ArtCentrics


Beginners Guide to Small Telescopes

First Telescope

Course Summary

Course size will be limited and will be closed once limit have been reached.

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
  • Recordings (MP4)
    • 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

Course Details

  • 5 Zoom Classes and 5 hands-on Labs
  • $20 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)

Course Schedule

As stated at the top of this page this course currently not being offered. However when it is offered this is the schedule we use:

  • Pre-Lab Mini Session
    • Prior to our regular scheduled labs Small groups of students to meet to review telescope basics, sessions typically lasting 1.5 – 3 hours. This ensures the labs will run smoothly 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 or you will be matched with someone who has a telescope.
    • Location: Gilbert Riparian Observatory (On lawn East of the observatory)
Date/TimeLocationParticipants – Blue is verified
Monday, 10/28 6pm – 8pmGilbert Riparian Observatory E. Yuzak                 No telescope
J. Grunow               Celestron 130 SLT
L. Martin                  StarSense Explorer 114
J. Kelly                    NexStar 8SE
A. Matthias 8″ Dob
Wednesday, 10/30 6pm – 8pmGilbert Riparian Observatory A. and E. Duvall       None (Cannot attend)
A. Challa                  SeeStar S50
D. & M. Sharayko    Skymax 127 Maksutov
E. Thuenen              Not Specified
F. Huppenthal          10โ€ Orion
R. Dagget                Not Specified
S. Drake                  Celestron 160
Friday, 11/01 6pm – 8pm
NOTE DATE CHANGE!
Gilbert Riparian Observatory D. Goldsmithย ย ย ย ย  ย ย ย ย ย Askar 103
J. Eskeyย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  ย  ย ย ย  None (Cannot attend)
N. & N. Bhaktaย ย ย ย ย ย ย  None
J. Romanek ย ย ย ย ย ย  Nexstar 8 (Cannot attend)
W. Johnsonย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Not Specified
C. Pelusoย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Zhumell Z130
M. Laskarย  ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  ย ย ย SeeStar S50
J. Kovarik ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Astro Master 70
P. Allaka None
D. MacGugan ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย NexStar 8SE
M. Shigdyย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย  ย ย ย ย ย None
  • Weekly ZOOM Class
    • 5 recorded classes, 90 minutes each
    • Time: 7pm – 8:30pm
    • Class Meets: Thursdays
      • November 7, 14, 21
      • December 5, 12
    • ZOOM Meeting Details:
      • Invite Link
      • Meeting ID: 826 4744 7090
      • Passcode: 602358
  • Weekly Labs (Two Groups)

Tentative Group Assignments

Lab SessionStudents
Group 1 (Nov 9 – Dec 14?)| A. & E. Duvall(2) | C. Peluso | D. & M. Sharayko | D. Goldsmith | G. Cassidy |
| J. Grunow | J. Kelly | L. Martin | M. Shigdy (2) |
| N. & N. Bhakta (2) | J. Romanek | W. Johnson |
Group 2 (Jan 25 – Feb 22)| E. Thuenen | E. Yuzak | J. Eskey | J. Kovarik | M. Laskar (2) |
| S. Drake | A. Challa | P. Allaka |
Unassigned| A. Matthias | D. Macguan | F. Huppenthal | J. Kica |R. Daggett |
|

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)