Carl Zambuto of Zambuto Optical credits a local amateur telescope maker, Earl Watts, with convincing him to make his first mirror, a 6-inch. Some had mentors early on who were instrumental to helping them hone their skills. These magical mirrors are created in small optical shops by people who typically got into the business by chance.

Each owner walked me through their thoughts on topics ranging from how they began their careers to the specific techniques they follow to create their masterpieces. To find out how they do it, I recently interviewed the owners of several manufacturers of premium optics, including Lightholder Optics, Optiques Fullum, Ostahowski Optics, Waite Research, and Zambuto Optical. They combine state-of-the-art fabrication techniques with individualized testing to ensure each and every mirror is near perfect.

The mirrors inside these telescopes are painstakingly and individually crafted by optical artisans. Whether it’s spotting the intricate labyrinths of a bright nebula, the glittering spectacle of a star cluster, or the dim glimmer of a galaxy just this side of infinity, those magnificent telescopes garner more “oohs” and “ahs” per inch of aperture than just about any other.Īt the hearts of these outstanding, handcrafted instruments are their optics. Often, large-aperture Newtonian reflectors are the most crowded, as their eyepieces reveal details that go unseen in lesser instruments. Some telescopes are surrounded by small groups, while others are mobbed with people standing in line, waiting for a chance to glimpse the current target. Scattered throughout are silhouettes of telescopes and attendees, all talking shop. If you have ever attended a club star party or an amateur astronomy convention, you have undoubtedly strolled through an observing field.

Large telescope mirror