Telescopes are often given as gifts, but recipients don’t always know how to use them. Friday evening, a free telescope clinic will be held at Harrison Elementary School in Warsaw. Back gym doors open at 6 p.m., with programs beginning at 6:30 p.m. Warsaw Astronomical Society and the Harrison Junior Astronomical Society are sponsoring the event. Ed Jarrett, Harrison fifth-grade teacher and Warsaw Astronomical Society member, said the clinic is a community outreach opportunity for the society. Second-grade teacher Rick Glass said the event also is an opportunity for the public to support the fledgling astronomical club at the school. The Harrison club has been in existence for 1-1/2 years, Glass said, and continues to grow. It averages 50 to 55 members at its meetings, but has had as many as 80. Jarrett got Glass interested in astronomy, and then Glass started sharing his passion with his second-grade glass. As Glass shared his interest, he found a group of second-graders interested in astronomy. He started meeting with interested students during recess a few times a week. Glass then approached Jarrett and Harrison Principal Lee Snider about forming an official school club. It started up last spring, and the group renewed in September. “We’re the largest extracurricular in school” after student council, Glass said. “By inviting other schools to the clinic Friday, we hope to get other groups formed at other schools.” Harrison’s first astronomical club raised about $500 for a telescope for the school, Glass said. CenturyLink also provided the group with a grant to build an observatory this spring, he said, so they can do some deep space imaging. The 10-by-14-foot building is a shed purchased from a company called Sky Shed, Glass said. The roof will roll off to expose the telescope. “It shows we have some long-term plans for the club,” Glass said. The Warsaw Astronomical Society has about 20 members. Its president, Kurt Eberhardt, will give a presentation at Friday’s clinic with Jarrett. “The whole purpose is to connect people to telescopes who don’t know where to start. We want to provide a friendly place for people to get started,” Jarrett said. Glass said lots of people have telescopes but don’t know what to do to get started. He said at Friday’s clinic, they will explain the telescopes and what owners can and can’t do with them. There will be tables with information on astronomy and both clubs. Eight to 10 Warsaw Astronomical Society members will go person to person and go over the telescopes people bring and how best to use them. “Everyone is welcome,” Glass said. “They don’t have to have a scope. You can just come and find out all about them.” Jarrett said both clubs are represented on Facebook. “They can like and follow either one or both. They can see photos,” he said. Address inquiries to Glass at rglass@warsaw.k12.in.us; Jarrett at ejarrett@warsaw.k12.in.us; or call Harrison Elementary at 574-269-7533.
