Norman Remer's Making a Refractor Telescope: Everything You Need to Know about Refracting Telescopes
Making A Refractor Telescope Norman Remer Pdf 12
If you are interested in making a refractor telescope, you might want to check out the book Making A Refractor Telescope: How to Design, Grind, Polish, Test, Correct and Mount a Doublet Lens by Norman Remer. This book is a comprehensive guide for amateur telescope makers who want to build their own refracting telescopes.
Making A Refractor Telescope Norman Remer Pdf 12
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A refractor telescope is a type of telescope that uses lenses to bend and focus light. Refractors are known for their sharp and contrasty images, especially for planetary and lunar observation. However, making a refractor telescope is not an easy task. It requires a lot of skill, patience, and precision to design, grind, polish, test, correct and mount a doublet lens.
A doublet lens is a combination of two lenses that are cemented together to reduce chromatic aberration, which is the distortion of colors caused by different wavelengths of light refracting at different angles. A well-corrected doublet lens can produce high-quality images with minimal color fringing.
In his book, Norman Remer covers all the aspects of making a refractor telescope, from the characteristics of glass, abrasives, and pitch to methods for mounting the finished lens. He also provides detailed instructions on how to grind the lens to shape, polish it, test and correct it. He explains the theory and practice of lens design, and includes Excel spreadsheet programs on CD-ROM that can help you design your own lens.
The book also contains prescriptions for several lenses ranging in aperture from 3 to 8 inches. You can choose the one that suits your budget and preferences. The book is written in a clear and engaging style, with plenty of diagrams, photos, and examples. It is suitable for beginners as well as experienced telescope makers.
If you want to download the PDF version of the book, you can find it online at various websites. However, we recommend that you buy the hardbound edition from Willmann-Bell, the publisher of the book. You can order it from their website or from other online retailers. The price of the book is $34.95.
Making a refractor telescope is a rewarding and challenging hobby that can give you a lot of satisfaction and enjoyment. With Norman Remer's book as your guide, you can learn how to make your own refractor telescope and explore the wonders of the night sky.
Why Make a Refractor Telescope?
There are many reasons why you might want to make a refractor telescope. One of them is the satisfaction of creating something with your own hands and skills. Making a refractor telescope is a rewarding and challenging hobby that can teach you a lot about optics, mechanics, and astronomy.
Another reason is the quality of the images that a refractor telescope can produce. Refractors have no central obstruction, unlike reflectors or catadioptrics, which means they can deliver sharper and more contrasty images. Refractors are also less affected by atmospheric turbulence and thermal currents, which can degrade the image quality of other types of telescopes.
A third reason is the versatility of a refractor telescope. You can use it for various types of observation, such as planetary, lunar, solar, or deep-sky. You can also use it for astrophotography, as refractors have a flat field and minimal aberrations. You can also attach different accessories to your refractor telescope, such as filters, eyepieces, cameras, or spectroscopes.
What are the Challenges of Making a Refractor Telescope?
Making a refractor telescope is not a simple or easy task. It requires a lot of time, effort, and dedication. You will need to acquire the necessary materials, tools, and equipment. You will also need to learn the theory and practice of lens design, grinding, polishing, testing, correcting, and mounting.
One of the biggest challenges of making a refractor telescope is to achieve a high level of accuracy and precision. The lenses must be ground and polished to the exact shape and size required by the design. The lenses must also be aligned and spaced correctly to minimize aberrations and maximize performance. The slightest error or deviation can result in poor image quality or even unusable lenses.
Another challenge is to overcome the difficulties and frustrations that may arise during the process. You may encounter problems such as scratches, pits, chips, cracks, or astigmatism on your lenses. You may also face difficulties in testing and correcting your lenses. You may need to repeat some steps or start over from scratch if something goes wrong. You will need to have patience and perseverance to overcome these challenges.
What are the Benefits of Making a Refractor Telescope?
Making a refractor telescope can have many benefits for you and for others. One of them is the cost savings. Buying a commercial refractor telescope can be very expensive, especially if you want a large aperture or a high-quality lens. By making your own refractor telescope, you can save a lot of money and customize it to your needs and preferences.
Another benefit is the learning experience. By making a refractor telescope, you can gain a lot of knowledge and skills in optics, mechanics, and astronomy. You can also develop your creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking abilities. You can learn from your mistakes and improve your techniques. You can also share your experience and knowledge with other amateur telescope makers and enthusiasts.
A third benefit is the enjoyment and pride. Making a refractor telescope can be a lot of fun and rewarding. You can enjoy the process of creating something with your own hands and skills. You can also take pride in your accomplishment and show off your work to others. You can also enjoy using your refractor telescope to observe the night sky and discover new things.
How to Get Started with Making a Refractor Telescope?
If you are interested in making a refractor telescope, you will need to prepare some materials, tools, and equipment. You will also need to find a suitable place to work on your project. Here are some steps to help you get started:
First, you will need to decide on the design of your refractor telescope. You will need to choose the aperture, focal length, focal ratio, and type of lens for your telescope. You can use Norman Remer's book or Excel spreadsheet programs to help you design your lens.
Second, you will need to acquire the materials for your lens. You will need two pieces of glass that match the specifications of your design. You can buy them from optical suppliers or online retailers. You will also need some abrasives, pitch, and optical cement to grind, polish, and mount your lens.
Third, you will need to acquire the tools and equipment for your lens making. You will need some tools such as a glass cutter, a scribe, a ruler, a caliper, a micrometer, a drill press, and a lathe. You will also need some equipment such as a grinding machine, a polishing machine, a testing device, and a lens cell.
Fourth, you will need to find a suitable place to work on your lens making. You will need a clean, dry, well-lit, and ventilated area that has enough space for your tools and equipment. You will also need to protect yourself from dust, noise, heat, and chemicals by wearing gloves, goggles, ear plugs, and masks.
Fifth, you will need to follow the instructions in Norman Remer's book or other sources to make your lens. You will need to grind the lens to shape, polish it, test it, correct it, and mount it in the lens cell. You will also need to align and space the lenses correctly to minimize aberrations and maximize performance.
Once you have made your lens, you can proceed to make the rest of your refractor telescope such as the tube assembly, the focuser, the finder scope, the diagonal mirror or prism, the eyepieces, and the mount. You can use Norman Remer's book or other sources to help you with these parts.
Where to Find More Information on Making a Refractor Telescope?
If you want to learn more about making a refractor telescope, you can find many sources of information online and offline. Here are some suggestions:
One of the best sources of information is Norman Remer's book Making A Refractor Telescope: How to Design, Grind, Polish, Test, Correct and Mount a Doublet Lens. You can buy it from Willmann-Bell or other online retailers. You can also download the PDF version of the book from various websites.
Another source of information is the Internet. You can find many websites, forums, blogs, videos, and articles that offer tips, advice, tutorials, and examples on making a refractor telescope. Some of the websites you can visit are Stellafane, Cloudy Nights, Mirror Workshop, Bob May's Astronomy Site, Vintage Projects, and Edmund Scientifics.
A third source of information is other amateur telescope makers and enthusiasts. You can join a local astronomy club or society and meet people who share your interest and passion. You can also attend star parties, workshops, conventions, and exhibitions where you can see and learn from other people's work.
Making a refractor telescope is a fascinating and rewarding hobby that can enrich your life and knowledge. With Norman Remer's book as your guide, you can embark on this exciting journey and create your own refractor telescope.
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed the topic of making a refractor telescope with Norman Remer's book as our main reference. We have covered the following points:
What is a refractor telescope and how does it work?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a refractor telescope?
What are the main components of a refractor telescope?
How to design, grind, polish, test, correct, and mount a doublet lens?
How to make the rest of the refractor telescope such as the tube assembly, the focuser, the finder scope, the diagonal mirror or prism, the eyepieces, and the mount?
Why make a refractor telescope?
What are the challenges of making a refractor telescope?
What are the benefits of making a refractor telescope?
How to get started with making a refractor telescope?
Where to find more information on making a refractor telescope?
We hope that this article has been informative and helpful for you. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us. Thank you for reading and happy telescope making!
Conclusion
In this article, we have discussed the topic of making a refractor telescope with Norman Remer's book as our main reference. We have covered the following points:
What is a refractor telescope and how does it work?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of a refractor telescope?
What are the main components of a refractor telescope?
How to design, grind, polish, test, correct, and mount a doublet lens?
How to make the rest of the refractor telescope such as the tube assembly, the focuser, the finder scope, the diagonal mirror or prism, the eyepieces, and the mount?
Why make a refractor telescope?
What are the challenges of making a refractor telescope?
What are the benefits of making a refractor telescope?
How to get started with making a refractor telescope?
Where to find more information on making a refractor telescope?
We hope that this article has been informative and helpful for you. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us. Thank you for reading and happy telescope making! ca3e7ad8fd