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How to Make a Telescope for High School Kids

Building a simple telescope for high-school students may engage them and encourage them to try to build one on their own. You can use this project to talk about the science of how optic lenses work, different types of lenses, the history of the telescope and the effect this invention has had on our culture.

Things You'll Need

Paper-towel roll
1 piece of thick paper
Double-convex lens with focal length of 150 mm
Double-convex lens with focal length of 500 mm
Clear tape
Hot glue

Instructions

- 1
  Roll a thick piece of paper lengthwise to the same diameter as a double-convex 150 mm lens, which you will use to make the eyepiece. Tape the edges of the thick paper so it stays together.
- 2
  Tape or glue the 150 mm lens to one end of the paper tube you just created. Keep the tape or glue at the edges of the lens. Make sure there is no glue or tape in the middle of the lens; this could obscure your vision and cause the telescope to not work properly.
- 3
  Glue or tape a double-convex 500mm lens to one end of the paper-towel roll. Again, make sure there is no glue or tape in the middle of the lens.
- 4
  Insert the end of the paper tube (the end without the lens) into the end of the cardboard tube (the end without the lens).
- 5
  Look through your telescope at a distant object. Slide the two tubes in and out until you can see the object clearly (it will be bigger and upside-down).

Astronomy