junk store telescopes - wait to you see this

[ausastronomer (John Bambury)]

While Colins scope looks really pretty I don't know how well it's going to work. That scope he has built, looks to have a focal length of about 3 feet. Most 3" to 4" Magnifying glasses that I have seen have a focal length closer to 3" than 3'. It might look pretty but I think it might not have quite enough in travel in the focuser

If it reaches focus the original magnifying glass was designed for someone who had a very high chair

Cheers,
John B

[ZeroID (Brent)]

I thought it was all focusser ...

[yusufcam (Colin)]

Originally Posted by ausastronomer

While Colins scope looks really pretty I don't know how well it's going to work. That scope he has built, looks to have a focal length of about 3 feet. Most 3" to 4" Magnifying glasses that I have seen have a focal length closer to 3" than 3'.

Cheers,
John B

its the eyepiece that makes it work over 3ft as a telescope (its actually a bit less, the tube version in the picture wasn't functioning as i couldn't find the front lens at the time i put it together), but it would have worked.

without the eyepiece, its a magnifying glass with a focal length of about 8".

so the challenge in putting together a $5 dollar scope would probably be finding or making the eyepiece