Owing to changes in the local provision of Adult Education, this course will no longer be run. However, we are considering organising a replacement course somewhere in the W Hampshire/E Dorset region in 2017/18. Please click here to register your interest.
This course is run in conjunction with: (Please click on the logo for more details)
Who is it for? Anybody who has a basic knowledge of astronomy and would like to find out more. Ideally, you will be comfortable with most or all of the material from the Beginners course.
What is covered? The major strands of this course are the Life Cycles of Stars, Cosmology, the Celestial Sphere, and Further Observing Techniques. If at all possible, I will include appropriate topics requested by course participants.
Where? Greyfriars Community Centre, Christchurch Road, Ringwood, BH24 1DW.
When? Wed 7:00 - 9:00pm, weekly from 03 May to 14 Jun 2017 (Six sessions 3 May to 14 June 2017 (3, 10, 17, 24 May, 7, 14 Jun)
Course Fee: TBC
Booking is essential.
Please either click here, email ringwood@brock.ac.uk or telephone 01425 472224 to do so. The course code is RGL501.
If you have any queries prior to booking, please either telephone me on 01425 650713 or
to email me using your default email client. (NB: You cannot book on this telephone number or email address.)
Detailed Information:(Click the subheadings to toggle their content on/off)
The Celestial Sphere
Celestial Co-ordinates and their use in locating astronomical objects. The relationship of celestial co-ordinates to
time and to horizon phenomena.
Stellar Evolution
The Life-Cycle of stars; nucleosynthesis (the process by which heavier elements are made inside stars), supernovas, pulsars, quasars and black holes.
Cosmology
Understanding the dominant theories about how the universe began and how it will evolve. Cosmic microwave background radiation and the Big Bang.
Further Observing Techniques
These will relate primarily to those areas where amateurs can make a contribution to professional work and will include variable stars, grazes and occultations, and meteors.
Observing Session(s)
Weather permitting, we will go to a dark site in the New Forest after the session in Ringwood, where I will help you to get the best out of your kit and will demonstrate the capabilities of some of mine.
I will endeavour to offer additional observing opportunities to those course participants who wish it.
Stephen (Steve) Tonkin has been an amateur astronomer since childhood and now spends most of his time doing astronomical outreach; he leads public observing sessions at BBC Stargazing Live events. He has taught astronomy to adults and children for over 30 years and has authored many articles and several books on practical aspects of astronomy. He writes equipment reviews and a monthly Binocular Tour for BBC Sky at Night magazine. Steve is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society, a past-chairman of the Wessex Astronomical Society and a founder member of Fordingbridge Astronomers.