Astronomy DIY

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?

For those of us unable to see the aurorae, there’s another way to experience the effects of the solar wind on Earth’s atmopshere. Credit: Getty Images

Can’t see the aurora? You can detect it with a homemade magnetometer

The finished smartphone finderscope. Follow our guide to make your own. Credit: Mark Parrish

Build a smartphone finderscope for your telescope

An astronomical quadrant is both fun and educational. Credit: Mark Parrish

Build your own astronomical quadrant

Red-image

How to turn your iPhone screen red for astronomy

Keep your binoculars steady with a mount that faces down to look up. Image Credit: Will Davis

How to make a binocular mirror mount

Plumbing fittings and bespoke clamps attach your mobile to your scope. Image Credit: Mark Parrish

Build a smartphone holder for your telescope

Build polarscope adaptor

Build a right-angled polarscope adaptor

How-to-clean-binoculars

How to clean binoculars