Equipment Loan Program

Don’t yet have your own gear?

Want to try before you buy?

Already own a telescope but would like to see what different types of gear have to offer?

1. Common Answers:

  • Fee: no fee, but must be a member.
  • Security deposit (via check or cash):  $250.
  • Equipment to be returned by end of checkout period – see equipment description.
  • Return Grace Period: 2 weeks, then borrower is billed.

2. View equipment list:

C1:   ATIK Infinity Color CCD Camera

The Infinity camera is a very sensitive CCD camera and coupled with the automated aligning and stacking software, is a very simple to use yet very powerful combination for astrophotography. It is also capable of being an auto-guider. A USB cable is supplied and a cable to a cigarette plug for 12VDC is also included. However, it has a standard DC power jack if you can’t supply power via the cigarette plug. The software has settings to allow the camera to take color images, for say nebulae, or mono, for globular cluster or galaxy images. The system also needs a computer, that you must supply. Included is a very handy Quick Start guide to get you going.

C1. ATIK Infinity color CCD camera
C1. ATIK Infinity color CCD camera
Eagle Nebula shot with the ATIK Infinity and an 81mm f5.9 refractor.
Eagle Nebula shot with the ATIK Infinity and an 81mm f5.9 refractor.

T1:   6 inch f8 Custom Dobsonian

This handsome 6” Dobsonian telescope features an eyepiece holder and is designed so that the tube can be moved up and down the rocker box for better balance or eyepiece height. The tube is 48 inches long making it easy to fit into most cars.

Accessories and equipment list:

  • 1.25” Rack and Pinion Focuser.
  • Telrad Finder Scope.
  • Four Position Eyepiece Holder.
  • 26 mm Celestron Plossl Eyepiece.
  • 4 mm Celestron Plossl Eyepiece.
T1. 6 inch f8 Custom Dobsonian
T1. 6 inch f8 Custom Dobsonian

T2:   8 inch f7 Custom Dobsonian

This 8” f7 Dobsonian has sufficient aperture and focal length to do a good job on both deep sky objects and the planets. It’s thick tube and heavy weight make it less susceptible to the wind. It has a tube length of 60 inches so you need to make sure your transportation can handle it.

Accessories and equipment list:

  • 1.25” Rack and Pinion Focuser.
  • Telrad Finder Scope.
  • 26 mm Celestron Plossl Eyepiece.
  • 4 mm Celestron Plossl Eyepiece.
T2. 8 inch f7 Custom Dobsonian
T2. 8 inch f7 Custom Dobsonian

T3:   8 inch f6 Meade Starfinder

Here is a classic Dobsonian telescope. Specifically, it is a Meade 8” Starfinder. For added portability a carrying handle has been attached to the optical tube. An 8” scope opens up many more deep sky objects to search for and adds extra details in every object seen over scopes of lesser aperture. Due to its f6 focal ratio, the 48” long tube and mount can easily to taken to a dark site.

Accessories and equipment list:

  • 1.25”Rack and Pinion Focuser.
  • Telrad Finder Scope.
  • 32 mm Celestron Plossl Eyepiece.
  • 15 mm Celestron Plossl Eyepiece.
  • 3X Meade Barlow.
  • Celestron 23A Red Filter.
  • Celestron 58A Dark Green Filter.
  • Moon Filter.
T3. 8 inch f6 Meade Starfinder
T3. 8 inch f6 Meade Starfinder

T4:   10 inch f3.9 Orion Newtonian

This telescope is a 10 inch Orion f3.9 Newtonian Astrograph reflector resting on a Celestron ASGT mount. This is a very portable combination can be easily taken to a dark site with the 48” long tube assembly weighing 25.5 lbs.

Accessories and equipment list:

  • 2” Rack and Pinion Focuser with 1.25” Adapter.
  • 9 x 50mm Finder Scope.
  • Five Position Eyepiece Holder in Tripod.
  • 26 mm Astrola Wide Field Eyepiece.
  • 6 mm Parks Kellner Eyepiece.
  • 2X Celestron Barlow.
T4. 10 inch f3.9 Orion Newtonian
T4. 10 inch f3.9 Orion Newtonian

T5:   Sky Watcher Star Adventurer

This Sky Watcher Star Adventurer is a tracking device with an equipment platform for mounting your own telescope or camera. Perfect for wide field astrophotography and an integral piece of gear for getting ‘that awesome Milky Way shot’.

It has a built-in polar scope to help achieve accurate guiding and it comes with a sturdy carbon fiber tripod to complete the package.

Note: You will need to understand polar alignment to use it effectively.

Accessories and equipment list:

  • Carbon fiber tripod.
  • Equipment platform to mount your own scope or camera.
T5. Sky Watcher Star Adventurer
T5. Sky Watcher Star Adventurer

3. Complete the loaner request:

NS45 Equipment Loaner Request Form

  • Fee: no fee, but must be a member.
  • Security deposit (via check or cash):  $250.
  • Equipment to be returned by end of checkout period – see equipment description.
  • Return Grace Period: 2 weeks, then borrower is billed.
Equipment Checkout Form (#5)



YesNet yet
Are you a NS45 member?




AcceptReject
1. DON’T LOOK AT THE SUN.
The borrower agrees to never look directly at the sun through the telescope or its finder scope. Permanent eye damage could result. Nightsky45 Astronomy Club will not be held liable for any injuries incurred because of telescope use. 		The borrower agrees to never look directly at the sun through the telescope or its finder scope. Permanent eye damage could result. Nightsky45 Astronomy Club will not be held liable for any injuries incurred because of telescope use. -Reject” name=”tabular_grid_1[1. DON'T LOOK AT THE SUN.<br>The borrower agrees to never look directly at the sun through the telescope or its finder scope. Permanent eye damage could result. Nightsky45 Astronomy Club will not be held liable for any injuries incurred because of telescope use. ]” type=”radio” value=”Reject” aria-invalid=’false’ aria-required=true>
2. CLUB MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED.
The borrower must be a member of the club. If they are not a member, they must become a member by paying the current membership dues.		The borrower must be a member of the club. If they are not a member, they must become a member by paying the current membership dues.-Reject” name=”tabular_grid_1[2. CLUB MEMBERSHIP REQUIRED.<br>The borrower must be a member of the club. If they are not a member, they must become a member by paying the current membership dues.]” type=”radio” value=”Reject” aria-invalid=’false’ aria-required=true>
3. CHECKOUT DURATION: Standard duration is 3 months; Short duration is 1 month for popular items (C1 Atik camera; T5 Sky Watcher Star Adventurer). If the borrower of any equipment wants to keep it longer, they must contact the Equipment Coordinator to see if someone else has asked for it. If no one wants to borrow the equipment the original borrower can keep it for another time period associated with that equipment.
4. TRANSFERS PERFORMED WITH NS45 EQUIMENT COORDINATOR: The borrowing and returning of the equipment will be handled through the NightSky45 Equipment Coordinator.
5. SECURE EQUIMENT: When transporting the equipment, borrower will take all reasonable care to secure it.
6. READ INSTRUCTIONS: The borrower is responsible for reading the instruction sheet for the equipment’s proper care and use if one is provided with the equipment.
7. BORROWER LIABLE REGARDLESS OF CIRCUMSTATNCES: The borrower will not expose the equipment to water or other liquids, or to extreme heat or cold. Beyond normal reasonable wear and tear, any damages to the equipment will be the responsibility of the borrower, regardless of the circumstances of said damages.
8. USE FOR INTENDED PURPOSES ONLY: The borrower will only use the equipment for its intended purpose to view/image the nighttime sky.
9. DO NOT REMOVE: Barcodes, stickers, labels, and other identifiers may NOT be removed.
10. SIGNATURE: The borrower, will sign a printed copy of this form when picking up equipment, acknowledging that the “equipment set” is complete and in working order, and that he or she is responsible for all charges accrued for any damage to the equipment during the lending period, and for the full replacement cost if applicable.