Astronomy DIY
Our How-to and DIY projects to help you get the best out of practical astronomy, from home-made accessories to practical observing tutorials.
Make a Moon phase calculator and calendar
Make a mechanical instrument that calculates and displays the phase of the Moon for any chosen day of the year.
How to build a rolling telescope dolly
Complete our astronomy DIY project to wheel your telescope setup in and out of storage without delay.
Can't see the aurora? You can detect it with a homemade magnetometer
Follow our guide to create your own record of space weather and produce an audio recording of it. Written by Stuart Green
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How to stop dew forming on your telescope
Why dew forms on your telescope's optics, and how you can stop it from fogging up your observing.
How to make a solar projection screen for safe observing the Sun or solar eclipse
Safely record features moving across the face of the Sun with this simple device.
Crafty science project: make a model showing what causes a solar eclipse or lunar eclipse
Follow our DIY guide and make a simple model demonstrating how a solar and lunar eclipse works for a fun children's school science project.
The best, safest ways to view a solar eclipse, from low-cost, simple options to expert astronomer techniques
What are the best and safest ways to view an eclipse?
How to photograph the International Space Station
We reveal the tricks you need to image the International Space Station and capture its intricate features.
DIY Astronomy | Make a Solar System model
Make a model that shows the distances between the planets to scale.
Achieve fine focus with your DSLR camera by building this DIY microfocuser for your lens
How to thermally optimise your telescope
Tube currents in your telescope can affect the ability of the optics to bring light to a sharp focus. We show you how to combat these irritating effects.
Build a Dobsonian equatorial platform
Convert your altaz Dobsonian telescope into a sky-tracking lightbucket.
6 simple astronomy experiments you can do at home
Try our experiments using household items and illustrate the mechanics of the Solar System.
Make an instrument that shows how astronomers measure vast distances in space
How to make an instrument that demonstrates how cosmic distances are measured.
Don't fog up! How to remove moisture from your astrophotography camera sealed sensor
How to recharge the sealed sensor chamber inside your astro camera.
Build a solar funnel to safely observe the Sun or solar eclipse through your telescope
This easy-to-make device lets you view the Sun or solar eclipse in safety.
Make your own Moon impact craters
This fun activity for family and kids brings to life the drama of meteor impacts on the Moon and is a great science project for school or at home.
Build a solar projector to safely observe the Sun or solar eclipse
Project an image of the Sun for safe observing with this step-by-step DIY astronomy build.
Make a Christmas fairylights constellation
Complete our crafty astronomy project over the festive holidays.
How to make a binocular mirror mount
Keep your binoculars steady with a mount that faces down to look up
Make a collimation tool for your telescope
Save money by building your own collimator from household materials.
How to build a telescope case
Construct an easy to make, practical case for any size of telescope.
How to build an astronomy accessories case
Make observing the night sky easier by constructing a customisable container for all your astronomy equipment.
Build a rotating camera shutter to photograph a meteor's movement
Build a rotating shutter and capture images showing a meteor’s movement with our DIY astronomy project.