East Valley Astronomy Club (EVAC) is offering an introductory class targeted to persons who are considering purchasing a telescope, or who have a telescope and would like to learn how to use it. The class covers topics such as the different types of telescopes, telescope mounts, accessories and considerations for purchasing a telescope. It also covers basic concepts useful for amateur astronomers including what to expect from your telescope, appropriate objects for viewing, understanding the night sky, planning an observing session and techniques used for locating objects. Classes will be held via ZOOM on Tuesday evenings and will be recorded.
Labs are hands-on and involve utilization of a small telescope (Bring your own, or one will be supplied). The intent of the labs is to ensure students are comfortable with using a telescope and to teach basic techniques used to locate and view various objects. Labs will be scheduled for Saturday evenings. In the event of poor weather, Sunday evening will be the fallback lab day.
Course size will be limited and will be closed once limit have been reached.
Making your own Solar Filter
Zoom Meeting Recordings (MP4 files)
2024-05-07
Chapter 1: Introduction - Student
Introductions, Setting Expectations, Factors impacting what you will see,
Lab review.
2024-05-14 Chapter
2: The Night Sky - Coordinate Systems, Seasons, Magnitude and Bortle
Scales, Catalogs, Multiple Star Systems
2024-05-21
Chapter 3: Mounts and Telescopes - Types of Mounts, Drives and
Telescopes. Deep
Sky Objects, and Techniques for finding objects.
2024-06-04 Chapter 4: Accessories - Various supporting
equipment, books, applications, and resources that help planning your
observation session and during your observations.
2024-06-11 Chapter 5: Using Your Telescope - Overview
of approaches to Astrophotography, Telescope Maintenance, Review of Session
Planning Tools
Accessories
for sale - Some common items that may help make your observation session
go smoother.
5 Zoom Classes and 5 hands-on Labs
$15 for EVAC Members
$25 for EVAC non-members
Ages 15 and up
Class size will limited to 20 students based on resources available (IE volunteers & available telescopes)
Class Survey Results
2023
January Class Survey Results
2022
Fall Class Survey Results
Pre-Lab Assessment
Prior to our regular scheduled labs Small 2-3 student sessions typically lasting 1.5 - 3 hours will be held at my house (in Chandler, near Ray and Dobson) to cover some telescope basics. This ensures the labs will run smothly since you will have the fundamentals of telescope setup already covered. Students that own a telescope will be encouraged to bring it. For students that do not own a telescope, one will be provided.
Weekly ZOOM Class
5 recorded classes, 90 minutes each
7pm - 8:30pm
Class Meets: TBD
ZOOM Meeting Details
TBD
Weekly Labs: 5 Labs (Gilbert Rotary Central Observatoryand Picketpost Trailhead)
5 Labs, 2 hours each
Saturdays, 8:000pm - 9:30pm
Lab 1: The Night Sky Location: Gilbert Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch
Lab 2: The Moon Location: Gilbert Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch
Lab 3: Multiple Star Systems Location: Gilbert Riparian Preserve at Water Ranch
Lab 4: Telescope Types and Mounts (Open Lab) Location: Superior: Picketpost Trailhead
Lab 5: Collimation and Techniques (Open Lab) Location: Superior: Picketpost Trailhead
The following information will be required from each student for registration:
Name
Contact Information
Email Address
Contact Phone Number
Do you have a telescope you plan on bringing to the labs?
Make & Model of telescope (If you own one)
For more information feel free to email James Yoder at jty.Astro@ArtCentrics.com
Additional online resources
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Topic |
Media |
Link |
Description |
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How To Collimate your SCT |
Video |
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How to Collimate your Dobsonian |
Webpage |
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SVbony Laser Collimator and How to Use it (Newtonians) |
Video |
How to use the SVbony Laser Collimator to collimate your Newtonian telescope. | |
|
Meade Autostar System |
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Controller for Meade GOTO Systems | |
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