A microscope is a device that is used to see things too small to see with the naked eye. There are many types of microscopes. The most common type is the optical microscope. An optical microscope is composed of a magnifying lens and an eyepiece that are joined together in a tube, an illuminated stage where the object being observed is placed, and a tripod to secure the optical components. The source of light for an optical microscope is generally a small bulb attached to a tripod with a lens or system of lenses that can be adjusted and fixed behind the illuminated area. A microscope condenser is a complicated system of lenses or mirrors that reproduce the light on the surface of the object.