Branford, May 30, 2017: The James Blackstone Memorial Library is partnering with the Astronomical Society of New Haven to offer a specially designed 4 1/2 inch telescope　for patrons of all ages to borrow from the Blackstone and use at home. Visit the Blackstone on Saturday, June 3 at 2:00 p.m. for the official hand-over to the library, meet members of the　Astronomical Society, and learn about the new library lending program and how to use the telescope.

During this mini-workshop, you'll also learn how to read a star chart to make your star-gazing experience even better. The society will also share what "space sites" are prevalent in the summer months so that you will be able to zero in on what to look for in the night sky with the telescope. Please visit the library website here to register for this workshop and see all library events.

The telescope will be available for borrowing after the June 3 meeting. It will circulate for one week, and comes with a pad and carrying case, plus instruction booklet and map of the night sky. You will receive a brief orientation to the telescope at checkout.

The Society also marks twenty years of public outreach in Branford. Since Summer 1996, public astronomical observation events have welcomed all to view the heavens at Young's Pond Park. Members of the Society set up their telescopes for people to look through and learn about at the Moon, planets, stars, double stars, star clusters, nebulas, galaxies, and whatever else can be seen through scopes or your eyes including the constellations and flyovers by iridium-flare satellites and the International Space Station. Special observing sessions were held to view a Lunar eclipse and an all-night meteor shower.

Observing sessions are on a Saturday night each month during the Spring and Fall. The next session is scheduled for June 17, weather permitting. The Society's general meetings are on the last Tuesday of the month from October through May at the Yale Leitner Family Observatory, New Haven. All interested in learning more about astronomy are welcome. For more information and a schedule of club events, visit the Society's website here