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Introduction to Observational Astronomy: Night Sky Navigation

For this one-time observational astronomy class, we will go over the basics of navigating the night sky.
Mr. Ferko - B.S. Astronomy
Average rating:
4.8
Number of reviews:
(30)
Class

What's included

1 live meeting
45 mins in-class hours

Class Experience

US Grade 7 - 10
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.
Learning Goals
By the end of this class, learners will have a basic understanding of asterisms, constellations, planetary motion, and night sky navigation.
learning goal

Other Details

Language of Instruction
English
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined July, 2022
4.8
30reviews
Profile
Teacher expertise and credentials
Bachelor's Degree in Science from The Pennsylvania State University
I have a bachelor of science degree in astronomy & astrophysics from Penn State University with 3 years of experience as a planetarium presenter where I taught primarily high school groups in my live presentations. I am a scientific content partner with the Africa Space Institute where I create and present online classes for high school students in Africa. I have also been an astronomy tutor for high school students since 2019. 

Reviews

Live One-Time Class
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$15

per class
Meets once
45 min

Completed by 71 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 12-17
1-7 learners per class

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