SW 277 - Telescopes and Exploring the Night Sky

Navigate the night sky to find objects including the moon, planets, star clusters, nebulae and galaxies. Students will use star charts to identify stars, constellations and planets then locate them. Also included are telescope features, accessories and star charts. Unless weather prohibits, practice and observation is part of each class.

Course Learning Outcomes:

Basic telescopes and mounts.
Choosing and using telescope eyepieces.
Use a star chart to identify the stars and constellations.
Explain basic facts and observation techniques of the sun, moon, planets.
Deep sky objects observed.

Outline:

Introduction of Celestial Objects and Introduction of Telescope
- Moon to galaxies
- Telescope basics with refractor telescope demonstration
Telescope, Refractor, Schmidt-Cassengrains and Mounts
- Reflector telescope and Schmidt-Cassengrain telescope
- Equatorial and alt-az mounts
Eyepieces
- ABC’s of eyepieces
- Choosing and using eyepieces
- Calculate telescope magnification
Identifying the Stars and Constellations in the Night Sky
- Movements in the night sky
- Using a star chart to navigate
- Practice using the star chart
Sun, Moon and Planets
- Facts and observation techniques
- Observe moon/planets
Deep Sky Objects
- Star clusters, nebulae and galaxies
- The messier and NGC catalogs
- Observe bright deep sky objects