useful to coat both surfaces with several
layers of Elmer's glue for added strength; the interior of the
tube should also be painted with a flat black paint
the 6" paraboloid mirror can be ground using
regular plate glass (two pieces), silicon carbide grits, and lots
of water, this procedure is only for the extremely ambitious,
as it requires much time and patience; it's a lot easier to just
buy a mirror from an optical company (it's relatively cheap)
small flat mirror and an eyepiece (also inexpensive)
mirror mounts (inexpensive) could be made
by gluing cardboard rings inside the tube at one end; the paraboloid
mirror is placed between the rings; for the flat mirror it's probably
better to buy a 6" spider, since it allows for adjustments.
- For the mounting stand:
wooden disk
three broom handles
screw and wing nut
straps or large hose clamps.
Resources
- Wilkins and Moore. (1956). How to Make and
Use a Telescope
- Moore. (1973). Astronomical Telescopes and
Observations for Amateurs
- MayalI and Mayall. (1968). Skyshooting-Photography
for Amateur Astronomers
- catalogs:
Kenneth Novak and Co., Box 69, Ladysmith, WI
54848
Cave Optical Co., 4137 Hanheim Street, Longbeach, CA 90804
Coulter Optical Co., 8217 Lankershim Boulevard, North Hollywood,
CA 91605, (213) 767-8538 (they have good quality mirrors at low
prices)
- Geophysical Institute, University of Alaska Fairbanks
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Variations
- There are innumerable Variations
in both the types and sizes of telescope mounts. Because
of this fact, it's easy to improvise and improve on the
design presented here.
- Construct a camera mount either
for a simple box camera or a 35mm camera. The
photographic possibilities are boundless and
rewarding.
- The knowledge possible from a
telescope is unlimited, and so are the classroom
applications.
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