RASC TELESCOPE MUSEUM ACQUIRES BANTING TELESCOPE

June 18, 2020

The Telescope Museum of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada (RASC) has acquired the personal telescope of Sir Frederick Banting. 

Frederick Banting (1891 - 1941) co-discoverer of insulin and Canada's first Nobel Prize winner owned a personal 6 inch (152 mm) telescope. It remained in Banting's family until recently when it was acquired by the RASC Telescope Museum's curator, Randal Rosenfeld.

Banting's interest in astronomy and how he used his telescope are unknown. It is currently held in Kitchener by the museum's patron, Rudolph Dorner. It is believed to have been made in the United States. Next week it will be examined to determine further details of manufacture and model.

Anyone with information about Banting's interest in astronomy is asked to contact Jim Goetz at jgoetz80@hotmail.com.