Currently this class is not being offered, however if you are interested in getting notification for next time we open the class contact me and I will add you to my notification list. Generally we offer the class when there are at least five or more students, this tends to be about twice a year.
Course Summary
Course size will be limited and will be closed once limit have been reached.
East Valley Astronomy Club (EVAC) is offering an introductory class targeted to persons who are considering purchasing a telescope, or who have a telescope and would like to learn how to use it. The class covers topics such as the different types of telescopes, telescope mounts, accessories and considerations for purchasing a telescope. It also covers basic concepts useful for amateur astronomers including what to expect from your telescope, appropriate objects for viewing, understanding the night sky, planning an observing session and techniques used for locating objects. Classes will be held weekly via ZOOM meetings and will be recorded.
Labs are hands-on and involve utilization of a small telescope (Bring your own, or one will be supplied). The intent of the labs is to ensure students are comfortable with using a telescope and to teach basic techniques used to locate and view various objects. Labs will be scheduled for once a week.
Course Resources
- Materials
- Class Book (PDF) – Contains all the material we will be covering in the meetings.
- Lab Workbook (PDF) – Contains the material for the labs for this course.
- Astronomy Cheat Sheet (PDF) – References handy to have.
- Recordings (MP4)
- 2024-05-07 Chapter 1: Introduction – Student Introductions, Setting Expectations, Factors impacting what you will see, Lab review.
- 2024-05-14 Chapter 2: The Night Sky – Coordinate Systems, Seasons, Magnitude and Bortle Scales, Catalogs, Multiple Star Systems
- 2024-05-21 Chapter 3: Mounts and Telescopes – Types of Mounts, Drives and Telescopes. Deep Sky Objects, and Techniques for finding objects.
- 2024-06-04 Chapter 4: Accessories – Various supporting equipment, books, applications, and resources that help planning your observation session and during your observations.
- 2024-06-11 Chapter 5: Using Your Telescope – Overview of approaches to Astrophotography, Telescope Maintenance, Review of Session Planning Tools
Course Details
- 5 Zoom Classes and 5 hands-on Labs
- $15 for EVAC Members
- $25 for EVAC non-members
- Ages 15 and up
- Class size will limited to 20 students based on resources available (IE volunteers & available telescopes)
Course Schedule
As stated at the top of this page this course currently not being offered. However when it is offered this is the schedule we use:
- Pre-Lab Assessment
- Prior to our regular scheduled labs Small 2-3 student sessions typically lasting 1.5 – 3 hours will be held at my house (in Chandler, near Ray and Dobson) to cover some telescope basics. This ensures the labs will run smothly since you will have the fundamentals of telescope setup already covered. Students that own a telescope will be encouraged to bring it. For students that do not own a telescope, one will be provided or you will be matched with someone who has a telescope.
- Weekly ZOOM Class
- 5 recorded classes, 90 minutes each
- Time: 7pm – 8:30pm
- Class Meets: TBD
- ZOOM Meeting Details: TBD
- Weekly Labs
- 5 Labs, 2 hours each
- Date/Time: TBD
- Lab 1: The Night Sky
- Lab 2: The Moon Location
- Lab 3: Multiple Star Systems Location
- Lab 4: Telescope Types and Mounts (Open Lab)
- Lab 5: Collimation and Techniques (Open Lab)
Student Information
The following information is required from each student for registration
- Name
- Contact Information
- Email Address
- Contact Phone Number
- Do you have a telescope you plan on bringing to the labs?
- Make & Model of telescope (If you own one)