The best way to get people interested in astronomy, according to Jones Observatory operations manager Jack Pitkin, is to get them in front of an eyepiece and let them look.
That’s one of his goals for the observatory’s spring schedule, which begins Sunday.
“That’s one of the things we want to do,” Pitkin said.
The spring schedule continues each week through April 17, with the exception of March 13 and March 20.
Each evening will involve informal discussion until most visitors arrive, a PowerPoint presentation on the evening’s topic, a lights-down display of what a visitor might see in the sky on that given week (without light pollution and clouds) and open telescope viewing.
However, said Pitkin, we have a “commitment to flexibility. If it’s a great night, we’re not above ending the presentation early in order to get them out to looking [through telescopes].”
The month of February, he said, will be devoted to Dobsonian telescopes and why they are important.
John Dobson, according to Pitkin, is an “interesting character who wanted to get people interested in astronomy. To do so, he promoted the design and use of simple, easy-to-use, easy-to-build, inexpensive telescopes.”
Such telescopes, he said, “are simple and easy for beginners or anyone who wants to look at the stars.”
The Jones Observatory has several Dobsonian telescopes for people to use. Such telescopes with 6-inch or 8-inch diameters may be purchased online for $300 to $400, he said. One with a 10-inch diameter may run $700.
The smaller ones, he pointed out, are cheaper than an Xbox or a laptop. And, he said, a telescope comes with the magic words for any parent: It’s educational.
Pitkin recalled one preschool girl who is typical of the astronomy buff the observatory is hoping to cultivate.
The child looked through the telescope and saw Saturn. Again and again, she asked to view it. Ultimately, her parents decided she’d had enough and took her home.
“She went nuts,” Pitkin said. “They had to drag her kicking and screaming. That’s the kind of commitment and attitude we’re looking for.”
Through Feb. 27, the gates to the observatory will open at 5:30 p.m. Telescope viewing will be available until 8 p.m.
Beginning March 6, gates will open at 6:30 p.m., and telescope viewing will be available until 9 p.m.
In the event of snow, the observatory will be closed.
IF YOU GO
* What: Spring sky viewing
* When: 5:30 p.m. Sundays through Feb. 27, 6:30 p.m. Sundays March 6 and March 27-April 17.
* Where: Jones Observatory, 10 Tuxedo Ave.
* Admission: Free.
* Phone: 425-4518.
SCHEDULE
* Sunday: “The Moons of Jupiter”; featured constellations, the Pleiades.
* Jan. 30: “Europa the Iceworld”; featured constellations, the Pleiades.
* Feb. 6: “Dobsonian Telescopes”; featured constellations, Taurus.
* Feb. 13: “Dobsonian Telescopes”; featured constellations, Taurus.
* Feb. 20: “Dobsonian Telescopes”; featured constellations, Gemini.
* Feb. 27: “Dobsonian Telescopes”; featured constellations, Gemini.
* March 6: “The Orion Nebula,” featured constellations, Orion.
* March 27: “The Orion Nebula,” featured constellations, Orion.
* April 3: “Saturn”; featured constellations, Taurus.
* April 10: “Titan”; featured constellations, Leo.
* April 17: “Titan”; featured constellations, The Summer Triangle.