Introduction to Observational Astronomy: Night Sky Navigation

In this class, we will go over the basics of night sky navigation (Northern Hemisphere) using a free planetarium software program called Stellarium. I will teach learners how to find the cardinal points (North, South, East, West) from looking at the stars. We will also figure out how to determine latitude and longitude. Once these are identified, we will then move on to identifying a few common asterisms and their associated constellations. After this, we will cover the constellations along the ecliptic (Zodiac) and gain a fundamental understanding of why these constellations are associated with the months of the year. We will talk about the seasonal variations of the night sky, and finish off by showing learners where (and when) they can find the planets that are visible to the unaided eye. No prerequisites are required for this class. 

This class was designed to help learners become familiar with the night sky which I recommend to those who wish to take my "Introduction to Observational Astronomy: How to Use Your Telescope" course in the future. I will also answer any questions the learners may have as time allows.