Anatomy of a Telescope

Monday, July 16, 2012
6 pm - 8 pm
Oshtemo Branch Library

Learn how to explore the night sky.

Join members of the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society for an outdoor observation of the night skies and a demonstration of various telescopes. Weather permitting.

Kalamazoo Public Library Telescope program

Through the generous support of the Kalamazoo Astronomical Society, the Kalamazoo Public Library is pleased to offer a circulating telescope. The telescope kit includes an Orion StarBlast 4.5” Astro telescope and everything you need to observe the skies, including a simple instruction manual and star maps. The telescope can be checked out at and returned to the Oshtemo Branch Library. The telescope can be checked out for a period of two weeks, and may be renewed if there are no holds.

In order to borrow the telescope, you must: 

• -be 18 years old with a valid license
• -be a Kalamazoo resident borrower in good standing
• -sign a borrowing agreement that acknowledges your responsibility for replacement/damage costs

Telescope Kit costs: 

• -Orion StarBlast 4.5 Astro Telescope: $199.95
• -Orion Mini Pro Cleaning Tool: $9.99
• -Celestron 8-24mm Zoom eyepiece: $70.00
• -Constellations National Audubon Society Pocket Guide: $9.95
• -Starry Night Software CD
• -Extra battery (AAA) for the finder scope: $3.00
• -Red/White 3-LED Headlamp: $6.00
• -Laminated and spiral bound instructions and Moon User’s Guide: $8.00
• -Miscellaneous parts & tools: $8.00
• -Belt pack for holding telescope necessities: $7.00

Total: roughly $325 (plus shipping costs from online retailers)

Fines & Fees:

$5 per day for overdue

Goal/Purpose:

To help foster scientific literacy, stimulate an interest in astronomy, and provide people who have never looked through a telescope the chance to experience the excitement that comes from discovery.

About the Telescope Kit:

The Kalamazoo Astronomical Society “selected the Orion StarBlast 4.5-inch Astronomical Telescope for the library, along with a zoom eyepiece and supportive material. The telescope is easy to use and is robust. There is nothing to assemble. It has a wooden base, not the usual spindly tripod legs. The telescope is of manageable size, but has a relatively large optical tube. This means that the moon and deep sky objects will show far more detail than one could see with the common ‘beginner’ telescopes. It also has a large field of view that allows the object to stay in the eyepiece longer. This is a quality instrument, reviewed by a number of astronomical publications and found quite worthy.” (from the NHAS website)