U of Montana, NASA Launch Massive Statewide Telescope Library

With a generous grant from NASA, Montanans are about to gain newfound access to the cosmos. Libraries are about to become stargazing hubs!

BIG SKY, BIGGER DREAMS

UM News Service tells us that The University of Montana’s spectrUM Discovery Area – a hands-on science museum located within the Missoula Public Library – recently launched a NASA-supported program to place telescopes in all libraries across the state.

The program is titled “Big Sky, Bigger Dreams: Telescopes for Montana Libraries.” This groundbreaking initiative will place telescopes in public and tribal college libraries across the state, making astronomy accessible to all Montanans.

SCOPING OUT A QUARTER-MILLION DOLLAR GRANT

Funded through a $250,000 NASA TEAM II Innovator Award, this two-year project will empower families, students and amateur astronomers in rural and tribal communities to explore the night sky with user-friendly tabletop telescopes available for free checkout at local libraries.

THE WONDERS OF ASTRONOMY JUST OPENED UP TO SO MANY

Nicholos Wethington, spectrUM’s associate director of library telescope programs, was quoted in the release as saying, “It has been a longtime dream of mine to make this project a reality. The night sky belongs to us all and is part of our global cultural heritage.

“By putting telescopes in libraries, we’re giving every Montanan – regardless of income or geography – the chance to experience the wonders of astronomy firsthand.”

MONTANA IS A NATURAL FIT

Montana’s rural nature and low light pollution make it an ideal location for amateur astronomy. Now, free telescopes for checkout will be offered at libraries, which are existing community hubs statewide with educational resources like books and access to the internet. You can learn much more about checking out telescopes from numerous libraries here.  

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS