The Lumina Program: You Buy One. We Give One.

Every Lumina telescope supports K-12 astronomy education. Let’s look up together.

Buy the Telescope Educators, Apply for a Telescope

 

Why Lumina Exists

The Lumina Program is Celestron’s way of giving back. It’s built around a simple idea: more students deserve the chance to experience astronomy and STEM up close.

We know that a student’s first look at the Moon’s craters or Saturn’s rings isn’t just a cool moment. It can spark a lifelong curiosity about how the universe works and open the door to science, technology, and exploration.

Your purchase helps give students hands-on access to real astronomy tools.

 

How the Lumina Program Works

It’s simple and transparent:

  • You purchase a Lumina telescope and explore the night sky.
  • Celestron donates an identical Lumina telescope to a K-12 school in the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii.
  • Educators choose how to put the telescope to work, whether that’s in the classroom, through extracurricular STEM programs, at school-hosted star parties, or by allowing students to check it out and use it at home with their families. The goal is hands-on experience, wherever learning happens.
You Buy one, We give one

The Telescope Behind the Program: Lumina 130mm Tabletop Dobsonian


At the heart of the Lumina Program is a telescope designed to be powerful, portable, and easy to use, whether you’re observing from your backyard or setting it up on campus.

The Lumina 130mm offers a premium viewing experience for beginners and seasoned stargazers alike:

  • Powerful optics: The large 130mm (5.1”) parabolic primary mirror delivers bright, detailed views of the Moon, planets, and even deep-sky objects like nebulae.
  • User-friendly design: The intuitive tabletop Dobsonian base makes setting up quick and tracking sky objects easy.
  • Portable and compact: Lumina’s collapsible design makes it easy to transport, store, and share—ideal for classrooms, outreach, and trips to darker skies.

 

For Educators: Program Eligibility & Requirements

To help us place Lumina telescopes where they can have the greatest impact, applications must meet our eligibility criteria. We’ll ask you to:

  • Share Your School Details: Applicants must be accredited (or state-recognized) K-12 public, private, or charter schools located in one of the 50 U.S. states. Homeschools, fully online schools, and schools outside the 50 states (including U.S. territories) are not eligible at this time. Schools must have a minimum enrollment of 50 students.
  • Designate a Program Lead: The person submitting the application will serve as the program lead and primary point of contact for Celestron. Other teachers or staff members may assist in running the program on campus. Applications must be submitted using a valid school-issued (.edu) email address.
  • Tell Us How You’ll Use the Telescope: We ask for a short description of how you plan to use the telescope. This doesn’t need to be finalized or detailed. It simply helps us get to know your school and understand how the telescope might be used in classes, clubs, or other school programs.

 

Please note that not all applications can be approved. Telescope placements are made at Celestron’s discretion based on availability and program alignment.