Solar Power Restoration Fund
Donation protected
Sometime between January 26-29, thieves took Sky’s The Limit’s complete photovoltaic system. Because the Observatory and Nature Center is off the power grid, it depends on the PV system to generate and store electricity to operate computers, telescopes, and the Observatory dome.
Stolen were four 235-watt solar panels and steel mounting racks, 8 industrial (military) deep cycle batteries, Morningstar charge controller, and 3000-watt inverter. The system was composed entirely of donated materials, laboriously collected and assembled over time by dedicated volunteers. The thieves had a sophisticated knowledge of the system components and knew exactly what to take.
Sky’s The Limit is a nonprofit all-volunteer organization whose mission is to provide hands-on experience for learning about the desert, earth, and sky. Weekend star events are free and open to the public, and are attended by many local families as well as numerous visitors from across the country and around the world. Without our solar power, many of our telescopes do not run, and we have no pathway lights, which cripples their free shows that they voluntarily put on for the public.
Sky's the Limit needs help from the public in order to recover from this theft. The funds they receive from this campaign will be used to replace stolen componets, specifically the solar batteries, in order to keep their organization running strong. They will also be used to install a security system in order to prevent an event like this from happening again.
If the funds exceed the goal, any extra money will be used to further improve site maintenence to insure theft prevention on the campus.
Sky's the Limit thanks everyone for their never-ending support, and wants the program to keep going, so they can continue to share their passion and knowledge of the night sky with the community.
Stolen were four 235-watt solar panels and steel mounting racks, 8 industrial (military) deep cycle batteries, Morningstar charge controller, and 3000-watt inverter. The system was composed entirely of donated materials, laboriously collected and assembled over time by dedicated volunteers. The thieves had a sophisticated knowledge of the system components and knew exactly what to take.
Sky’s The Limit is a nonprofit all-volunteer organization whose mission is to provide hands-on experience for learning about the desert, earth, and sky. Weekend star events are free and open to the public, and are attended by many local families as well as numerous visitors from across the country and around the world. Without our solar power, many of our telescopes do not run, and we have no pathway lights, which cripples their free shows that they voluntarily put on for the public.
Sky's the Limit needs help from the public in order to recover from this theft. The funds they receive from this campaign will be used to replace stolen componets, specifically the solar batteries, in order to keep their organization running strong. They will also be used to install a security system in order to prevent an event like this from happening again.
If the funds exceed the goal, any extra money will be used to further improve site maintenence to insure theft prevention on the campus.
Sky's the Limit thanks everyone for their never-ending support, and wants the program to keep going, so they can continue to share their passion and knowledge of the night sky with the community.
Organizer
Ciera Anne
Organizer
Twentynine Palms, CA
