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

[Bob.Prociuk]

Thanks Al
Lots of exciting new things happening at the club with a new board. 

Bob Prociuk
Membership Coordinator 


Sent from my iPhone

> On Nov 13, 2015, at 2:28 PM, Al Jones <althemanjones at gmail.com> wrote:
> 
> 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  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…
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>> 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
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>> ·         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;
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>> ·         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;
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>> ·         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;
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>> ·         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
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>> ·         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.
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>> 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:
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>> Our Night Sky Course for Beginners
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>> Week 1
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>> Friday November 20 – 6:00pm – 10:00pm
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>> The Constellations and their Stars
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>> The Northern Sky & North Celestial Pole
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>> The Fall Sky
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>> Observing weather Permitting
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>> Saturday November 21   4:00pm – 8:00pm
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>> The Winter Sky
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>> Seeing and Navigating the Sky
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>> Using Binoculars & Backyard telescopes
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>> Observing weather Permitting
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>> Week 2  
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>> Friday  November 27  6:00pm – 10:00pm
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>> Observing the Moon & Sun
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>> Observing the Planets with a Telescope
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>> Meteor Showers, Comets, Eclipses and More
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>> Observing weather Permitting
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>> Saturday November 28  4:00pm – 8:00pm
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>> The Spring Sky
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>> The Summer Sky
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>> The Southern Sky& the Milky Way
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>> Observing weather Permitting
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>> Space is limited… ….thank good the universe is not!....so let me know as soon as possible!
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>> Clear Skies!
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>>  
>> 
>> Gary Colwell
>> 
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