Equipment / SFAAA Loaner Scope Program

One benefit of membership in the South Florida Amateur Astronomers Association is access to the telescopes that are part of the SFAAA Loaner Scope Program. The qualifications needed to borrow one of these telescopes are: 1) minimum of three month of active participation in club events 2) completion of a short training course 3) approval by the observatory director.

The SFAAA Loaner Scope Program allows members who don't own or have access to a telescope to borrow one for touring the night sky. The 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. The SFAAA Loaner Scope program works something like a library book loan. You can check out a telescope for a one month period. At the end of the month, you are obligated to return the telescope. If no one else has reserved the telescope, you may renew your loan for an additional month. As with a library book loan, you are of course responsible for the equipment while it is in your possession.