EAST LANSING, Mich. – If someone you know enjoys searching the stars, Abrams Planetarium at Michigan State University can help you to make informed choices on the best telescopes for viewing the heavens.
The planetarium will hold a clinic on guidelines for people planning to buy a telescope at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 19.
“Telescopes often appear on holiday gift lists, but those who take on the task of purchasing the scope seldom know what to look for, so we decided to hold a hands-on session where people can see the difference between good and bad telescopes,” said David Batch, director of the planetarium.
Because the planetarium staff has found that poor telescopes can damage enthusiasm for the hobby, they wish to provide people with information to make an educated purchase.
“A beginner often doesn’t realize a badly designed telescope is the cause of their difficulty,” Batch said. “They assume they are inept and quickly lose interest.”
Staff will be available to offer guidelines and answer questions. Participants also have the opportunity learn about the basic features of telescopes by examining displayed examples.
The clinic is free and open to the public. Free parking will be available immediately in front of the planetarium.