Telescope Building Program
TMSP will again host the Telescope Making Program at this year's Star Party. You can sign up for the program and build your own telescope. The optical tubes and the Dobsonian mounts will be assembled in the program. We ask that any Student-age participant have at least one adult helper, and the list of "things you may want to bring" will be emailed to you with your kit purchase.
The program will be approximately two hours on both Thursday and Friday, from 10:00am to noon each day. You may sign up to build your scope either day, and more time will be scheduled if needed for everyone to complete their kit. We will have some exterior paint available to paint the mounts, but if you want a specific color you may want to bring a quart of exterior paint of your choice.
For 2019, we have two 6" f/8 telescope kits for $180 when purchased prior to the star party.
If you are interested in building one of these kits, please send an email to scopekit@tmspa.com. We will get in touch with you as to the availability of the kits, arrange payment and send you more details.
Included in each kit is:
- 6-inch f/8 optic set (primary and secondary mirrors)
- Optical tube assembly
- Telrad or Rigel Red-dot Finder
- 1.25" focuser
- 23mm and 15mm Plössl Eyepieces
- Baltic Birch plywood mount with virgin Teflon bearings
- All of the parts needed for assembly.
Some items you might find useful to bring along to help you in the project are:
- Brush(s) to paint with
- Clothing to wear while painting
- 1 or 2 sheets of medium and/or fine grit sandpaper
- Battery powered screw gun (Cordless Drill with #1 Phillips bit)
These are not required, however you might find them handy for you to use.
There will also be time alloted during the program for teaching use and maintenance of the project scopes.
