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 your own Galileo telescope replica

DIY Astronomy Build a Galilean telescope

How to make your own red light torch. Credit: Mark Parrish

DIY Astronomy How to make a red light torch

How make a model of a comet. Credit: Mary McIntyre

DIY Astronomy Make a model of a comet

Raspberry pi meteor detector. Credit: Mary McIntyre

Set up a Raspberry Pi meteor detector

Build a guidescope using an old camera lens

Build a guidescope using an old camera lens

How to collimate a Newtonian telescope

How to collimate a Newtonian telescope

With the dome section added, the observatory really begins to take shape. Credit: Mark Parrish

How to build a home observatory

How to take care of your telescope

How to take care of your telescope

Attaching two scopes to a side-by-side bar is more stable than simply piggybacking them.

How to set up a dual astrophotography imaging system

Make your own LED torch-pointer. Credit: Steve Tonkin

Make your own LED torch-pointer

Use your own back garden as a Stellarium landscape

Stellarium: how to create a customised landscape

Paul's finished sketch of Jupiter. Credit: Paul Abel

How to draw Jupiter

Without preventative measures, dew can make your optics unusable. Credit: Martin Lewis

How can I stop dew forming on my telescope?

Try our 6 astronomy experiments you can do at home using household objects. Credit: Michael Moltenbrey

6 simple astronomy experiments you can do at home

The sensor of a DSLR camera is tucked behind the reflex mirror – as such, the camera has to be switched on while you clean it. Credit: Ian Evenden

How to clean your DSLR camera sensor