Home >> Science & Nature >> Astronomy

How to Make a Telescope Mount

A piggyback camera mount for a telescope provides you with an excellent opportunity to capture pictures of the beauty of the night sky. The mount is compatible with a traditional 35 mm camera or a digital camera that is able to take timed exposures. Getting the right shot is hard enough without worrying whether it's going to come out blurry.

Things You'll Need

2-by-4 board
Tape measure
Drill
Hose clamp
Wing nut
1/4-inch screw
Basic table saw

Instructions

- 1
  Cut your 2-by-4 board into a square block measuring 3.5 inches, using the table saw.
- 2
  Cut the middle of the square block to a large enough section for your telescope, cutting with the grain of the wood. The dimensions are not exact since telescopes come in various sizes.
- 3
  Drill a 1/4-inch diameter hole in the center of the block. Put both the screw and the wing nut in this hole. Ensure the screw is long enough to have some threads sticking out at the top for the camera to rest on.
- 4
  Drill two holes at the end of the hose clamp and mount it to the telescope. Screw these holes directly onto the wooden block.
- 5
  Tighten in around your telescope's tube to ensure it doesn't slide off and put your camera on the threads.

Astronomy