Craft Cabin Make a Tabletop Telescope

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Craft Cabin Make a Tabletop Telescope

You need:

A flat mirror
A magnifying mirror (the kind adults use to shave or put on makeup)
A magnifying glass
A table
A clear night sky with the moon (and maybe some stars) visible

From huge reflectors 1,000 feet (300 meters) wide to tiny binoculars you can fit in your pocket, most telescopes work in basically the same way--they collect and focus light in order to bring distant object close up. You can look at the night sky with a simple telescope you make yourself. Here's how.

Place the magnifying mirror near a window to reflect the moon or stars. Adjust the mirror so that it stands at an angle to the window so that the reflected light is visible against the window or the wall next to it.
Prop up the flat mirror between the magnifying mirror and the window or wall, in the path of the reflected light. From behind the magnifying mirror, you should see its reflection in the flat mirror. You may need to adjust the position and angle of both mirrors to get a good reflection of the moon or a group of stars. After every few minutes, you will have to readjust the mirrors because of the motion of the moon and stars.
Use your magnifying glass to examine the reflection that appears in the flat mirror. Move the magnifying glass back and forth until you see the reflection clearly. How well your telescope works depends on the quality of your magnifying glass and on finding the right distance and angles between the mirrors.