mattyfatz
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/27/06
Posts: 1296
Loc: Boise Idaho
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Those of you, who know me, know I'm not happy until I’m in over my head. In spite of all of the other mania in my life I’ve decided to restore, clean up, and just plain piece together as many scopes as I can by the end of the school year, and donate them to several high schools.
I was going to do this anyway, but now with the International Year of Astronomy it makes even more sense.
I want to do this, but give the credit to the CN forum. I think that this forum is as essential a tool as any other in this hobby. If just a few more students get hooked on this each year we will have a bright future…. Oh wait maybe we want a Dark future
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**Matty**
Stimulating the economy, one piece of equipment at a time.   
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BSeward
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/19/06
Posts: 711
Loc: 15 miles north of Snow Plop.
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How about a clear future? I've given a 4.5" Meade OTA/Homemade Dob to a friend's son. It's gotten a lot of use since. Now to scrounge up another scope for the local Methodist Church's kids program...
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Z8 (Freshly Flocked - thanks Steve!))
Telrad with Romisen L-B030 GLP attached to finder mount
1.8X Barlow and a bunch of inexpensive eyepieces.
Bob's Knobs! (Thanks, Bob!)
The "B" stands for Bill, (and, sorry to say, Bald!)
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UpNorthLibrarian
sage
Reged: 04/18/05
Posts: 415
Loc: 44.30N / 83.53W
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Howdy
I have several scopes that are in various stages of good repair, I just don't use them. Is there a clearing house for such items. I'd pay shipping if I knew someone / some astrogroup would take a little time and clean then up and and donate them...
russ
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'True observation begins when one is devoid of set patterns'
Li Jun Fan
203mm DBA Certified Dob
AT-80mm Refractor w/Vixen Icarus D Alt/Az Mount
10x30 Canon IS Binos
9x60 Obies
8x42 Obies
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mattyfatz
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/27/06
Posts: 1296
Loc: Boise Idaho
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Well some have suggested that instead of donating a bunch of scopes, I keep them and host star parties and outreach programs. I am still going to donate some scopes, but I might take a more long term approach to this.
What do you think?
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**Matty**
Stimulating the economy, one piece of equipment at a time.
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john D
All you have to do is ask!!
Reged: 08/05/07
Posts: 5449
Loc: Midlothian, VA
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hey Matt, i think the star parties and outreach programs is a good idea. if i could help i would. maybe i can try to get some small things! 
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Meade ETX-125
Meade LXD55 mount
Philips SPC900NC webcam
Some Accessories!
My Blog
 -Midlothian VA
--Land Of The Free Because Of The Brave--
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Pedro Russo
member
Reged: 09/27/08
Posts: 20
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Hi Guys,
Check this AWB's project: http://www.astronomerswithoutborders.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=35&Itemid=29
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dgs©
Postmaster
Reged: 03/29/04
Posts: 15042
Loc: West Monroe, Louisiana
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Quote:
Well some have suggested that instead of donating a bunch of scopes, I keep them and host star parties and outreach programs. I am still going to donate some scopes, but I might take a more long term approach to this.
What do you think?
Hey Matt, why not combine those efforts... donate the scope to a group, and organize a star party with them. Could be used as an opportunity to familiarize them with their new scope and let them see some scopes of other designs and/or apertures, etc.
Maybe even make the star party event the official 'handoff' of the donated scope. 
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- david
8"Ø Newtonian on SVP, Moonlite CR2, Telrad
PST Oberwerk Ultra 15x70 Orion Ultraview 10×50
Hand-me-down Sears Refractor (Discoverer) 60mm×900mm
"What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world, remains and is immortal." --Albert Pike
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Tuugii
professor emeritus
Reged: 03/22/07
Posts: 522
Loc: Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia
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The biggest problem here for far away countries like Mongolia, is the shipping. There are actually some people who are willing to donate some stuff, but often the shipping expense is almost same as a new rig.
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telescope=time machine...
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mattyfatz
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 12/27/06
Posts: 1296
Loc: Boise Idaho
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Quote:
Quote:
Well some have suggested that instead of donating a bunch of scopes, I keep them and host star parties and outreach programs. I am still going to donate some scopes, but I might take a more long term approach to this.
What do you think?
Hey Matt, why not combine those efforts... donate the scope to a group, and organize a star party with them. Could be used as an opportunity to familiarize them with their new scope and let them see some scopes of other designs and/or apertures, etc.
Maybe even make the star party event the official 'handoff' of the donated scope.
Yeah!  thats a great idea. I'm thinking of all sorts of fun things like that. They have some year round schools out here too, so there is an extensive winter break I can take advantage of.
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**Matty**
Stimulating the economy, one piece of equipment at a time.
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star drop
Guilty as Charged
Reged: 02/02/08
Posts: 16376
Loc: Snow Plop, WNY
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It is a wonderful idea to donate a telescope but only if the recipient knows how and wants to use it. Some basic training should be part of the package. You don't want it to end up packed away in someone's attic gathering dust.
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Ted
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matthew2000tx
sage
Reged: 12/14/06
Posts: 329
Loc: San Antonio, TX
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My wife and I are both teachers. I'm a certified Middle School Science teacher.
To be honest donation of telescopes to schools seems like a just and noble cause and I say go for it, however, I predict much of those telescopes might just get stored in a closet without much use.
There are many obstacles to overcome when it comes to organizing after school programs for students, legal supervision requirements, funding, approval from administrators, transportation of students to and from viewing location, scheduling, etc.
It would be great to give telescopes to schools that have an active student lead astronomy group. (Student lead groups have more freedom to organize more frequently after school hours.)
I understand that many people would like to see more observational science included in our public school system (and I'm one of them) however there are many things that need to change in school funding, standardized testing requirements, political aspects of education and educational standards before we can truly have the freedom as teachers to fully make use of those "Teachable Moments" that happen outside school hours under the night sky.
I'm not against this idea, I just urge you to use make sure that those telescopes will get used, I've been to many school resource auctions where science equipment, computer equipment, tools, etc all new in the box get sold for pennies on the dollar, all because the classroom teacher couldn't find a way to make it fit in the set curriculum that many of us teachers have to follow to stay within the requirements of our school testing standards. Its seems like a boy/girl scout troop might make more use of a donated telescope more regularly than a classroom teacher would.
If I could take my students out at night and show them the night sky each month I would, but honestly those moments that many of you shared with a teacher as a child years ago have all but gone away with bogus lawsuits against teachers, No Child Left Behind, and the pressures placed on teachers due to standardized testing being tied to school funding and contract renewals. May be change will come with the a new president, maybe not.
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<>< Matthew R.
My Astronomy Blog
*16" Meade Lightbridge
*10.1" f/4.5 Coulter Odyessy Dobsonian
*4.5" F/8 Dob. Built by Yours Truly
*3" Celestron First Scope Dob. IYA2009 edition.
*90mm Meade DSX Mak-Cass Go-To
*60mm Meade Refractor on Sears Discoverer EQ Mount
*60mm Tasco Refractor on Tasco EQ Mount
*12x50 Bushnell Binos
*10x50 Celestron Close-Up Binos x2
*20x80 Celestron Binos
*Canon 20D/40d/50d and bunch of L lenses
Edited by matthew2000tx (10/07/08 12:23 AM)
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Siderea
Astronomess
Reged: 11/21/05
Posts: 2066
Loc: Left Coast
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Great ideas, Matty and everyone
My son and I discovered the night sky and world of astronomy together while homeschooling. the last few years, I've collected a few scopes to fix up and start a small starwatch program for families. Something small and local, using a simple book, or the Scout astronomy badges for ideas.
Your responses and the IYA give me incentive to polish up those scopes and get this rolling in January!
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lc Carol
..."Then the blue above grows darker and a million stars erupt
From the places where they hide throughout the day
Into pictures in the heavens even we cannot corrupt
And the vastnesses of time can't wash away..."Jeff Green
60mm Telescope Club
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richard7
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 11/02/07
Posts: 1542
Loc: Sacramento
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I came across this acticle in a Japanese newspaper.
I have no idea how good or bad this may be but I thought I'd put it on the table.
It'll be interesting to see what size etc these are.
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Richard Trost
Orion 130st, Ioptron e/r80
Meade 10x50, Konusvue 20x80, Zhumell Tachiyon 25x100
Coffee thermos and cup
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Astrosetz
sage
Reged: 10/05/03
Posts: 340
Loc: Wisconsin
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These scope are product of the Galileoscope Cornerston Project of IYA2009. You can read more about them on www.iya2009.org. I'm glad to see some activity on this, as the information on the website is a bit dated.
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-Astrosetz
www.astrosetz.com
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JShrum
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/14/07
Posts: 735
Loc: Bay City, MI, USA
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Donating a scope to someone that really wants one is one of the best feelings of satisfaction you can get. I just donated a 10" Hardin dob to a good buddy and his two boys (12 & 15). They were incredibly excited and what a great feeling it was for myself to get three new astronomers started. They're in northern Michigan and have really dark skies so they should be able to enjoy it quite a bit. The real kicker for myself was showing them how to use it and I've got to say; they caught on really quickly! I'm headed back with a Celestron zoom 8-24 EP this weekend. I'm hoping it will be much easier for them to change mags while staying on an object (and it'll allow me to get back some of my TV plossls on loan).
Clear Skies...
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Jeff Shrum
Bay City, MI
CPC 1100 XLT
WO 2" Crayford 2-speed Focuser
OPT 2" Dielectric Diagonal
Sunset Astronomical Society
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MSimmons
newbie
Reged: 10/17/08
Posts: 1
Loc: California, USA
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Thanks for passing on the link, Pedro. The site (Astronomers Without Borders) is undergoing some changes so the same address might not work. But on either site the project of interest is STAR (Sharing Telescopes and Resources).
I just passed on a small donated telescope to an astronomy club at a university in Kathmandu, Nepal who were doing outreach -- and have big plans for IYA2009 -- with no telescope of any kind. There are lots more places where telescopes are almost impossible to come by without outside help. Tuugii mentioned in this thread the problem with shipping large telescopes to distant places and that's the biggest hurdle we face but we're working on it.
Anyone interested in donating to a group in a distant place can write to me directly with questions at mikes at astronomerswithoutborders dot org.
Mike
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Mike Simmons
President, Astronomers Without Borders
Co-Chair, IYA2009 100 Hours of Astronomy Cornerstone Project
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JJRichey
member
Reged: 11/01/08
Posts: 16
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Hi, I'm putting together a club in Silver City, NM. Donations of ANYTHING would be greatly apprecited, that includes books and educational materials. It is my hope to spread the love of astronomy to the local kids and adults alike. If you have anything or just wish to be a mentor please contact me at silver-astro@live.com Thanks
Justin Richey
Silver Astronomy Society
Whoops, forgot to add, I will be happy to pay for any shipping costs, or even pay for items at a discount. Thanks.
Edited by JJRichey (11/02/08 02:15 PM)
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Shoestring
Vendor (Shoestring Astronomy)
Reged: 04/01/05
Posts: 62
Loc: central Iowa
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About a year ago, I donated an Orion XT8 Dob to our local library. My goal was to make it available to as many people as possible. The library wanted to make sure that people knew how to use it, so once a month (during the first quarter moon so they can get a quick look at something to build their excitement), I teach a brief class on how to set it up and take it down. They only allow people that have been through the class to use the scope. It has been a great hit in the community. I have trained about 50 people so far, and I can tell you that it does get checked out and does not sit in a closet.
Donating to schools is nice, but only if there is a teacher that is interested and willing to put it to good use. Also, with schools you will only be accessing a small part of the overall population.
If you are looking for a place to donate a scope, give the local library a try!
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Doug Anderson
Shoestring Astronomy
www.ShoestringAstronomy.com
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TheDobMan
newbie
Reged: 02/03/09
Posts: 1
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Hello,
I am a LVAAS member at http://www.lvaas.net/. Are you still interested in donating your telescopes?
Look forward to hearing from you!
TheDobMan
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star drop
Guilty as Charged
Reged: 02/02/08
Posts: 16376
Loc: Snow Plop, WNY
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Hi TheDobMan and welcome to Cloudy Nights.
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Ted
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