Its human nature, especially at night, to look to the sky with a sense of awe and wonder.
Courtesy of a gift from Humboldts Mike Myer, the Iola Public Library can help bring into focus some of lifes existential questions Is there alien life? What is dark matter? How was the universe created?
Myer, an avid astronomer, is sharing his passion with the public by donating one of his powerful telescopes, a 6-inch Gallileo DB 160.
The telescope, which measures about 4½ feet in length, is powerful enough to detect craters within craters of the moon if youre looking at it properly, Myer explained, as well as Saturns rings, Jupiters distinctive dot or other celestial sights.
Myer purchased the telescope from a friend and fellow member of the Astronomical Society of Kansas City a few weeks back with the sole intention of donating it to a local library, where anyone could have the chance to check it out and use it, he said.
Thats precisely the plan, noted Roger Carswell, Iola Public Library executive director. Hopefully, it will be available in a week or two, after the telescope is catalogued within the Southeast Kansas Library System.
MYER is passionate about astronomy and eager to share what hes learned with others.
He keeps abreast of upcoming celestial events, such as next fall, when Mars will make a close approach to Earth.
When it does, anyone using this telescope will be able to see different colors on the surface of Mars, he said. They will be different land formations or areas, and you will be able to see the polar ice caps, too.
While the planets and our moon are really neat objects there are also things outside our solar system that you can hunt down with this telescope, he continued.
Skywatchers can look for such things as double stars, star clusters, dust and gas clouds from which stars are born, and dying stars otherwise known as planetary nebula.
Theyre all within reach of this telescope, he said. And those are just objects that are in our galaxy. You will also be able to see distant galaxies that are millions of light years away.
THE PRIMARY factor with a telescope is the diameter of its mirror, or lens.
