Loaner Telescope Program

Overview

One benefit of membership in the Houston Astronomical Society is access to the variety of telescopes that are part of the HAS Loaner Scope Program. This program allows members who don't own or have access to a telescope to borrow one for touring the night sky.

The HAS Loaner Scope Program can be particularly beneficial to novices who not only want to become familiar with the night sky, but would also like to learn something about the different amateur telescopes available today. Through the program, you can borrow a number of different types of amateur telescopes and compare them before making that difficult decision about what to purchase for your first telescope.

The HAS Loaner Scope Program works something like a library book loan. You can check out a telescope for a two-month period. At the end of two months, you are obligated to return the telescope. If no one else has reserved the scope, you may renew your loan for an additional two months. As with a library book loan, you are of course responsible for the equipment while it is in your possession. Typically, the telescopes are borrowed and returned at the HAS monthly meetings.

The only qualification needed to borrow one of these telescopes is a minimum two-month membership in HAS. Browse the inventory below for more information about the telescopes that are available through this program. For more information, contact loanerscopes@astronomyhouston.org.

Loaner Telescope Inventory