We Need Your Help!
If you would like to support the LTO you can donate using your credit or debit card. We use PayPal to process your donation. When you click on the Donate button, you will be taken to the secure PayPal web-site. When you are done, you can return to the LTO web-site. There is no need to have a PayPal account. Please contact us if you want to donate stock, other securities, or establish an endowment, so we can provide the appropriate contact and account information.
The Little Thompson Observatory was built by a large group of local volunteers and it operates entirely with the help of donations of money, time and talent by our visitors and volunteers. Our financial donors make it possible to pay the everyday bills and sometimes not-so-everyday expenses of running the Observatory.
At present, we have finished the installation and alignment of the historic 24-inch Mt. Wilson telescope. We have expanded the facility to accommodate this instrument by adding a second telescope foundation, structural pier and second dome. We have installed new control systems for both the dome (thank you Tom Melsheimer) and the telescope (thank you Software Bisque, Golden, CO). We still need help in raising funds to acquire an astronomical camera for the 24″ telescope. We want to make this impressive instrument a key part of the LTO experience in 2013 and beyond!
Another project we would like some help with is the refurbishment of our original 18″ Tinsley telescope and dome control systems. We started with these in 1999 and the control systems electronics are now so old and obsolete, that we cannot get anymore spare parts for them. One failure and we cannot use this telescope system anymore! We need to purchase a new telescope control system from Software Bisque (same as for the 24″ telescope) and also upgrade the dome control system to the current version from Tom Melsheimer. Any donation towards these projects is greatly appreciated.
If you happen to visit us at the Observatory you can also get a token of our appreciation for your donation, some samples are shown below. If you are unable to come to the observatory, we’ll be glad to mail a gift to the address of your request. Sorry, no gift wrapping is available. Shipping cost (via USPS within the U.S. only) is additional, please contact us for information. Thank you!
Bookmarks
We have 8 different beautiful bookmarks available, size 2″ x 6″ - suggested donation $1.00 each
Astrophotography provided by Scott Kindt, LTO board member.
Coffee Cups
Enjoy your coffee while supporting the LTO - suggested donation $5.00 each.
T-Shirts
100% cotton T-Shirts with silk-screened LTO logo are available in Black, adult sizes Small, Medium, Large and Extra Large - suggested donation $15.00 each.
Caps
Caps with embroidered LTO logo are available in Black and Tan, adjustable band - suggested donation $20.00 each.
Books
Prelude Lake 3-D by author Bryan White - suggested donation $30.00 each (while supplies last).
Astro-Photography
Beautiful framed prints of celestial objects seen hanging in the observatory. Individually priced, please contact us for more information about making a donation for one of these beautiful pieces of artwork. Astrophotography provided by Scott Kindt, LTO board member.
We welcome and appreciate higher donations, which go to support our all-volunteer observatory’s education programs!
Please come see us at the LTO. We are located at 850 Spartan Avenue, Berthoud, Colorado, on the grounds of Berthoud High School. If you would like to send us a tax deductible donation, our mailing address is:
Little Thompson Science Foundation
P.O. Box 930
Berthoud, CO 80513
Please make checks out to:
Little Thompson Science Foundation
or
Little Thompson Observatory.
Please include your name and return address, so we can send you a thank you card and acknowledgement of your donation. We greatly appreciate donations in any amount. We will provide tax receipts upon request.
Thank you for your generosity!
