Put a Telescope in a Library

Looking for a community project with visible, lasting impact? Place a telescope in a library and give the gift of science and astronomy to your local community for years to come.

Supporting a telescope placement, replenishment of supplies, and funding for repairs helps keep Library Telescopes in circulation. BBAA works with participating libraries across Hampton Roads and places telescopes according to community need, library readiness, and available funding.

Sponsor a Complete Telescope

A $475 full sponsorship helps fund one complete telescope placement and the support needed to keep Library Telescopes circulating. It supports astronomy access, STEM education and lifelong learning; an Apertura Library Telescope or properly vetted equivalent; customized BBAA and sponsor labeling; normal supplies and consumables; repairs and continuing maintenance; preparation, inspection and ongoing technical support; and library staff familiarization.

Full sponsors receive recognition on the telescope and its BBAA webpage unless they choose anonymity.

Support the Program at Any Level

Help Foster Astronomy at Any Amount

Any amount helps. Partial contributions support new telescopes, placement supplies, repairs, and continued circulation. A $475 gift sponsors a complete telescope placement.

Business & Community Sponsorship

Approved sponsor recognition may include a sponsor name or logo on the telescope, recognition on the telescope's BBAA webpage and Partners page, an invitation to the telescope presentation, placement photographs, and a short project write-up suitable for the sponsor's own newsletter or social media.

Honor Someone with the Night Sky

A Library Telescope can make a meaningful memorial or honorary gift. A full sponsorship may recognize an individual, family, foundation or civic organization. Recognition wording is coordinated with the donor and the BBAA Library Telescope Program team.

BBAA will contact full sponsors after the donation to coordinate memorial, honorary, organizational, or anonymous recognition.

After You Sponsor

BBAA will contact full sponsors for recognition details. You may choose public recognition or anonymity, memorial or honorary wording, and an approved sponsor logo where appropriate.

Every Telescope Has a Story

Each new BBAA Library Telescope receives its own permanent webpage and QR code. The page can identify its home library and sponsor, provide operating instructions and current observing suggestions, and eventually share moderated stories and photographs submitted by the people who use it.

Other Ways to Give

Checks may be mailed to Back Bay Amateur Astronomers, PO Box 9877, Virginia Beach, VA 23450-9877. Questions about sponsorships may be sent to ltp@backbayastro.org.

Contributions to Back Bay Amateur Astronomers are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.