BEGINNER'S SPACE by Gary Seronik Can I Build My Own Telescope? IF YOU'VE BEEN READING Sky & Telescope for any time at all you're probably at least dimly aware that some people like to make their own astro gear. Heck, we even have a whole department dedicated to the subject. Jerry Oltion's Astronomer's Workbench highlights the efforts of many a tinkerer. But can you - an average enthusiast with modest DIY skills - actually build a telescope? The answer is an emphatic " yes! " But 72 JULY 2023 * SKY & TELESCOPE how and why you would do so are interesting questions to ponder. To figure out if making a scope is for you, it helps to look at what a telescope actually is. There are two main parts: the optical tube assembly (OTA) and the mount. The OTA houses the objective, the main light-collecting element, which is either a lens (in a refractor) or a mirror (in a reflector). And then there's the tube itself, which is often CUSTOM FUN One reason that's less often appreciated for making your own telescope is that you can customize it to suit your needs. The author built this optimized 6-inch, f/9 reflector (including the primary mirror) for firstrate views of the Moon and planets. The mount, however, was commercially manufactured. made of aluminum or even cardboard. Attached to the exterior of the tube are the focuser and the finderscope. The mount is the part that supports the OTA ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE AUTHOR