By Dena McClung

The Denver Astronomical Society donated a new telescope to the West Custer County Library in Westcliffe, Colorado for the public to use.

After finding out the library had no telescope to loan, the DAS Executive Board voted several months ago to purchase and deliver a good quality, beginner telescope to the library. The town of Westcliffe, along with neighboring Silver Cliff, have been designated as Dark Sky Communities by the International Dark Sky Association.

With help from DAS members Sorin and Jon Groubert, the board selected a Meade StarPro AZ 102mm Refractor, a Barlow Lens, a variable polarizing moon filter, an introductory level star atlas and a soft-sided bag that fits everything inside. The purchase was made at Mile High Astronomy in late February, just as the COVID pandemic was beginning to emerge on the international scene.

During the recent letup in cases, arrangements were made to deliver the telescope and accessories to the library on Monday, June 23. Upon arrival, DAS members Joe Godwin-Austen and Dena McClung were greeted by the library director, Sean Beharry, and assistant director, Genna Calkins-Mushrush. The members gave a complete walk-through of the assembly and set-up of the telescope, along with a thorough explanation of all of its parts and their functions.

The plan is to continue to stay in touch with Sean and Genna and follow up on how they’re doing with the donated telescope under the dark night skies of the Wet Mountain Valley.

One of the Denver Astronomical Society’s qualifications for being a charitable organization is that it is educational in nature.

“Our mission is to promote the enjoyment and understanding of astronomical history, lore and phenomena by providing educational and observing opportunities for our members, education to the general public, and outreach activities at the University of Denver’s Historic Chamberlin Observatory and other venues,” the DAS mission statement reads.