We show a laboratory experiment in which students can learn the use of interferometry as a valuable tool in astronomy. We detail experiments based on the use of the classic Michelson stellar interferometer able to reproduce the size of single stars and to characterize double star systems. Stellar sources, single and double, are reproduced by a laser light emerging from the circular end faces of one or two step-index polymer optical fibres. Light coming from the fibre end faces passes through two identical pinholes located on a lid covering the objective of a small telescope, thus producing interference fringes. The measurement of the fringe visibilities allows us to estimate both the diameters of the simulated stars and the separation between them, with errors lower than 18% for a range of light sources that can recreate the apparent size of the outer Solar System planets Uranus and Neptune and the binary properties of the Alpha Centauri system. The exercises here described illustrate the optical principles of spatial interferometry and can be integrated into courses on astronomy, optics or space science, with close interaction between theory and experiment.

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In this manuscript we show the design of a simple experiment that reproduces the operation of the Michelson stellar interferometer by using step-index polymer optical fibers. The emission of stellar sources, single or binary stars, has been simulated by the laser light emerging from the output surface of the 2 meter-long polymer optical fiber. This light has an emission pattern that is similar to the emission pattern of stellar sources-circular, uniform, spatially incoherent, and quasi-monochromatic. Light coming from the fiber end faces passes through two identical pinholes located on a lid covering the objective of a small telescope, thus producing interference. Interference fringes have been acquired using a camera that is coupled to a telescope. The experiments have been carried out both outdoors in the daytime and indoors. By measuring the fringe visibilities, we have determined the size of our artificial stellar sources and the distance between them, when placing them at distances of 54 m from the telescope in the indoor measurements and of 75 m in the outdoor ones.