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A couple years ago, I tried to make a telescope myself.  I bought a piece of glass, and ground away at it for a while.  It was a nice 12-1/2" diameter--maybe a bit ambitious for a first try, but I figured I'd never get another chance.  I was making good progress, but my focus was around 9'.  My dad, who was supposed to be helping me build the rest of the telescope once the glass was ground protested loudly about the length, and so I tried to grind some more to shorten it... what I ended up with was a glass with two foci... one on the inside which was about 6-7' and the outside one which was still around 9'... or was it the reverse?  Anyway, I imagine if I kept grinding I could fix it, but then I went to grad school, and well, I just keep hauling it around with me from place to place and not really doing anything with it.  Maybe you'll have more luck.

Mirror Grinding & Telescope Making
San Francisco Sidewalk Astromers' Building a Dobsonian Telescope: Complete Instructions
Build an 8" Dobsonian Telescope
How to Build a Telescope
CosmicOne
Celestial Wanderings: Journeys in Amateur Science
The ATM Resource List
Astromart
Stargazer Steve
StarMaster Telescopes
 

copyright 2005, Betsy McCall
questions or comments, email the webmistress at betsy@pewtergallery.com
last updated 2005 April 16