Show HN: Curiosity – DIY 6" Newtonian Reflector Telescope

3 days ago

Madhav and Swarup built a 6" Newtonian Reflector Telescope named 'CURIOSITY' inspired by clear skies in Bengaluru and online resources.
Key calculations for the telescope include focal length (900mm), tube inner diameter (190mm), and focuser height (96mm), adjusted for focuser size.
Materials used include a PVC tube (190mm inner diameter, 200mm outer diameter, 1000mm length), a telescope kit from Tejraj and Co., and matte black spray paint.
CAD modeling was done using Fusion 360, with components like the primary mirror assembly, secondary mirror with spider vane, and optical tube assembly (OTA) designed and 3D printed.
The OTA cradle and rocker box were inspired by Stellafane's Guide, made from plywood, and assembled with aluminum L brackets and self-tapping screws.
Light Gathering Power (LGP) for the telescope is 625 times more than the human eye, allowing observation of stars up to magnitude 13.5.
The telescope has a focal ratio of f/6 and magnification of 36x with a 25mm eyepiece and 100x with a 9mm eyepiece.
The Dobsonian mount, named after John Dobson, is a low-cost, manual tracking mount, while equatorial mounts offer motorized tracking for easier navigation of sky objects.

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