Our Crowdfunding Groups
The NIU Observatory would like to purchase some new equipment to help support our outreach activities. One of the topics we often present on is the differences between reflecting and refracting telescopes. To help us better demonstrate these differences, we would like to purchase a matching set of 6" go-to telescopes; one of each type. This will allow us to set them up side by side and highlight the similarities and differences between the two designs, and the benefits of each. Having 2 additional go-to telescopes will also make it easier for us to observe with larger groups without people having to wait as long for their chance to look. Any remaining funds will then be used towards the purchase of new eyepieces, filters and other small accessories to help make the views from our observatory even better!
The new matching telescopes would of course be named Castor and Pollux, after the mythological twins immortalized in the constellation Gemini. Both telescopes will have go-to capability and would be able to be computer controlled using our current observatory software. These new scopes would also be easier to transport and set up than some of the much larger travelling scopes we currently have, and would make it easier for us to accommodate even more requests.
