International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science

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Design and Construction of a Refracting Telescope

Received: 25 June 2014    Accepted: 15 August 2014    Published: 20 August 2014
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Abstract

Most people see the telescope as the things for the movies, the science geeks and the rich and affluent, but are these feelings for real? This paper on the design and construction of an optical refracting telescope which is aimed at producing a low cost and portable telescope with less or no aberration effects using the materials we see around us every day goes a long way to answer the question that the telescope is for everybody that loves astronomy. Overall implementation of this work involves knowledge of the physics of optics; lenses to be precise. As a case study I used a double convex lens and the eyepiece of a microscope for the construction of the mini refractor telescope, my hypothesis is that using a double convex is better than using a Plano-convex because the two curved surfaces will cancel out the aberration effect of the individual sides. The resultant telescope was tested during the night and during the day and was used to focus objects at a distance of about 50m from the person with less aberration effect.

DOI 10.11648/j.ijass.20140204.11
Published in International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science (Volume 2, Issue 4, August 2014)
Page(s) 56-65
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Telescope, Astronomy and General Physics

References
[1] Dick, P. (2005). www.mtbparker.com.Retrieved 15-02-2014
[2] Dickinson, T. (2011), SkyNews: the Canadian magazine of Astronomy & stargazing, 17(2), 36.
[3] Elliot, R. S. (1966), Electromagnetism, McGraw-Hill Company Inc. New York. 138-153
[4] Gary, S. (2010). A 16cm; f/5 refractor, Sky and Telescope, 119(5), 70.
[5] Gary, S. (2011). A 16cm f/6 refractor, Sky and Telescope; 121(5), 64
[6] Hetcht, E. (1987). Optics, Adelphi University, 2nd Edition. Addison-Wesley Publishing Company, Canada. 174
[7] Journal on Refracting Telescope - a Closer look. (March 2013), Retrieved 05-06-2013
[8] Meyer-Arendt, J. R. (1972). Introduction to Classical and Modern Optics 3rd Edition. Prentice-Hall Inc. New Jersey, USA. 122-126,159
[9] Keiner, L.E., (2011) Coastal Carolina University @ www.unwittingvictims.com, the electromagnetic spectrum. Retrieved 16-02-2014
[10] King, H. C., ed. (1955). The History of Telescopes, Charles Griffin and co. Ltd, London, 74
[11] McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, (2013). McGraw-Hill Company Inc., New York. 6E
[12] Mullins Mark, (1993), A Truly Economical Telescope, Sky and Telescope, 91-92
[13] Oxford Dictionary of Science, 5th Edition (2005). Oxford University Press Inc. New York, United States.
[14] Schroeder, P. (2009). In Defense of a Cheap Scope, Sky and Telescope, 118(3), 86
[15] Smith F. G., Thompson J. H., (1988), McGraw-Hill Company Inc. New York. 91 – 125
[16] Subrahmanyam, N., Brij Lal, Avadhanulu, M.N. (2007). Textbook on Optics, S. Chand & Company Ram Nagan, New Delhi. 173
Author Information
  • Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

  • Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

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  • APA Style

    C. I. Onah, C. M. Ogudo. (2014). Design and Construction of a Refracting Telescope. International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science, 2(4), 56-65. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijass.20140204.11

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    ACS Style

    C. I. Onah; C. M. Ogudo. Design and Construction of a Refracting Telescope. Int. J. Astrophys. Space Sci. 2014, 2(4), 56-65. doi: 10.11648/j.ijass.20140204.11

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    AMA Style

    C. I. Onah, C. M. Ogudo. Design and Construction of a Refracting Telescope. Int J Astrophys Space Sci. 2014;2(4):56-65. doi: 10.11648/j.ijass.20140204.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijass.20140204.11,
      author = {C. I. Onah and C. M. Ogudo},
      title = {Design and Construction of a Refracting Telescope},
      journal = {International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science},
      volume = {2},
      number = {4},
      pages = {56-65},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijass.20140204.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijass.20140204.11},
      eprint = {https://download.sciencepg.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijass.20140204.11},
      abstract = {Most people see the telescope as the things for the movies, the science geeks and the rich and affluent, but are these feelings for real? This paper on the design and construction of an optical refracting telescope which is aimed at producing a low cost and portable telescope with less or no aberration effects using the materials we see around us every day goes a long way to answer the question that the telescope is for everybody that loves astronomy. Overall implementation of this work involves knowledge of the physics of optics; lenses to be precise. As a case study I used a double convex lens and the eyepiece of a microscope for the construction of the mini refractor telescope, my hypothesis is that using a double convex is better than using a Plano-convex because the two curved surfaces will cancel out the aberration effect of the individual sides. The resultant telescope was tested during the night and during the day and was used to focus objects at a distance of about 50m from the person with less aberration effect.},
     year = {2014}
    }
    

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    AB  - Most people see the telescope as the things for the movies, the science geeks and the rich and affluent, but are these feelings for real? This paper on the design and construction of an optical refracting telescope which is aimed at producing a low cost and portable telescope with less or no aberration effects using the materials we see around us every day goes a long way to answer the question that the telescope is for everybody that loves astronomy. Overall implementation of this work involves knowledge of the physics of optics; lenses to be precise. As a case study I used a double convex lens and the eyepiece of a microscope for the construction of the mini refractor telescope, my hypothesis is that using a double convex is better than using a Plano-convex because the two curved surfaces will cancel out the aberration effect of the individual sides. The resultant telescope was tested during the night and during the day and was used to focus objects at a distance of about 50m from the person with less aberration effect.
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