Terms and Conditions of AAS Loaner Telescopes

One of the  benefits of membership in the Auburn Astronomical Society, is the availability of these three telescopes.  There is also an Electronic Color Imaging Eyepiece that can be used with either of the AAS scopes or with ones personal telescope for use with a TV, monitor, tape or DVD. 

AAS Loaner Telescope FAQ

Who is elegible to borrow AAS Loaner Scopes?

The 8-inch Dobsonian, the 12.5-inch Dobsonian, and the PST solar scope are to be loaned out to AAS members only and on a first come, first serve basis, with official society functions always having the highest  priority.   Due to the size and weight of the 12.5-inch, we'll require that a minimum of two able-bodied people will be available to load, transport, unload, and set-up the scope.  A van or truck will be needed to transport this scope. 

How does an AAS member reserve time for a loaner scope?

Rhon Jenkins is the AAS Loaner Scope Steward.  Make your requests to borrow the scopes with Rhon .

How long can an AAS member keep the loaner scope?

We haven't set a hard and fast limit for the time a scope can be loaned.  To date, this hasn’t been a problem.  For members who live outside the Auburn-Opelika area, a month would seem a reasonable length of time and would not place an undue burden to return the scope before the next meeting.  As in the past, common courtesy on the part of the borrower, should keep this from being a problem.  Rhon will let the borrower know if someone else is on the waiting list so that the period that the scope is loaned can be adjusted to suit the needs of the AAS members as a whole.  If a conflict arises, Rhon will be the final authority. 

How To Use the PST

How To Use the 8-inch

How to use the 12.5-inch

Check-out and Return Check List


Orion 8-inch f/6, SkyQuest XT8
6x30mm finder scope
40mm 1.25 -inch Plossl eyepiece (30x) 
25mm  1.25-inch Plossl eyepiece (48x) 
10 mm 1.25-inch Plossl eyepiece (120x)
Coronado (Hydrogen-alpha) Personal Solar Telescope 
12mm 1.25-inch eyepiece 
Equatorial Mount 
Tripod 
Clock Drive 

12.5-inch f/7 Cave Scope

Weights and Measures

OTA Length 80 inches
OTA Diameter 16.5 inches
Cage Diameter 27 inches
Rocker Box 39.5" high x 27" deep x 25.5" wide
Eyepiece zenith height 80 inches
Total height at zenith 8 feet
Rocker Box weight  
OTA weight  

Optics

Aperture 12.5 inches 317.5mm
Focal Length 87.5 inches (7.29 feet) 2222.5mm
Focal Ratio  f/7  
Eyepiece Magnification Exit Pupil True Field Deg.*
40mm 56 5.67 0.929/1.214
32mm 69 4.6 0.754/0.986
25mm 89 3.57 0.584/0.764
20mm 111 2.86 0.468/0.613
15mm 148 2.15 0.351/0.459
10mm 222 1.43 0.234/0.306
5mm 445 0.71 0.117/0.153

        * Assuming a 52/68 degree apparent field