The members of The Popular Astronomy Club are on a mission to bring the universe to all Quad Citians. We have undertaken something that has never before been done in the area: the construction of a MOBILE ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY, the PAC Mobile Observatory, to be used by the public.
The PAC MO has a state-of-the-art telescope housed in an observatory on wheels. We envision the telescope being used at public observing sessions around the Quad Cities and the bi-state area. Under the guidance of club members, thousands more will experience Saturn's rings and the dance of Jupiter's moons, watch sunspots come and go, look down on the moon as if from lunar orbit, study comets and star clusters, and peer into the cradles and deathbeds of stars.
The Popular Astronomy Club is enthusiastic about this unprecedented project. To raise funds for the observatory's operation and maintenance, we are offering to the public the "Adopt-a-Star" program. This program will give citizens and corporations the opportunity to participate in this educational endeavor.
The "Adopt-a-Star" program seeks caretakers for the myriad stars in our galaxy. Each donor to the program will adopt a star, and will receive a star map identifying the newly adopted star. The lucky adopted stars will be easily seen from the Quad Cities.
Stars are the ideal gift for loved ones, your corporation, or even yourself. They are guaranteed to shine brilliantly for millennia while requiring virtually no maintenance on the part of the adopter. They will be a bright spot in your life, and will surely be a topic of conversation. They can also be the start of a lifelong pursuit of the hobby of astronomy.
The Adopt-a-Star program has three gift-giving categories. Donors at each level will receive a star map with the adopted star highlighted, and an authentic Certificate of Adoption, issued by The Popular Astronomy Club and suitable for framing. Donors will receive the following premiums.
For a
Donation of
You will receive:
$20
A Certificate of Adoption, and a
Planisphere (a special star map
designed for use at any time of the
year) with the adopted star
highlighted.
$100
A Certificate of Adoption; a
Planisphere; and a 16 by 20-inch
mill color photograph of one of the
wonders of the universe. This
professional-quality print is suitable
for framing, and will be a unique
addition to your home or office
$500
A Certificate of Adoption; a large,
detailed chart of the night sky near
the adopted star; and a brief
description and history of the star,
all elegantly mounted, matted, and
tastefully framed. This will surely
become the center of focus of any
wall, whether at home or in a
corporate lobby.
The construction and maintenance of the mobile observatory is a major undertaking. The Popular Astronomy Club members are geared up for the project, and want to involve as many people as possible through the Adopt-a-Star program. We contemplate the PAC Mobile Observatory will become a common sight in the area. The expression of awe in voices and faces as people view details of the night sky for the first (or the hundredth) time makes it all worthwhile. We hope you will contribute to our project by adopting a star today.
To Adopt-a-Star, simply contact a club member, or write to the following:
Popular Astronomy Club, Inc.
John Deere Planetarium
Augustana College
Rock Island, IL 61201
