September 2024 President’s message
by Linda Bergemann
I am pleased to announce that Skyscrapers has won the 2024 Library Telescope drawing for the New England Region of the Astronomical League (NERAL). Each year the AL, through the Horkheimer Charitable Fund, awards a Library Telescope to an AL club in each region of the United States. This is the third time that Skyscrapers has received this award.
The Library Telescope consists of a table-top 4.5-inch Dobsonian Reflector fitted with an 8-24 mm zoom eyepiece, and a name plate commemorating the late Jack Horkheimer. The Library Telescope program was initiated by the New Hampshire Astronomical Society in 2008 and has grown into a nationwide presence. Clubs donate an easy-to-use portable telescope with quality optics and a sturdy mount to their local library. Patrons can then check it out as they do books.
Skyscrapers’ involvement with the Library Telescope Program began in 2017, with the donation of Orion StarBlast telescopes to three Rhode Island libraries. This was followed by assisting other libraries with the purchase of telescopes with their own funds. In 2021, and again in 2022, Skyscrapers won the Library Telescope from the Astronomical League. These telescopes were donated to North Scituate Public Library and the Woonsocket Harris Public Library. This year, the AL Library Telescope will be donated to the Hope Public Library in Scituate, RI. We anxiously await its arrival sometime this Fall.
Telescopes, continued... We are cleaning house (or observatory)! We have gone through our inventory of telescopes and have decided to surplus many that are not being used and just gathering dust. A variety of telescopes and mounts will be available for purchase during AstroAssembly. They are priced to move! Pay us a visit on October 5th, and go home with a “new” telescope.
Warm wishes and clear skies,
Linda
