Telescope Reviews: SunSpotter Experiences...

Cloudy Nights Telescope Review 8-1-03

Mr. Tom Trusock:

Tom,

Amateur astronomy is, by nature, a solitary endeavor. Except for a few star parties and occasional small group gatherings, we pursue our hobby alone, in the dark. I have found though, that sharing the skies with children opens a new "window" on the wonders of the night and daytime skies.

A few years ago I began working with scout, church, and private organizations through Fox Park Observatory and realized how wonderful it is to watch the kids eyes light up when viewing for the first time. One of the groups I became involved with is Woldumar Nature Center near Lansing, Michigan.

I have since moved on from Fox Park Observatory but I still do many astronomy activities with Woldumar. As you know, it is a "roll of the dice" when it comes to a scheduled night of observing. Many times I have been set up at Woldumar only to be clouded out. A disappointment to the children as well as myself. It was after a night last year when we were again foiled by mother nature, that I thought of a solar program. With the help of Bridget Booth, Woldumars’ exceptional Program Director I began bringing out my 120mm refractor with the solar filter. It was a moderate success, we needed something more.

About the same time, Michigan-Astro yahoo groups was started and I began a dialogue with you and found out about your loan a scope/equipment program. It was a perfect fit!

This is, by far, the best thing that has happened to help kids and adults get their feet wet in astronomy. With the help of Cloudy Nights and you, I was able to have, on loan, a sunspotter telescope for the month of July, 2003. WOW, what an incredible program. The day I took the "spotter" out for the first time it was a scheduled nighttime observing program at Woldumar for a "sleep-over " for 23 kids ranging in age from 7-13. I set the spotter up before sunset and the kids went crazy!! They were amazed! Later we looked at Jupiter, a crescent moon and a couple of deep sky objects in my 8 inch DOB. The funny thing is, the next day all they wanted to talk about and use was the sunspotter!

Over the course of the month, more than 70 kids got to view our nearest star!! And the best thing about it, the kids can set-up and use the sunspotter themselves ( with adult supervision and proper safety instruction) It is a safe and easy way for them to have a "hands on" astronomy experience. One young man that was there 3 days in a row made consecutive drawings!!!

I want to thank you and everyone else at Cloudy Nights. What an incredible program! I just hope more organizations will take you up and share the skies.

Respectfully

W. Michael Lewis

Dunham Hill Observatory

42’ 45" N

84’ 56" W

--------------------
There are two theories to arguing with my wife. Neither one works.