Terence Dickinson, a renowned astronomer and author of 14 books on astronomy will be in Lion's head, on the Bruce Peninsula, on Monday, August 25. Mr. Dickinson will be available for a photo opportunity at the Quetican Observatory at 48 Moore Street, Lion's Head on Monday, August 25 at 10:30 am.
More than one million copies of Mr. Dickinson's books are in print in five languages, and his best-known book, "Night Watch" A Practical Guide to Viewing the Universe is considered the essential guidebook for those who want to learn about stargazing.
Mr. Dickinson, who has an asteroid named after him, and who is a recipient of the Order of Canada, will be bringing to Lion's Head a telescope that is being acquired by the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association that sponsors free stargazing programs each summer on the Bruce Peninsula. The telescope will be used for the Association's 2015 summer stargazing program, known as the Bayside Astronomy program.
The telescope was Mr. Dickinson's large-aperture personal telescope for many years.
It is a 20 inch f/4.3 Starmaster Dobsonian reflecting telescope. Starmaster telescopes are known for quality optics and workmanship. The 20 inch mirror diameter is perfect for observing deep sky objects such as nebulae, galaxies and globular clusters. In addition, the telescope's optical quality permits it to provide crisp images of the Moon and planets..
"One of the reasons Terry has agreed to sell it to us is because of the success of our Bayside astronomy program," said Doug Cunningham. Mr. Cunningham, with his wife Paula, a number of volunteers and student Reed Rogers, provide the Bayside Astronomy program on the Bruce Peninsula, on behalf of the Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association.
This free, public outreach astronomy program, is offered throughout the summer at the Lion's Head POD located on the waterfront, MIller's Family Camp, Summer House Park, and the Singing Sands section of the Bruce Peninsula National Park. Some 2,000 visitors and residents use the program each year.
"Terry's telescope comes with GoTo accessories that permit it to locate celestial objects and then track them for extended periods. These mechanical and computer functionalities are important for our Bayside Astronomy Program because we have lineups of people waiting their turn at the eyepiece. For example, having a tracking ability means the telescope operator doesn't have to waste time re-acquiring the object when the Earth's rotation causes it to drift out of the field of view. The Starmaster's 20 inch mirror will make it the largest telescope we currently have for our Bayside Program and its f/4.3 focal ratio means that people only have a short step up our ladder to reach the eyepiece," said Mr. Cunningham.
The Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association is a non-profit, community-based organization of volunteers dedicated to achieving a healthy environment. Established in 2000, it became the first community committee to implement the concepts of UNESCO World Biosphere Reserves along the Niagara Escarpment. The Association promotes a healthy, sustainable community with a balance between local sustainable development and conservation.
The Bruce Peninsula is a dark sky community and the Biosphere Association has been working with the community to preserve our dark sky. Many biological processes are light-triggered and consequently, light pollution harms wildlife. It also wastes energy. Residents are encouraged to use dark sky-friendly lighting fixtures which direct light to the ground, rather than upwards and sideways into the sky.
SOURCE - Bruce Peninsula Biosphere Association
