RFO Night Sky Classes, Summer Individual Classes, June 3-August 26,2019
Robert Ferguson Observatory, Sugarloaf Ridge State Park Kenwood, CA
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Night Sky Classes are offered in three seasonal series (six classes each) and are designed for everyone from total beginners to experienced amateur observers. Persons who take all three Night Sky series (18 classes in all) will learn the entire sky seen from our northern latitude. Whether you want to learn the constellations or have a telescope and want to expand your knowledge of deep sky objects, the solar system and beyond, these classes have something for you.
Tickets may be purchased for individual classes or for the six class Summer Season.
Program information:
The presentations last approximately 90 minutes. A few constellations are introduced in each class: their myths, history and interesting stars. We also cover deep sky objects within those constellations, such as the beautiful nebulae and clusters that never cease to awe and amaze. A detailed list of topics for each class is listed below. After class (sky conditions permitting), we go outside and locate the constellations presented. Then we move to the Observatory's telescopes to view the individual objects until 10:30 pm, or later.
The observatory is a 501(3)(c) institution, and all proceeds from this event go towards maintaining its many public education programs.
For information about other upcoming events please visit our calendar and our Brown Paper Ticket listings: RFO on BPT.
The presentations starts promptly at the time shown: please consider your travel time before purchasing tickets (below). Refunds allowed up to 24 hours before the start of the event.
Summer Night Sky Class Schedule:
June 3, 8:00 pm, Class #1: Asterisms and Constellations, Stars, Deep Sky Objects, Sky Charts, the "Spring Arc" Constellations: Ophiuchus, Serpens, Corona borealis
June 24, 8:00 pm, Class #2: Sky Motion and the Seasonal Skies, Celestial Poles and Celestial Equator, the Ecliptic and Zodiac, the "Summer Triangle", Constellations: Hercules, Libra, Draco
July 1, 8:00 pm, Class #3: Obliquity of the Ecliptic, Equinoxes and Solstices, Precession and Epochs, Constellations: Scorpius, Aquila
July 22 8:00 pm, Class #4: Galaxies, Galaxy Clusters and Super-Clusters, Spiral Structure and Star Formation, the Milky Way and Our Milky Way Neighborhood, the Galactic Halo and Globular Clusters, Constellations: Sagittarius, Scutum
July 29, 8:00 pm, Class #5: The Solar System, Constellations: Lyra, Vulpecula, Cygnus
Aug 26 8:00 pm, Class #6: The Moon and Eclipses, Constellations: Sagitta, Delphinus, Equus, Capricornus
Summer Season Passes for all six classes are $75: to purchase a series pass, follow this link: Summer Series Pass