Telescope-Making

Disclaimer: All of the following is written by a mere observer of telescope-making. In reality, it is all undoubtedly more complex than presented here. However, the telescope-maker himself was out until the wee hours of the night looking at the stars, so he is not awake to articulate all the complexities.

Ingredients: 

1 large flower pot

pieces of scrap lumber

1 second-hand jigsaw

1 clean yogurt container

2 pieces of glass

very special sand and grit

garbage bags

safety glasses

bug spray

Despite not having all his reference books and tools, Steve has decided to make another telescope. Essentially, this involves shaping a piece of glass to make the mirror, and then building the frame that will hold the mirror. For his first telescope, he used the shop at his workplace in Ottawa to make the mirror, and our living room to make the rest. This time, resources are slightly different and he is making the most of very little! He has met some wonderful and wise Kiwi telescope makers, who have helped with the nitty-gritty supplies (ie. the glass, the sand and grit).  This telescope will be much smaller, so hopefully not a huge production to pack for our return to Canada.

To make the mirror out of the glass, you have to have a very solid surface, like a large ceramic flower pot. Thankfully, there were two large flower pots here, so the flowers I had planted in one didn't have to sacrifice their new home.

We found an old headboard for a bed and used part of it to make a little desk for our cottage. The remaining bits were cut up on this makeshift workbench and used as a flat surface to attach to the flower pot. (Notice my flowering flower pot in the lower left!)

Here is the final set-up, with garbage bags covering the wood circles that are attached to the pot. The very special sand is mixed with water in the yogurt container and brushed onto the glass surface. Then he puts the second piece of glass on top, sandwiching the special sand in the middle, and moves them around in very scientific motions, theoretically making a curved surface. We shall see. 

We did not get to go hiking and exploring this past weekend since my new hiking boots are being exchanged for a slightly larger size. So, instead, Steve started making the telescope mirror. This will likely be a project of several months, so if he lets me, there will be many more pictures to come. 

The long-awaited phone call came this morning, and I start work next Monday, the 27th. As life would have it, this is the very same week that I happen to be unusually busy with the refugee family I am helping out. I have had a wonderful break though, and am quite ready to shift gears.