Loaner Scope Program

The MAS owns equipment and loans it to members in good standing. Learn about available equipment and digital media titles below. Already know what you want? Fill out the request form.
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the universe.

MAS members may borrow a telescope for 30 days. With approval, and if there is no waiting list, the loan may be extended an additional 30 days. Contact the MAS Loaner Scope Coordinator with any questions or for more information.

Available Equipment

All loaner telecopes come complete with protective cases, eyepieces, observing guides, red flashlight, and other items specific for each telescope. Review the available equipment and media selections below and fill out the MAS Loaner Equipment Request Form

 

Loaner Scope #1: Celestron NexStar 102SLT Refractor

102mm achromatic refractor telescope with Go-To ALT/AZ mount.NexStar 102SLT Refractor telescope

Loaner Scope #2, #3, #8, #15: Orion SkyQuest XT-8

8″ Dobsonian reflector telescope with manual ALT/AZ mount.

Loaner Scope #4: Orion SkyQuest XT-10
Orion SkyQuest XT-10 telescope

10″ Dobsonian reflector telescope with manual ALT/AZ mount.

Loaner Scope #5: Celestron C6 SCT on Voyager Mount

Celestron C6 SCT telescope on Voyager Mount

6″ Schmidt Cassegrain catadioptric telescope with a  manual ALT/AZ mount.

Loaner Scope #6, #14, #16 : Celestron NexStar 8SE SCT

8″ Schmidt Cassegrain catadioptric telescope with Go-To ALT/AZ mount.

Loaner Scope #7: Sky-Watcher 4″ Refractor

Sky-Watcher 4″ Refractor telescope

4″ achromatic refractor telescope with a  manual ALT/AZ mount.

Loaner Scope #9: Celestron NexStar 6SE SCT

6″ Schmidt Cassegrain catadioptric telescope with Go-To ALT/AZ mount.

Loaner Scope #10: Coronado Solar Scope
Coronado Solar Scope

40mm f/10 H-alpha solar telescope – 400mm focal length – on a manual ALT/AZ mount.

Loaner Scope #11: Meade LightSwitch 8 SCT GO-TO

Meade LightSwitch 8 SCT GO-TO telescope

8″ Schmidt Cassegrain catadioptric telescope with Go-To ALT/AZ mount.

NOTE: These are issues with the ‘Auto-align’ system on this scope.  To perform proper GOTOs, it is recommended that one aligns the telescope using ‘2-star alignment’ method.

Loaner Scope #12: Hardin 10 inch Dob
Hardin 10 inch Dob telescope

10″ Dobsonian reflector telescope with manual ALT/AZ mount.

Loaner Scope #17: Celestron SkyMaster 25x100 Binoculars

Celestron SkyMaster 25×100 binoculars with a high quality tripod.  Tripod and binos come with a case for each, and is equipped with a Red-Dot finder and an assortment of Loaner accessories.

Loaner Scope #19: Orion 25x100 Binoculars with Parallelogram Mount

NEW for the Loaner fleet!  Orion 25×100 binoculars with a high quality parallelogram mount and tripod.  Tripod and binos come with a case for each, and is equipped with a Red-Dot finder and an assortment of Loaner accessories.

Astronomy Courses on DVD – many titles available
Astronomy Course DVDs

  • The Life and Death or Stars 2014
  • Skywatching: Seeing and Understanding Cosmic Wonders
  • Our Night Sky
  • The Remarkable Science of Ancient Astronomy
  • Experiencing Hubble: Understanding the Greatest Images of the Universe
  • Dark matter, dark energy: the dark side of the universe
  • Understanding the universe: what’s new in astronomy, 2003
  • Understanding the universe: an introduction to astronomy 1998
  • Earth’s Changing Climate 2007
  • New Frontiers: Modern Perspectives on Our Solar System 2008
  • Cosmology: the history and nature of our universe 2008
  • Earth at the crossroads understanding the ecology of a changing planet 2009. (Three Parts 36 lectures)
  • Inexplicable Universe. 2012
  • A visual guide to the universe 2014
  • The search for exoplanets: what astronomers know 2016
  • A field guide to the planets 2019
  • My Favorite Universe, Neil deGrasse Tyson, 2003
  • Great Heroes and Discoveries of Astronomy, Emily Levesque, 2021
  • Radio Astronomy Observing the Invisible Universe, Felix J. Lockman, 2017

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