Become an amateur astronomer @ your Library by borrowing one of our Orion StarBlaster Telescopes, sponsored by the New Hampshire Astronomical Society and the Hooksett Kiwanis Club.
About the Library Telescope Lending Program:
The New Hampshire Astronomical Society began the Library Telescope Program in 2008. Since then, the program has grown to include more than 16 libraries in New Hampshire.
Program Goal:
To help foster scientific literacy and to stimulate interest in astronomy, enable people who have never looked through a telescope the chance to experience the excitement that comes from discovery and to provide a valuable asset for the community.
About the Telescope:
The StarBlast 4.5 inch Astronomical Telescope is easy to use and robust. There is nothing to assemble. It has a wooden base, not the usual spindly tripod legs. The telescope is of manageable size, but has a relatively large optical tube. This means that the Moon and deep sky objects will show far more detail than once could see with the common beginner’s telescope. It also has a large field of view that allows the object to stay in the eyepiece longer.
Borrowing a Telescope:
- Patrons age 18 and older with a Hooksett Library Card in good standing, may borrow the telescope kit for a two week period with an option to renew for another week if nobody is waiting to borrow the telescope.
- Fines and Fees: A fee of $1 per day will be charged if the telescope is overdue.
- A replacement fee of up to $300 will be charged if the telescope or any of the accessories are damaged beyond repair or lost.
- Library Telescope – Agreement Form (attached below) must be completed at time of borrowing.
- You can reserve one of our telescopes online from our online catalog, or you can always call us at 485.6092, or E-mail hplcirc@hooksettlibrary.org.