Solar telescope

Hello. My name is Jim Connechen and I am chairman of the Moffat Astronomy Club. The Observatory based in the dark sky town of Moffat, is open to visitors seven nights a week from October to March. We offer a 90 min tour of the night sky to visitors who can book a session in advance via our website.

Club volunteers host these sessions, free of charge although donations are welcome. Our income from donations and membership fees is just enough to pay for our insurance and maintenance costs.

We also run practical astronomy sessions for pupils taking STEM subjects, but as these are held during daylight hours after the school day is finished we are restricted in the opportunities to engage in telescope observational sessions.

The purchase of a solar telescope would greatly enhance our ability to study the sun in greater detail. This would enhance their telescope skills and would relate to the curriculum requirement on the study of the solar system and the evolution of stars.