Programable Telescope Spotter, Star Finder

thingiverse

This is pretty sweet! I have a 2.5" telescope that's getting old, but still works extremely well. As a total newbie star gazer, I have absolutely no knowledge of star names or know where to look for them. There are many apps out there that are very good at names and locations, so I decided to marry my iPhone to my telescope thinking it might really help me out. I wasn't prepared for the incredible result! I thought the app would get me in the general area of where I wanted to be, but I had no idea how precise the setup would be. Because the clamp is locked into position, everything is automatically set perfectly in place. The telescope's field of view is dead center on the iPhone's screen. If I type a star's name, the app shows me exactly which direction to point my telescope. The app I use is Sky View. There are both free and paid versions available in the app store. Sky View has a virtual reality mode that shows the actual sky along with amazing graphics! A target in the middle of the iPhone screen highlights the star when the scope is pointed directly at it. Not only does this make it ridiculously easy for me to locate any star, but I gain a little knowledge about it as well. The device will hold my iPhone either vertically or horizontally. Instructions The print is made in just 2 parts so the entire project can be completed without supports! The clamp portion with the hinge is printed as one part. The iPhone holder is separate. All I have to do is glue this part to the clamp using a mixture of scrap plastic and acetone. I use acetone to attach parts together just like welding! The plastic hinge worked loose on my prototype after I cranked the wing nut too hard, but I've added a small hole for a wire to be inserted to prevent that from happening again. Depending on what size wire is available, the hole can be enlarged to fit. What I do now is drill the hole undersize to keep the wire in place and prevent it from coming loose! To make sure my part will last a long time, I drilled a 0.093 diameter hole through the center of the hinge after I had weakened it with acetone, then pressed a 0.100 stainless steel wire into it! Post Printing Notes: With a bit of post-printing modification, this should fit a 2" to 3" telescope just fine! Not everyone has a 3D printer, so I'm including a pop-riveted aluminum version that's simple to make for those without one. All you need to do is look at the drawing, use the concept and size it to your specific telescope and phone combination. Don't forget to put padding between the aluminum, pop rivets and your telescope! I've been bitten by the astronomy bug! I ordered a massive 114mm reflector, which means that's a big one! and re-drew a brand new iPhone holder based on its bigger size. Now I'm thinking of mating it directly to my spotter scope's permanent mount, rather than making it adjustable every time I look at the sky.