Observing in Uganda

This could as easily be put on the 99mm or smaller refractor forum, but I thought someone else might enjoy it. The picture is from Nyamabuga, Uganda at a friend's home (the adult in the picture and the founder of a school, among other things). The little scope is one of the old Vernon Scopes that we took over as the primary telescope kit for the school teachers to use as they learn to observe, then teach the older children to observe. On this evening in late 2009 we had been teaching them some sketching and observing skills at our friend's home. The children that live in her house (nearly all orphans) were invited to look at some stars and the moon. Mercy was too little to reach the eyepiece, so the oldest child lifted her to the scope. It is one of many moments we will not forget.

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Very nice. I assume that children who grow up in that region (far away from urban light, I assume)easily develop a facination of the night sky.

Inge S