Telescope Club takes place on the last Friday of each month, between September and April (the observing season), although it is best to check the public events calendar to be sure that an occassional variation to this has not taken place. It's a bit of a misnomer in that the title of the event suggests something just for children or young adults, which it isn't. Some astronomy organisations call an event such as this
a Telescope Amnesty. What it really constitutes is an informal gathering of local astronomers and interested members of the public or other amateurs who are looking for advice on telescopes, cameras and other optical equipment used to observe the night sky or who have a piece of equipment that they are not sure how to use or which requires repairing.
[Image: Astrophotography - Celestron C9.25 & EQ6 mount]
[Image: LT - the Liverpool remote Telescope]
[Image: Meade - LX200 Schmidt Cassegrain]
Originally aimed at all star-struck youngsters it is now open to the purely young at heart! If you have a telescope, perhaps you got one last Christmas or as a birthday present, and you would like to meet other people with their own telescopes and find out how best to see the stars and planets, perhaps you have one languishing in a loft or cupboard and would like to use it for its intended purpose or maybe your telescope has been knocked & needs some expert attention, then the telescope club is the ideal forum for you. It is aimed largely at youngster�s aged 10-14 (accompanied by an adult), but adults are most welcome and often out number the children.
Bring your telescope with you to see the night sky (weather permitting!) or there�s a chance to use one of ours. Please note: this is the only time that members of the public (non-volunteers) are invited to bring their own telescopes, binoculars or other optical equipment to the park, as part of Stockton Council's child protection and health and safety policies only accredited voulnteers are permitted to operate telescopes on the park. If you wish to bring optical equipment at any other time it should be by strict appointment with the Planetarium Director.
[Image: Millenium Telescope - 19in Reflector]
[Image: Moon - obvious telescope target]
[Image: Solar observing - outside Planetarium]
The club is followed by public observing through planetarium and observatory telescopes, participants in the club who are not registered volunteers are then requested to put their own telescopes away and only to use planetarium and observatory equipment under volunteer supervision. The duration of this event is 1 � hours, it is free of charge and takes place inside the Planetarium.
