ArtCentrics

Beginners Guide to Small Telescopes

First Telescope

Currently this class is not being offered, however if you are interested in getting notification for next time we open the class contact me and I will add you to my notification list. Generally we offer the class when there are at least five or more students, this tends to be about twice a year.

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
    • 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.
  • Recordings (MP4)
    • 2024-11-07 Chapter 1: Introduction – Student Introductions, Setting Expectations, Factors impacting what you will see, Lab review.
    • 2024-11-14 Chapter 2: The Night Sky – Coordinate Systems, Seasons, Magnitude and Bortle Scales, Catalogs, Multiple Star Systems
    • 2024-11-12 Chapter 3: Mounts and Telescopes – Types of Mounts, Drives and Telescopes. Deep Sky Objects, and Techniques for finding objects.
    • 2024-12-05 Chapter 4: Accessories – Various supporting equipment, books, applications, and resources that help planning your observation session and during your observations.
    • 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

  • 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 PreservePicketpost Mountain Trailhead

Google Maps
Detailed driving instructions are on the EVAC Outings page.
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          10” Orion
R. Dagget                Not Specified
S. Drake                  Celestron 160
Friday, 11/01 6pm – 8pm
Gilbert Riparian Observatory D. Goldsmith           Askar 103
J. Eskey                  None (Cannot attend)
N. & N. Bhakta        None
J. Romanek        Nexstar 8 (Cannot attend)
W. Johnson             Not Specified
C. Peluso                Zhumell Z130
M. Laskar                SeeStar S50
J. Kovarik                Astro Master 70
P. Allaka None
D. MacGugan         NexStar 8SE
M. Shigdy               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. Matthias | C. Peluso | D Sharayko |
| D. Goldsnmith | J. Grunow | J. Kelly | L. Martin |
| M. Shigdy | J. Romanek | R. Daggett | W. Johnson |
| W. Thomas |
Group 2 (Jan 25 – Feb 22)| E. Thuenen | E. Yuzak | J. Eskey | J. Kovarik | M. Laskar (2) |
| S. Drake | A. Challa | P. Allaka | N. & N. Bhakta (2) |
|F. Huppenthal
Unassigned| D. Macguan | | J. Kica |

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)