iPhone mount for telescopes

I've recently become interested in amateur astronomy.  I picked up a very used telescope from a garage sale and after a little TLC, took it outside.  I wanted a way to take pictures through the eyepiece but I did not want to spend any money.  After searching the web, looking for DIY iPhone mounts, I came up empty handed.  I thought of this design for a very rough quick way to accomplish my goal.  This can be done a lot nicer, and I will do so in the future.  But, if you don't want to spend the money on an after-market accessory, then perhaps this will suit your needs as well!

Step 1: Step 1: Materials and Tools

I was determined to use just things I had around the house.  here is what you will need:

Materials:

• Some type of pipe clamp
• long bolt with two nuts (preferable one wing nut)
• L bracket
• Small piece of wood (I used 1/2" plywood)
• Assorted nuts and bolts
• Felt (optional but recommended)
• Elastic (could probably use thick rubber bands instead)

Tools:

• Drill
• Saw (to cut the wood to size)
• Hot glue gun

Comments

[Raoul_Duke_Esq]

Great idea! I'm in the same boat, but instead of the plywood "shelf" I'm gonna try the clip on belt case that came with my iPhone5 Ballistic case. I don't use it so what the heck!

I'm curious as to how close you need to be to the lens and how much adjustments you had to make before you got it right.

If I get anything useful I'll post it. Thanks!

[Lucky7x7]

Great idea! also you could attach a cheap rubber case, line up the camera hole and eyepiece and you could easily slide in and out of the mount. Great idea!

[jckonczal]

This is perfect. My wife bought an old telescope for $5, which works great and turns out to be worth over $500. My son has an iPod, which is even better for this than an iPhone, since our photo session will not be interrupted by phone calls :).

I might put a scrap of felt between the metal clamps and the eyepiece. If that slips to easily, a thin piece of rubber might work.

[russm313]

That sounds great! I'd love the see any good pics you get :)

[Kiteman]

Is that last shot, of the Moon, one you took this way?

[russm313]

Yes it is!

[Kiteman]

Awesome!

[Kiteman]

Awesome!