Telescopes Pop-Up on City Sidewalks to Engage Passersby in Free Astronomy Viewing Worldwide

Telescopes Pop-Up on City Sidewalks to Engage Passersby in Free Astronomy Viewing Worldwide

Telescopes Pop-Up on City Sidewalks to Engage Passersby in Free Astronomy Viewing Worldwide Courtesy of #Popscope Imagine walking to the store for ice cream and running into a free opportunity to view Saturn’s rings. That’s what’s happened for thousands of lucky pedestrians, thanks to #PopScope, the urban astronomy movement. Now in its 11th year, the volunteer-run group just hit a major milestone: Completing 500 pop-ups that have brought 26,000 people closer to the night sky. Founded in Ottawa, Ontario in 2014, #popscope (short for pop-up telescope) has expanded to include volunteers in cities across Canada and the U.S. and has hosted pop-ups in Ireland, Malawi, and India. From the beginning, their urban astronomy model has been simple and powerful: go to a public area, set up an entry-level telescope, point it at an object in the sky, and invite passersby to take a look. What happens next is magical. Jaws drop, eyes widen, and whispers are uttered when they encounter our awesome universe. Af…