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Telescope Building with John Dobson

Dobson Astro-Initiatives · tutorial · Watch on YouTube

Woodworking, metalworking & workshop skillsCosmology & astrophysics3D printing, CNC & maker projects

What it is

A roughly 90-minute film of John Dobson building a Dobsonian telescope step by step, including hand-grinding the mirror.

Why Hacker News recommends it

Recommended to anyone interested in telescope making as a guide from Dobson himself.

  • 4 people recommended it
  • 4 different months
  • 0 strong recommendations
  • first 2017, last 2025

What HN commenters said

  1. “There is also a 90 minutes film”

    90 minute film of Dobson building a 16 inch telescope from scratch.

    danbruc, 2017-03 · Recommendation · in “Mirror grinding”

  2. “I like this video from John Dobson about handmade telescopes”

    Dobson builds a complete telescope including hand grinding the mirrors.

    DanBC, 2020-04 · Recommendation · in “Hand Scraping a Truly Flat Plane (1908) [pdf]”

  3. “Here's a 90 minute youtube video on how to build one, with John Dobson himself”

    90 minute guide to building a Dobsonian with Dobson himself.

    Prey4Jesus, 2021-02 · Recommendation · in “Ask HN: What entry-level telescope should I choose?”

  4. “There is a very detailed video documentation [0] about telescope building techniques”

    Detailed documentation of telescope building techniques with Dobson's insights.

    nvalis, 2025-03 · Recommendation · in “Amateur Telescope Making Main Page”

Excerpts from Hacker News comments, linked to the originals. Summaries and labels were written by a language model from those comments.

Topics: dobsonian, john dobson, mirror grinding, amateur astronomy, diy optics

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