Scope Out South Bend

Seek some sites in a sesquicentennial city this summer and you may find yourself $150 richer. Eight libraries in South Bend, IN, are participating in the Scope Out South Bend treasure hunt. You can borrow a Galileoscope for up to three weeks to find hidden clues that are visible only through a scope. Anyone who correctly records six clues is eligible to win a Galileoscope and up to $150 in recognition of South Bend's 150th birthday.

Dr. Kate Rueff, a local astronomer who is active in STEM education and public outreach, applied for and received an SB150 grant to purchase telescopes and prize money. An array of community organizations have each displayed a clue in their respective windows, with maps and instructions to each site posted on the southbendastro.org website.

Students and staff on the SB150 Young Astronomers team assembled and distributed 18 telescopes to libraries. The team also had a Galileoscope on hand at the SB150 birthday weekend, and a poster on the astronomy display on the Jefferson St. Bridge announced the forthcoming hunt.

Among the inaugural ten sites hosting a clue are:

• Studebaker Administration Building

• Centre Twp. Branch Public Library

• Key Bank Building, 14th Floor

• Potawatomi Zoo

• City of South Bend Wastewater Treatment Plant

• Riley High School

• St. Adalbert Church

Libraries at which you can check out a Galileoscope are:

• Main Children's Services (3rd floor) - 5

• Roger B. Francis Branch - 2

• German Branch - 2

• Centre Branch - 2

• LaSalle Branch - 1

• River Park Branch - 1

• Tutt Branch - 1

• Western Branch - 1

The Scope Out South Bend program runs through September 27, 2015, when there is a total lunar eclipse visible shortly after 9:00 p.m. EDT. So grab your telescope and a map of destinations. The hunt is on!

For details see www.southbendastro.org.