If you're interested in learning more about telescope building, here's a good link.
Here's another. And I am told this one is one of the best. I have yet to give it a good read. I'll be commenting on it as I get through it.
Oh, by the way, don't let the naysayers discourage you. When researching the construction of a telescope you will always encounter those who say don't bother trying to build one, just buy one. Well, it depends on what you want in the end. Do you just want a telescope, or do you want to have the experience of building a telescope? If you chose the latter of those two then you should not allow yourself to be discouraged. These comments usually come from people who do not appreciate the significance of what one gains from building something.
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True, True, Oh So True! I myself paint a bit, in oils, and I'd recommend every artist to, at least a few times, prepare a canvas from the bottom up. It's a simple process but still there are lots of details to consider, proper mix of glue, temperature, dynamics, the way the glue behaves if one is too slow, lot's 'a stuff. And then the surprise. When I lay the first layer of glue on the canvas and when it dries it dries in an irregular manner which creates patterns of dark an light 'in' the canvas, and with but a pinch of imagination one sees worlds. The painting was there all along. One discovers, one learns deeply about ones interest and many seemingly peripheral things may in the final end unite, and somehow a larger pattern appears to more firmly ground ones understandings. I still use an astronomy book, by Patric Moore, from since I was 12. In this one the colour sequence of a stars lifeline, the changes a star goes through, is much more precisely delineated than it is in that first level book in Astronomy once used in college here in Sweden (though things should have changed by now). I do not think understanding ever comes 'ready made'. It has to be built. To build a telescope for oneself is a sure way to get into Astronomy. Then one get's into big bangs, and then one is gone. Today I read (was it at The Brights?) that the reason for intelligence is but to create a new big bang so the universe can go on. Um?
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I think I know who you mean with regard to creating new big bangs and then moving on to the next intelligence. Not sure I agree, and I think I said as much on the forums. LOL
ReplyDeleteBut, I agree completely with you about the experience of building a painting (or anything) from the bottom up. I have not done much of that with paintings, but I know that the more I do in the creation of the media through which my work is created the more satisfied I am with the results. Where painting is concerned I normally have quick flashes of things I want to capture with a brush, and sadly I often go straight for the ready-made canvas (or canvas board). But in recent years I have done less painting than I used to do. My creative outlet seems to have moved from 2-dimensional to 3-dimensional.