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From Lenses to Optical Instruments
From some simple experiments with lenses, you will learn how important optical instruments
such as telescopes and microscopes work. |
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A Telescope
In this article I describe two models of telescopes: a simple one and a more
perfected one. Building the simple telescope, you will become familiar with the optical and
fabrication problems of these instruments, but you will, in any case, be able to see the
craters of the moon and the satellites of Jupiter. After building the perfected one, you
will be able to make interesting astronomical and terrestrial observations. |
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A Sidereal Pointer
With this tool you will be able to identify every heavenly body in the night
sky; you will learn to know the celestial coordinate system and the
constellations; and you will be able to draw the trajectories of planets and
comets on celestial maps. In the bibliography, I give you information on an
astronomy book with the coordinates of thousands of celestial bodies. |
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A Stereoscope
A stereoscope is an instrument which allows you to see pictures and drawings
in three dimensions. In this article I describe some different stereoscope models. You will learn
how stereoscopy works and how to take stereoscopic pictures with a normal camera. |
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The Sky in a Room
Would you like to be able to watch the sun rise every morning while still in bed or see the
moon run after the clouds at night? This article explains how to do it.
Putting a lens on your window is all you need to do to see the outdoor panorama projected on
the opposite wall of your room. |
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Panoramic Pictures
In this article you will find some panoramic pictures of Italian cities taken with a
special homemade camera. |
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A Panoramic Camera
At times, we encounter panoramas so vast that a camera does not manage to capture but a
small portion of it. If, in any case, you try to take a photo of this, even with a
wide-angle lens you will almost always end up with terrible results. The panoramic
camera, on the contrary, is able to shoot extremely vast panoramas and render them even
more beautiful than how you originally saw them. With this apparatus, you will be
able to take photos like those they use for (wall-length) murals. It will give you
back the light, the space, and the atmosphere of that day and that place. If you want
breathtaking shots, this camera will give them to you. However, be warned that making
the panoramic camera is not an easy task. So that you’ll excuse I, in the article I
also provide some simple methods for getting satisfactory panoramic shots, geared
towards the reader who does not want to spend too much time making the panoramic camera. |
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Some Pictures
Updated 16 09 2008
This time there is nothing to build, just pictures to look at so you can rest yourself
a bit. Some of these images were taken with a microscope; others are macrographs, and
yet others represent countryside, etc. |
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A 6x9 Twin Lens Reflex Camera
Mounting a viewer on an accordion camera, it is possible to obtain a
photographic device which gives excellent results, in particular with
black and white photography. |
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A Simple Photographic Camera
With a lens and a shoebox, children can construct a "Photographic
Camera". They will become familiar with some important laws of optics
while amusing themselves. |
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Let's Observe Eclipses
With a telescope, it is possible to show the eclipses on
a wall of a room and to observe this magnificent phenomenon with your
friends without being dazzled.
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Meteors
Simple observations of heavenly events.
A series of little experiences to allow our minds to travel amongst the
clouds (if they aren't already doing so) and to broaden our horizons. |
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