BRUNSWICK — Curtis Memorial Library will host an open house to show off its new Orion Starblast 4.5-inch telescope from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday.
The Orion Starblast is a point-and-view telescope with an 18-inch steel tube and a 113-mm parabolic mirror that swivels on a wooden base. It weighs 13 pounds. Instead of a tripod the telescope is used on a table or other stable surface. It has a laser finder and comes with a small pouch containing an instruction manual, a copy of the book National Audubon Society Pocket Guide to Constellations and a headlight with red and white light.
Astronomer Ron Thompson from the Southern Maine Astronomy Club will be on hand to show visitors how to use the telescope.
After Thursday, library cardholders age 18 and older will be able to reserve the telescope for a week at a time through the online catalog.
The Library Telescope program began in New Hampshire, and Cornerstones of Science worked with the New Hampshire Astronomical Society to expand the program to Curtis Memorial, Portland Public Library and Raymond Village Library in Maine.
Astronomer volunteers helped modify the telescopes for public use, maintain the telescopes and partner with the library to offer astronomy events such as star parties, how-to events and lectures.
“Rob Burgess and Ron Thompson of the Southern Maine Astronomy Club have been instrumental in getting the Telescope Lending program launched at Curtis,” a library release states.
To learn about the club, visit www.southernmaineastronomers.org.
Thursday’s event is free and does not require registration. Curtis Memorial Library is located at 23 Pleasant St. For more information, call the reference desk at 725- 5242 extension 510 or email refdesk@curtislibrary.com.
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