08/20/2015 – Ephemeris – Library Lending Telescopes

Ephemeris for Thursday, August 20th.  The Sun rises at 6:50.  It’ll be up for 13 hours and 50 minutes, setting at 8:40.   The Moon, 2 days before first quarter, will set at 11:30 this evening.

The Moon has always been a favorite target for binoculars and telescopes.  Tonight is no exception.  The trouble is that most inexpensive telescopes are overly complicated and hard to use.  One way to help the prospective telescope buyer is to try one and get used to a telescope before plunking down money for it.  In that regard The Grand Traverse Astronomical Society (GTAS) and Enerdyne of Suttons Bay have donated a telescope to the Traverse Area District Library and The Betsie Valley District Library.  The library’s themselves will determine how the telescopes will be lent out.  The first two telescopes are Orion StarMax 90mm TableTop telescopes, suitable for viewing the Moon and planets Saturn, Jupiter, Venus and Mars.

Times are for the Traverse City/Interlochen area of Michigan. They may be different for your location.

Addendum

A youngster trying to see where the telescope is pointing at the star party at The Betsie Valley District Library, Thompsonville, MI. Credit: Library staff.

The Traverse Area District Library will host an event inaugurating the use of their telescope on Wednesday night August 26th starting at 8 p.m.