ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of Science-Technology Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums and related institutions.
*****************************************************************************

The following [at the end of this message] is ONE
vendor of outdoor binoculars, who has sent me
information in the past. I cannot vouch for his
product; I only know that he has solicited me in the
past. Other vendors can probably be found in a web
search.

One aspect of outdoor binoculars and telescopes needs
to be considered, which usually is not considered in
tourist locations where these are installed. That is
the risk of a child [or even an adult] pointing the
binocular or telescope at the Sun, which could
seriously damage the retina of the eye.

Fortunately, most people would never even think of
pointing a public binocular or telescope at the Sun.
And, I have never heard of an incident where a
patron's eyes have been damaged due to this
misapplication of the public binocular or telescope.
However, there is a first time for everything.

Around 1990, Pittsburgh's Carnegie Science Center had
acquired the World War II submarine, U.S.S. Requin,
for exhibition in the Ohio River next to the new
science center building. The Carnegie Science Center
also had the option of placing a separate submarine
periscope on shore, so the public could see how a
periscope is used [the submarine's periscope is not
accesible to the public].

At that time, I warned the submarine exhibit
supervisor of the potential danger of having the
periscope available to the public, without very strict
supervision. In the end, the on-shore periscope was
never installed.

gaw

>>>Name and contact information for ONE outdoor
binocular/telescope vendor:

Joe B. Golden
General Manager

SeeCoast Manufacturing Co., Inc.
P.O. Box 551
Fairhope, AL 36533

Ph: 251-928-8882  800-343-8882
Fax 251-928-8909

email     [log in to unmask]
web site  http://www.seecoast.com

>>>Original Message:
Date: Sat, 15 May 2004 12:49:26 -0700
From: "David Taylor" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Outdoor telescopes
To: [log in to unmask]

ISEN-ASTC-L is a service of the Association of
Science-Technology
Centers
Incorporated, a worldwide network of science museums
and related
institutions.
*****************************************************************************

Does anyone know where you get the outdoor vandal
proof
binoculars of telescopes that you see  permanently
mounted
in tourist locations?

Dave Taylor

***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education
Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found
at
http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L
list, send the
message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message
to
[log in to unmask]

=====
gaw

Glenn A. Walsh
Electronic Mail - < [log in to unmask] >
Author of History Web Sites on the Internet --
* Buhl Planetarium, Pittsburgh:
  < http://www.planetarium.cc >
* Adler Planetarium, Chicago:
  < http://adlerplanetarium.tripod.com >
* Astronomer & Optician John A. Brashear:
  < http://johnbrashear.tripod.com >
* Andrew Carnegie & Carnegie Libraries:
  < http://www.andrewcarnegie.cc >
* Duquesne Incline cable-car railway, Pittsburgh:
  < http://www.incline.cc >




__________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
SBC Yahoo! - Internet access at a great low price.
http://promo.yahoo.com/sbc/

***********************************************************************
More information about the Informal Science Education Network and the
Association of Science-Technology Centers may be found at http://www.astc.org.
To remove your e-mail address from the ISEN-ASTC-L list, send the
message  SIGNOFF ISEN-ASTC-L in the BODY of a message to
[log in to unmask]