Telescope Donations

If you live around North Jersey, and you are looking to part ways with a telescope, our first question to you will be: do you want to hang on to it and give stargazing a try? A telescope is effectively a time machine, allowing you to see the light emitted by objects from thousands of years ago. Most beginners can assemble their telescope, but need guidance on where and how to point it. With a telescope, and a star chart, you can unlock the wonders of the night sky in your backyard with even the humblest piece of equipment. We encourage you to become a member of an astronomy club to experience the joys of this hobby for yourself and for your family.

But, if you are sure that you want to part ways with your equipment, and would like to see it go to a good cause, Hopatcong Observatory accepts telescope donations. Rather than sitting idle, astronomy equipment can inspire the next generation of students. In fact, most of our equipment has been donated. Some donations of note include:

• An 8" reflector was donated that had been sitting in a garage for 30 years. The scope needed light cleaning, and now it is the main reflecting scope that we use within the Observatory. We have used it at all of our star parties, including our solar eclipse event, where over 300 people saw the eclipse through this telescope. 

• A small refracting telescope that had been stored in a basement for 15 years was donated. After some restoration, this Go-To telescope is our most portable setup. We use it for outreach events away from the Observatory,  and we use the mount as a portable platform for our solar telescope. Within two weeks of donating this telescope, it was being used to show the craters of the moon to a group of students. 

So, if you are considering a place to donate astronomy equipment, look no further than Hopatcong Observatory. You can reach us at hopatcongobservatory@gmail.com