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Value of Vintage Observatories and Historic Telescopes in Communicating Astronomy with the Public (pages 30-36)
Trudy E. Bell

Summary

The Antique Telescope Society convened a thematic workshop, The Vintage Observatory: Thriving in the 21st Century, on 2–4 May 2008. The workshop’s purpose was to bring together those charged with the care of observatories and telescopes built before World War II, to examine common issues and share practical solutions, specifically in preparation for the International Year of Astronomy in 2009. Although much of the workshop concerned issues of preservation and restoration, several sessions focused on the uses of historical artefacts as a means for public education and outreach on astronomy and the history of astronomy, including discussion of the unique opportunities vintage observatories and telescopes offer in intriguing the public about astronomy.