RGL501 : Astronomy - Wonders of the Night Sky - Part 2
17 April: There are still a few places left on this course.
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? Ringwood Adult Learning & Skills Centre, Parsonage Barn Lane, Ringwood, BH24 1SE.
When? Wed 7:00 - 9:00pm, weekly from 17 April to 22 May 2013 (17, 24 Apr, 1, 8, 15, 22 May)
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)
We will go to a dark site in the New Forest, where I will help you to get the best out of your kit and will demonstrate the capabilities of some of mine.
I will offer additional observing opportunities to those course participants who wish it.
Stephen Tonkin has been an amateur astronomer since childhood and now spends most of his time doing astronomical outreach; he led some of the public observing sessions at local 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 a monthly Binocular Tour for Sky at Night magazine. Stephen is a Fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and a past-chairman of the Wessex Astronomical Society. He is an occasional part-time Lecturer in Astronomy for Brockenhurst College.
