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Under the "lighthouse" on Bass
Harbor
South on 102 through Southwest Harbor. In Tremont, follow the signs to the
shop on Steamboat Wharf Road in Bernard.
WORKSHOPS
adults $20 ~children $10.
Advanced paid reservation is strongly suggested.
Island Astronomy is
now offering workshops on Wednesdays & Thursdays. The class is limited to 10
people. This is a hands on workshop where you can experience
the ease of using, and viewing the spectacular dark sky of Mt. Desert Island
using some of the best telescopes Island Astronomy has to offer.
How to use a Beginner
Telescope
Learn to use a
Dobsonian telescope. We will teach you what's in the sky tonight and how
to find it. Stripping away all the confusion this workshop makes astronomy
simple and easy.
CLICK HERE FOR A
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
An Introduction to Telescopes
The stories of Galileo, Newton and Dobson, offer the keys to understanding any
telescope. Along the way you’ll learn about mounts, finders, and eyepieces.
After the presentation there will be plenty of time to get your hands on them
all. If you’re thinking there may be a telescope in your future, this is the
place to start...
CLICK
HERE FOR A DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Call or email us for your
reservation:
207-244-9477
info@islandastro.com
PRIVATE EVENTS
The shop is
available for presentations and private lessons before or after business hours
for $50.00/ hr. The out of shop rate is $65.00/hr including travel time.
Call or email us for your
reservation:
207-244-9477
info@islandastro.com
FRIDAY NIGHT ASTRONOMY
7:00 ~ 10:00 P.M.
Island Astronomy, Bernard. 244-9477
info@islandastro.com
May Through December Lecture
Schedule
PRESENTATIONS
begin At
7:30 P.M
NO RESERVATION REQUIRED
Join us Friday nights for
an interpretive presentation. Inspiring images, and lively discussions
guarantee a memorable event no matter the weather! Our shop is
heated for your comfort.
On clear nights we set the telescopes out on the deck for a free public
viewing after the presentation.
Call 207-244-9477
for details or email at
info@islandastro.com
TOPICS OF
INTEREST IN OUR LECTURE SERIES
INCLUDE:
The Hubble Story
The story of Edwin Hubble
and the Space Telescope that bears his name is told with some of the most
inspiring images in astronomy. Hubble reveals how stars are born, solar systems
form, and stellar death throes generate breathtaking nebula. This popular talk
is perfect for beginners of all ages.
The
Moon
The story of the Apollo
Missions is told in striking images. What is the Moon made of, where did it come
from? The answer came as a big surprise to scientists. The smallest telescope is
all you need to explore our Moon’s 3 billion year old story for yourself.
The Sky Tonight
This tour of the night sky
winds its way through the constellations. Along the way we’ll visit the
showpieces of the night sky and learn a little mythology. This is the perfect
start to an evening of stargazing.
Dante’s Guiding
Light: The Astronomy of the Divine Comedy
Peter’s thesis exposes why
astronomy is THE MOST important theme of Dante’s epic Masterpiece. Nearly seven
centuries ago, Dante blended astronomy, philosophy, and religion into one of the
greatest expressions of medieval thought. Discover just how far we have come,
and how much we have left behind: for astronomy was once the highest form of
poetry.
Measuring the Solar System
From classical to
modern times, some of the greatest minds in history have struggled to measure
the size of our solar system. A little geometry is all it takes to understand
how this difficult puzzle was solved, one piece at a time. Follow a chain of
events that starts at the bottom of a well near the Great Library of Alexandria
in Egypt, and features five transits of Venus.
info@islandastro.com
or call us at: 207-244-9477
Postal Address:
Peter and Linda Lord Island Astronomy P.O. Box 249 Bernard, ME 04612-0249
Electronic mail:
info@islandastro.com
How to use
a Beginner Telescope Workshop
$20/adult $10/child
John Dobson revolutionized amateur astronomy with his
do-it-yourself, low cost telescopes. Give him a day with an audience and he’ll
grind a mirror and put together a telescope right before your eyes. John’s
lifelong devotion to astronomy has earned him a special place in history. Today
his cardboard tubes, porthole glass, and popsicle sticks, have been replaced by
clever engineering. The mass-produced Dobsonian is the number one choice of
experts, for a beginner telescope. Its ease of use and low cost, make the
smaller models perfect for children, while the big "Dobs" are the kings of large
aperture. Available from a wide array of manufacturers at very low prices, we
use the innovative Orion computerized Dobsonian, praised by the editors of Sky
and Telescope and Astronomy Magazine.
We start with a short presentation on the details of
John’s design, one built on the work of another giant of astronomy, Sir Isaac
Newton. The heart of the workshop is the hands-on portion where you will learn:
The parts of the telescope
John's test of a good mount
How to use the focuser and change between
"1-1/4" and " 2" eyepieces
What magnification is and how to use it
To align and use a finder
To align the primary and secondary mirror using
a laser collimator
How to use the computerized digital setting
circles
Next we'll give you a short presentation of the
brightest constellations and what's in the sky tonight. You’ll learn about 10
great objects for telescopes, what they are, and how to find them
We conclude by stressing that there is no such thing as
the "best telescope". You are the most important part of any telescope. The one
you want to get out and use, even when you’re tired and its cold, is the "best"
one for you. We leave you with some thoughts on:
Projects to keep you motivated
The importance of dark adaptation and averted
vision
Keeping comfort in mind; silk gloves, warm
clothes, and a good chair
The importance of a good pair of binoculars.
The workshop typically runs 1-1/2 hours and class size
is limited to 8.
An Introduction to Telescopes
Workshop
$20/adult $10/child
The stories of Galileo, Newton and Dobson, offer the
keys to understanding any telescope. You’ll learn about mounts, finders, and
eyepieces. If you’re thinking there may be a telescope in your future, this
workshop will let you make an informed choice. Our 1 ½ hr. daytime workshop
combines a short presentation and lots of hands-on time. A telescope is not
something you want to learn to use in the dark!
We start with a short historical presentation that will
teach you:
The three basic types of telescopes
o
Refractor
o
Newtonian
o
Cassegrain/Maksutov
The three most popular kinds of mounts
o
Dobsonian
o
German Equatorial
o
Alt/Az
Next we get out the telescopes and have you put them
through their paces, learning:
How to use the focuser and change between
"1-1/4" and " 2" eyepieces
What magnification is and how to use it
To align and use a finder
Computers
The strength and weakness of the different
types of mounts
We conclude with some thoughts on choosing the "best
telescope"
Cost versus Aperture
Portability and ease of use
The best telescope is the one you actually use
The workshop typically runs 1-1/2 hours and class size
is limited to 8.
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