Resources

The Library Telescope Program is pleased to support
International Observe the Moon Night (October 1, 2022)

#ObserveTheMoon

Download resource links: Download

Learn more at https://moon.nasa.gov

Looking for materials to support your space science programs?

The Science Engagement Team at The Lunar and Planetary Institute is pleased to offer activities, multimedia, loanable materials, and more!

• Resources:
• Loanable Pop-Up Exhibits: These banners use colorful images and text to share current lunar and asteroid science and exploration stories. The displays can be used to excite and engage patrons in further exploration. Each exhibit consists of 3 single-sided banners, each of which measure 32 inches wide by 83 inches tall when displayed. Exhibits are available at no cost and may be rented for up to three months.
• Educational activities: Explore provides hands-on space science activities and supporting resources for out-of-school time programs at libraries, camps, museums, planetariums, librarians, and clubs. Use Explore to engage children and pre-teens in the wonders of lunar exploration; the planets Earth, Jupiter, and Mars; rockets; staying healthy in space; and more!
• Loanable ALTA spectrometer kits: ALTA, designed by LPI scientist Allan Treiman, is a rugged, simple classroom instrument, designed to help students learn about light, color, and spectroscopy. The LPI is pleased to offer ALTA kits (including spectrometers, rock samples, and activity lessons) for loan to educational institutions at no cost.
• Audio files of Native American myths and legends: SkyTellers is an audio collection of Ten Native American myths and legends told by Native American Master Storytellers and a Native American Astronaut that explore the wondrous phenomena of our night sky. Digital copies of the files are available by request at no cost.
• Online Newsletter: This is a great place to learn about programs from various Earth, planetary, and space science organizations. The LPI Science Engagement team regularly updates the page with new events, opportunities, and resources that are freely available broad audiences. 

• Library:
• The library at the LPI has the most comprehensive and unique lunar and planetary collections in the world. Many of the materials (including books, journals, toys, games, puzzles, and more for all ages levels) are part of a circulating collection and are available for check-out and lending to other libraries.

Special opportunity to receive free lunar images:

The Lunar and Planetary Institute was one of the original planetary science image repositories and its library collections extend back to the pre-Apollo era. The collection includes 1000s of physical prints of historical lunar imagery taken by the Lunar Orbiter missions. Lunar Orbiter I was the first U.S. spacecraft to orbit the Moon. Between 1966-1967, five Lunar Orbiter missions surveyed the Moon, providing the best images of the lunar surface available at the time. These missions were highly successful, photographing 99% of the Moon’s surface and enabling NASA scientists to select Apollo landing sites. Learn more about the Lunar Orbiter missions.

The LPI library is reducing its collection of Lunar Orbiter prints by making the prints available, at no cost, to educational institutions and members of the public. You can view the Lunar Orbiter prints here. Each print is 20” by 30” inches. Note: These are historical images. They do NOT represent current imaging capabilities. For modern Moon imagery, check out NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO).

• Images from Lunar Orbiter I are NOT available for request.
• Images from Lunar Orbiter II, III, IV, and V are available to anyone.

• Note: Not all images shown in the digital collection are available as prints.

Interested in requesting Lunar Orbiter prints for yourself or your institution? Please contact the Library Telescope Program with inquiries.

Help us spread the word about the resources available on our national library telescope program site.  

 1) Register your program

If you are currently operating a library telescope program and your program information is not showing on this site, please Register Your Program with us.

 2) Apply a business card "Get Started" decal to your library telescope:

If you are a program manager or library with a library telescope, we encourage you to apply a business card sized decal to your telescope.  The decal will direct your library patrons to online videos and other resources to help them quickly get started using and enjoying the library telescope.  You can download a PDF of the decals with instruction at the link:   https://www.librarytelescope.org/images/resources/Apply_Get_Started_Decal_to_Telescope.pdf

3) Spread the word to your library patrons, friends and colleagues about the national resource center:

Tell your friends about our FREE national website that is loaded with resources and videos to get started using the library telescope.   

4) Volunteer to help us develop our national program:

We are looking for volunteers to help us with our national program.  Much of the work can be done on your own schedule and we will be mindful of asking too much. If you would like to learn more, please Contact us.