The Ohio State University Department of Astronomy is pleased to offer a telescope lending library for educational organizations (e.g., public, private, or homeschool school groups, scouting groups, 4H, library programs, etc.). We have small (6-inch) telescopes and sets of binoculars ready to freely lend to organized, educational groups in exchange for a fully refundable deposit and signed agreement for liability for loss or damage. Alternatively, dependent upon the availability of a volunteer from OSU Astronomy, a stargazing event can be requested in which the volunteer from the department brings the requested equipment and is present to manage the telescopes at the event.
Optical Equipment for Lease:
Orion Starblast 6i Intelliscope -
This is a tabletop Dobsonian telescope, which is a simple Newtonian telescope design with an altitude-azimuth (basically up/down-left/right) mount and a 6-inch diameter primary mirror. It is very simple to use and is not motorized, so it is very portable. It does have a computerized hand paddle with "push-to" capabilities.
Celestron NexStar 6SE -
This is another 6-inch diameter primary Newtonian design telescope on an alt-az mount that attaches to a tripod. This model is motorized with go-to capabilities and tracking.
Binoculars -
We have three sets each of Celestron Skymaster 12x60 binoculars and Orion Scenix 7x50 binoculars.
Setup instructions for Celestron NexStar
Setup instructions for Orion Starblast
Telescope Lease agreement