Second telescope coming to P.E.I. Public Library for amateur astronomers

A UPEI physics professor hopes P.E.I. star gazers will continue to take advantage of a new program that allows the public to borrow a telescope from Confederation Centre's public library and says adding a second telescope to the program should help with the long waiting list.

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Megan Glover told Island Morning's Mitch Cormier the six-inch Dobsonian reflecting telescope sits on a flat base on the ground and is very sturdy and fairly easy to use.

"You just kind of rotate it and point it to where you want to point it at and you put in the eye piece and adjust."

Second telescope coming

Glover says the telescope can be borrowed for one week.

"Last I checked, there was 26 or more holds on it at the library."

UPEI's Physics Department will be adding a second telescope to the program.

"As soon as they can get it in their system and online it should be ready for borrowing," she said.

The funds to purchase the telescope were raised by the Sidewalk Astronomers of Charlottetown, a collective of amateurastronomyenthusiasts.

"This initiative was led by Keith Cooper who wanted to have telescopes available to the public to get that experience of using them."

Borrowers get a printed user guide and access to a YouTube video to show how to use the telescope. A book on astronomy observing is also included when the telescope is loaned out.

Glover added she posts regularly on the UPEI astronomy blog and Twitter feed things that are in the sky for people to see.

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