Classes have been suspended until the fall due to the hot Arizona temperatures. Email me if you would like to be notified when the class is avalaible.
Course Summary
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 weekly via ZOOM meetings 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 once a week.
Course Resources
- Materials
- Class Book (PDF) – Contains all the material we will be covering in the meetings.
- Lab Workbook (PDF) – Contains the material for the labs for this course.
- Astronomy Cheat Sheet (PDF) – References handy to have.
- Last Class Recordings (MP4)
- 2025-03-21 Chapter 1: Introduction – Student Introductions, Setting Expectations, Factors impacting what you will see, Lab review.
- 2025-03-25 Chapter 2: The Night Sky – Coordinate Systems, Seasons, Magnitude and Bortle Scales, Catalogs, Multiple Star Systems
- 2025-04-01 Chapter 3: Mounts and Telescopes – Types of Mounts, Drives and Telescopes. Deep Sky Objects, and Techniques for finding objects.
- 2025-04-08 Chapter 4: Accessories – Various supporting equipment, books, applications, and resources that help planning your observation session and during your observations.
- 2025-04-15 Chapter 5: Using Your Telescope – Overview of approaches to Astrophotography, Telescope Maintenance, Review of Session Planning Tools
Course Details
- 5 Zoom Classes and 5 hands-on Labs
- $25 for EVAC Members
- $35 for EVAC non-members
- Ages 12 and up
- Class size will limited to 20 students based on resources available (IE volunteers & available telescopes)
Course Schedule
- Labs
- There are two locations designated for labs(Gilbert Riparian Preserve, Picketpost Mountain Trailhead), so please make sure you review the location for the lab before hitting the road.
- Make sure to check road conditions to identify the best route to reach the lab, we have a lot of road construction going on especially on the weekends.
- Lights – Use red lights when possible, try not to use any white lights, it ruins night vision
- Dress – Dress for cold weather, it can get quite cold here in the desert.
| Gilbert Riparian Preserve | Picketpost Mountain Trailhead |
|---|---|
 Google Maps |  Detailed driving instructions are on the EVAC Outings page. |
- Weekly ZOOM Class
- 5 recorded classes, 90 minutes each
- Time: 7pm – 8:30pm
- Day: TBD
- Dates: TBD
- Zoom Details: Join Meeting Link | Meeting ID: TBD | Passcode: TBD |
- Schedule
- Class 1 (TBD): Introduction – Introduction to the course and setting expectations.
- Class 2 (TBD): The Sky – Tools and techniques for navigating the night sky.
- Class 3 (TBD): Mounts and Telescopes – Type of mounts and telescopes commonly used.
- Class 4 (TBD): Accessories – Various accessories used in visual astronomy.
- Clast 5 (TBD): Using your Telescope – Review of astrophotography, software for planning an observation session, maintenance.
- Weekly Labs
- 4 Labs, 2-3 hours each
- Days: Mostly Friday’s with Saturdays as backup
- Time: 6:30pm – 10:00pm
- Schedule
- Lab 1: TBD (EVAC monthly meeting is Friday 03/21) | Location: Picketpost Trailhead | Topic: The Night Sky | PDF Handout |
- Lab 2: TBD | Location: Gilbert Riparian Preserve | Topic: Moon | PDF Handout |
- Lab 3: TBD | Location: Picketpost Trailhead | Topic: Multiple Star Systems | PDF Handout |
- Lab 4: TBD | Location: Picketpost Trailhead | Topic: Deep Sky | PDF Handout |
Student Information
The following information is 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)