Building and Using Telescopes: The Course That Opens Your Eyes to Infinity

Building and Using Telescopes: The Course That Opens Your Eyes to Infinity

At the University of Antioquia, astronomy is not only studied through books or computer simulations: it is also built by hand and observed with one’s own eyes. This is demonstrated by the course “Building and Using Telescopes,” taught by Dr. Ignacio Ramón Ferrín, a researcher and professor at the Institute of Physics who has devoted his career to astronomical observation and is especially noted for the discovery of the asteroids “(423624) Udeantioquia” and “(366272) Medellin.”

This course uniquely combines optical theory with experimental practice, giving students a deep understanding of how light travels, reflects, and is focused to reveal the secrets of the cosmos. The theory sessions cover fundamental principles of geometric and physical optics, the design of optical systems, the calculation of focal lengths, and the selection of suitable materials. This knowledge is then applied in the laboratory and the workshop, where students take an active part in building, aligning, and calibrating astronomical telescopes.

One of the most emblematic projects to emerge from this course is the construction of the OTA El Devorador de Cuantos Cósmicos (“The Devourer of Cosmic Quanta”), a reflecting telescope with a mirror 36 centimeters in diameter and a focal ratio of f/6. This instrument, the result of collaborative work between students and faculty, represents not only a technical achievement but also a symbol of the commitment to scientific training and instrumental autonomy within the Astronomy and Physics programs.

The process of building El Devorador de Cuantos Cósmicos involved stages of optical design, focal length measurement, mechanical assembly, and observation testing, bringing together knowledge of physics, mathematics, engineering, and teamwork. Each session in the workshop was, in essence, a practical lesson in how science becomes a tangible tool for exploring the universe.

For students, taking Building and Using Telescopes means understanding astronomy from its technical and experimental roots, and acquiring skills that are fundamental both to observational research and to science outreach. The chance to build their own instruments and use them in real observations lets them connect directly with the essence of science: observing, measuring, understanding, and sharing.

Thanks to initiatives like this one, the University of Antioquia continues to train astronomers and physicists with a comprehensive vision of knowledge, capable not only of looking at the sky but of building the means to do so. In the words of many students, this course truly “opens your eyes to infinity,” uniting academic rigor with a passion for discovering the universe.