A kaleidoscope is an optical instrument in which bits of glass, held loosely at the end of a rotating tube, are shown in continually changing symmetrical forms by reflection in two or more mirrors set at angles to each other. A kaleidoscope operates on the principle of multiple reflection, where several mirrors are placed at an angle to one another. Typically there are three rectangular mirrors set at 60° to each other so that they form an equilateral triangle, but other angles and configurations are possible. The 60° angle generates an infinite regular grid of duplicate images of the original, with each image having six possible angles and being a mirror image or an unreversed image.
As the tube is rotated, the tumbling of the coloured objects presents varying colours and patterns. Arbitrary patterns show up as a beautiful symmetrical pattern created by the reflections.
Not easy to photograph through the tiny triangle, and these don’t really do justice to what the eye can see.
fraggle ~ rocking a camera across the Universe 
When I was a child, I had a cardboard tube kaleidoscope, bought from Woolworths. I loved that thing, and looked at the changing patterns for hours.
Very nice post, FR. Good memories too.
Best wishes, Pete.
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I love mine Pete, a present from an old friend. Yes, memories indeed. 😊
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Your one is a thing of beauty indeed, FR.
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Wow so vivid!
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Cheers Jay, it’s a beautiful piece.
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So much fantasy in a simple device. ^_^
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Yes, it’s a lovely thing and quite hypnotic to use. 😊 cheers Francis, how are you doing these days?
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I am fine, fragglerocking. Thank you. : ) How are you?
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I’m fine thanks, had my birthday yesterday so a bit older than I was 🙂
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Wonderful….like stained glass windows, don’t think ‘Ive looked in a kaleidoscope since i was a child…thanks for the memory 🙂
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You’re welcome 😊
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whoa very kool Fraggy
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