Cornerstones of Science recently participated in the Maine Science Festival at the Bangor Civic Center in Bangor, Maine. Telescopes and space science books were set up on tables so that participants young and old could get some hands-on time with these tools and resources while inside the building.
Recreate this experience at your library (active or passive activity):
- Turn the optical tube so that the eyepiece is at the right height for your audience (loosen the clamshell and turn the optical tube down for youth or up for adults). If you have multiple telescopes, leave one set lower and the other one higher. (see zoom eyepieces in photos)
- Use the EZ Finder to locate an object down a long hallway or outside (do not point the telescope at the sun of have it where others could accidentally point it at the sun).
- Once you have found an object, tighten down the adjustment knob on the side of the telescope so that the optical tube does not move.
- Look through the zoom eyepiece to see the object. You may need to move the optical tube slightly up/down or side to side to get the object into view.
- Use the focuser knob to get the object clear and in focus.
- Turn the Zoom eyepiece from wide angle (24mm) to a zoomed in magnified image (8mm).
Add to this experience with books about space, the moon, constellations, astronomers, and telescopes. Offer a monthly Evening Sky Map print out as a take home piece www.skymaps.com.
