Have Telescope, Will Travel

The Harry Bell Memorial Telescope was donated to the National Science Center in 1993. Since that time the telescope has been touring local schools and community functions in Georgia and South Carolina under the sponsorship of the National Science Center and the Astronomy Club of Augusta (ACA.) Pictured here are students from Langford Middle School, Augusta, Georgia, enjoying solar viewing during their science class. These are the students of Ms. Kathy Baygents.

When students asked about Harry Bell, they wanted to know who he was. Mr. Bell was a local astronomer. When he died, his wife donated the telescope to NSC. Her intent was for the scope to collect starlight, not set around collecting dust. There have been programs covering solar viewing and numerous evening star parties sponsored by parent organizations and schools. Members of the ACA support these events as community education outreach programs.

For the year 2000, there were approximately 6171 students served through this effort. Since 1993, more than 49,000 students and their families have enjoyed the Harry Bell Telescope.

For more information contact, John White, Astronomy Club of Augusta, https://www.angelfire.com/ga/astronomyclubaugusta/ or Cheryl Zimmerman, mailto:zimmmerc@nscdiscovery.org?subject="NSC NewsFlash Page" here at the National Science Center.

Click here to view a Microsoft PowerPoint slideshow of this visit.
(2004 06 No longer seems to be available.)