RASC Hamilton [ Special Announcement] FW: Our Night Sky Course for Beginners and New Members

[Al Jones]

I'm in! Count me in!

I think I have to renew my RASC annual, a few months ovedue, so I'll do
that Sunday when i return from Jamaica.

Best,

Al

On Thursday, 12 November 2015, Gary Colwell <GColwell at portstoronto.com>
wrote:

>
>
> Hello All!
>
> Well with the new season underway…it’s time to get things off to a great
> start!.. If you are a new member, or a “greenhorn” to astronomy…this course
> is for you!!!
>
> One of the things I get asked most from new people to our hobby is….How do
> you learn to navigate the night skies?.....and that is just what this
> course is all about.
>
> Details are below….so if you are new and would like an “Intensive” course
> to learn the night skies…please email me at  supergiant2003 at hotmail.com
> <javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','supergiant2003 at hotmail.com');>  to sign up
> for the course.
>
> Our main “lecture “ will be a series of 30 minute video presentations by
> Professor Edward Murphy…here is a brief course description…
>
>
>
>
>
> From asteroids to the zodiac, from the Big Dipper to variable stars, *Our
> Night Sky* is designed to provide a comprehensive overview of what there
> is to see and the best way to see it, whether you live in the city or the
> country, whether you are a novice observer or an old hand at astronomy who
> needs a refresher on constellation and star names, locations, lore, and
> what to expect from season to season as the heavens present a gloriously
> changing panorama.
>
> Under the guidance of award-winning astronomer and Professor Edward M.
> Murphy of the University of Virginia, you will learn
>
> ·         how to use a planisphere (star finder) or other star map to
> quickly orient yourself to the sky for any given date and time, and how to
> use these aids to find your way among the constellations;
>
> ·         how to read celestial coordinates to locate objects precisely,
> and how to find the north or south celestial poles, the celestial equator,
> the ecliptic (the sun's apparent path during a year), the vernal equinox,
> and other important landmarks;
>
> ·         how to appreciate the deep cultural roots of astronomy, which
> lie in humankind's universal quest to understand the heavens through vivid
> stories that have never lost their power and charm;
>
> ·         how to enhance your observing experience by selecting the right
> equipment from a bewildering array of choices in binoculars, telescopes,
> eyepieces, mounts, and other hardware; and
>
> ·         how to decipher the science behind planets, stars, and galaxies
> by learning the fundamentals of solar system structure, star types, stellar
> life cycles, galaxy classification, and other information that will enrich
> your observing.
>
> Above all, you will better appreciate how our view from Earth reflects a
> hidden order—a structure that was discovered by sky observers long ago, who
> drew on centuries of observations to put together the picture we now learn
> from textbooks. As you watch the sky appear to rotate around the celestial
> pole over the course of a night, you will almost feel Earth turning beneath
> you, as it in fact does. As you look at a phase of the moon, you will
> automatically envision the relative positions of the sun, moon, and Earth
> that produce this view. As you observe the constellations slowly shift as
> you go out at the same time every night, you will know that you are seeing
> the effect of Earth's revolution around the sun
>
> Planispheres will be provided for this course too!
>
> New members are encouraged to attend these courses…or if you are new to
> the hobby….you need to be there too!
>
> Here is the schedule:
>
>
>
> *Our Night Sky Course for Beginners*
>
>
>
> *Week 1*
>
>
>
> *Friday November 20 – 6:00pm – 10:00pm*
>
> The Constellations and their Stars
>
> The Northern Sky & North Celestial Pole
>
> The Fall Sky
>
> *Observing weather Permitting*
>
>
>
> *Saturday November 21   4:00pm – 8:00pm*
>
> The Winter Sky
>
> Seeing and Navigating the Sky
>
> Using Binoculars & Backyard telescopes
>
> *Observing weather Permitting*
>
>
>
>
>
> *Week 2*
>
>
>
> *Friday  November 27  6:00pm – 10:00pm*
>
> Observing the Moon & Sun
>
> Observing the Planets with a Telescope
>
> Meteor Showers, Comets, Eclipses and More
>
> *Observing weather Permitting*
>
>
>
> *Saturday November 28  4:00pm – 8:00pm*
>
> The Spring Sky
>
> The Summer Sky
>
> The Southern Sky& the Milky Way
>
> Observing weather Permitting
>
>
>
> Space is limited… ….thank good the universe is not!....so let me know as
> soon as possible!
>
>
>
> Clear Skies!
>
>
>
> Gary Colwell
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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