A new state-of-the-art telescope is to be given to Orkney‘s young people. It’s a smart telescope designed to simplify night sky photography, automatically tracking stars and planets and bringing them into sharp focus. It is small and compact for carrying around, with just one button for control, and it connects directly to a smartphone for taking pictures.
It’s being donated to Orkney by Mary Lewis, who for more than 30 years has been working and travelling with Dr Jane Goodall around the world and is the Vice President of the Jane Goodall Institute. She has a deep Orkney connection through her maternal grandfathers, who were from the Heddle family, and divides her time between London and Stromness. It was through Mary that Jane Goodall came to Orkney to open the 2012 Science Festival, when she was able to talk to many students about her global environmental and humanitarian programme Roots & Shoots.
She says that the idea of giving the telescope came earlier this year when they were both at the STARMUS Festival in La Palma in the Canary Islands. STARMUS was co-founded by astrophysicist Prof. Garik Israelian together with musician and astrophysicist Sir Brian May, and Jane Goodall is a member of its advisory board. STARMUS has a worldwide reputation for its vision and flair in combining art, music and science to inspire the next generation of explorers and reignite the spirit of discovery. Mary says that the night-time astronomy events made a big impact on her.
“The skies of La Palma are dark, all external lights go out at midnight, and then the skies are jammed full of stars. This extraordinary telescope was being demonstrated and I noticed that it’s not only portable and easy to operate but links to a smartphone.
“It occurred to me that it would make a wonderful addition to the Orkney Science Festival, and then at each festival there could be a chance for the young – and not so young – people of Orkney to begin to learn about the wonder of their skies in addition to the wonders of the earth under their feet.
“Orkney is so lucky to have dark skies and so many talented young people and I am just glad that I reached out to Scott Roberts to see if one could be available for the OISF and that I can contribute in some small way.”
Scott W. Roberts, whose company in the US, Explore Scientific, is arranging the provision of the telescope, has over 40 years of experience in designing telescopes, going on eclipse-watching expeditions and encouraging people of all ages to take up astronomy. The company has supplied the telescope with a special discount and will provide back-up and support for the Orkney users.
The telescope was developed by a company in France, Vaonis, whose founder had noticed that tools for stargazing can be heavy and bulky and difficult set up and use. He set to work to develop the concept of a smart telescope that could be light, portable and user-friendly.
It’s hoped that the telescope may arrive in time for this year’s festival, which will see the first-ever visit of the British Astronomical Association to Orkney. This has been organised by a former president of the Association, Callum Potter, who lives in Rousay and is much involved in the Science Festival’s astronomy activities. The BAA will give talks on topics including the Northern Light and the Parker solar probe, and the search for the earliest stars and galaxies.
Callum Potter said:
“Many, many thanks to Mary for this very kind and generous gift to the Science Festival and the people of Orkney.
“We are looking forward to using it in the Festival in September and hope for the weather to cooperate, and I am working out a programme where it can be used in the winter months to take full advantage of the darker skies.
“This is a wonderful encouragement for a new generation of young people to explore Orkney’s skies.”
The Orkney International Science Festival runs from the 4 to 10 September. Click on this link for more about it: Orkney International Science Festival
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