The telescope mount that is left behind at Schoonover Observatory following the burglary.
Photo courtesy of Michael Ritchie
LIMA — The Lima Police Department is investigating the theft of a 14-inch Celestron telescope, guide scopes, accessories and eyepieces — representing a combined value of roughly $20,000 — reported stolen Friday night from Schoonover Observatory.
This is the second break-in where the target was the city’s telescope. The first break-in occurred in 1985 when vandals damaged the observatory’s previous telescope. That telescope was able to be repaired and used for about seven years until this telescope was purchased in 1992.
Michael Ritchie, president of the Lima Astronomical Society, described the event as “heartbreaking.”
Ritchie said he and another member, David Humphreys, discovered the burglary prior to their regular Friday night stargazing session. He noted that the thieves left behind the telescope’s mount, a computer and a laptop. Despite the robbery, Friday’s meeting continued with the use of small telescopes for that session.
Ritchie said he notified Lima City Officials about the burglary and will be sending out emails to the society’s members.
The organization is currently creating a list of all the missing equipment and determining their precise replacement costs.
The regularly scheduled Lima Astronomical Society meetings are expected to continue without interruption.
The Lima Astronomical Society is requesting that the stolen telescope and related items be returned.
Reach Shannon Bohle at 567-242-0399, by email at [email protected] or on Twitter @Bohle_LimaNews.
