At the Astronomical League Conference (ALCon) in Las Cruces, NM on July 11th, 2015, the Back Bay Amateur Astronomers club was chosen as one of the ten recipients of a telescope for the Astronomical Leagues contest for the Horkheimer Library Telescope Program. This event inspiblue our club members to follow in the footsteps of the New Hampshire Astronomical Society and their efforts to put a telescope in every public library in New Hampshire. This program will allow the BBAA to expand our outreach efforts in a unique way and live up to our club motto of "Bringing Astronomy to the People of Hampton Roads". The goal of our club is to put at least one loaner telescope in each library in Hampton Roads. If you would like to help us with that goal please consider making a tax deductible donation to our club.

The Library Telescope program has proven to be an highly successful program at locations where it has been implemented. If your library is interested in developing a Library Telescope Program at your location but don't know how to begin please contact our Outreach Coordinator: vp -at backbayastro -dot org or info -at backbayastro -dot org. The BBAA can either direct your organization on where to buy a fully modified telescope or we can modify the telescope your organization purchases for you. We can then provide guidance and a checklist to your staff on how to inspect the telescope for damage. Occasionally the telescopes will need to be collimated or repaiblue and our club members can assist your organization with the upkeep of the telescopes as well.

MESSIER OBSERVING - REGULAR PROGRAM

Messier Observing - Regular

• Ted Forte (2001)

MESSIER OBSERVING - HONORARY PROGRAM

Messier Observing - Honorary

• Ted Forte (2001)

PLANETARY TRANSIT (VENUS) SPECIAL AWARD

Planetary Transit Special Award

• Tom Flatley (2012)

LUNAR OBSERVING PROGRAM

Lunar Observing

• George Reynolds (2001)

Click here to download a copy of the BBAA's Library Telescope Instruction Manual.