The Centennial School District has received $9,000 worth of astronomy equipment from the estate of a longtime Warminster resident. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Franz, 73, died Feb. 9, according to published reports. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
Mundy said the district would develop programs and opportunities for students and the community to enjoy the equipment. <\/p>\n
Its a very generous gift. Its magnificent, if you think about it, she said. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
The personal observatory domes enable an astronomer to keep the telescope in a safe and secure outdoor location for extended amounts of time. <\/p>\n
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Centennial receives $9,000 is astronomy equipment<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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 Continue reading