The Centennial School District has received $9,000 worth of astronomy equipment from the estate of a longtime Warminster resident.

Eileen Corbett, of Upper Southampton, donated a Meade, 12-inch Lx400 ACF telescope and a personal observatory dome to Centennial on May 28 from the estate of her deceased cousin, Joseph J. Franz.

Franz, 73, died Feb. 9, according to published reports.

He worked as an aerospace engineer at the Naval Air Development Center in Warminster for more than 30 years, leading innovations in high-altitude engineering. His work resulted in several patents, inventions, publications and honors, according to the school district.

The telescope and personal observatory dome are professional grade astronomy tools that Franz enjoyed at home, school officials said. The Meade 12-inch Lx400 is considered one of the most sophisticated and technologically advanced telescopes available for the serious amateur astronomer, according to the astronomy website, Skies Unlimited.

Its a community member who has lived in our school district and had a passion for her cousins work in terms of his own personal passion for astronomy, science and star-gazing. Its a lovely way for us to continue to inspire students, said Joyce Mundy, substitute superintendent of Centennial schools.

Mundy said the district would develop programs and opportunities for students and the community to enjoy the equipment.

Its a very generous gift. Its magnificent, if you think about it, she said.

Astronomy websites sets the telescope's retail value at a minimum of $6,000. The personal observatory dome the district received retails for at least $2,500, according to the websites.

The personal observatory domes enable an astronomer to keep the telescope in a safe and secure outdoor location for extended amounts of time.

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Centennial receives $9,000 is astronomy equipment