Skyguide Courses

If you wish to learn more about the night sky, then why not enrol on one of the Skyguide courses on offer in the Bristol area.

The Monthly Skyguide (12 weeks)
Steve Parkinson BSc, PGCE

This is one of the most popular Skyguide courses, delivered for the past 9 years at both Bristol University and the Exploratory Hands on Science centre where it started.
Using a portable planetarium we waltz through an astronomical year taking in the constellations, stars, planets and deepsky objects that can be seen easily by the beginner. Each week we study one month and create star charts to aid observation.
Students are encouraged to use the naked eye, binoculars or small telescopes to extend their vision and there are opportunities to view the Moon and planets through a telescope (weather permitting!) In addition, basic astronomy topics are covered which act like a skeleton upon which to hang any further knowledge: What is a star? What telescope should I buy? How can I see auroræ? What is the difference between a moon and a planet, a nebula and a galaxy? How did the Universe start and how will it end? Is there life or intelligence out there?
The focus is very much on hands-on practice and demonstration and no mathematical or scientific background is assumed. We are fortunate to have access to real moonrocks and meteorites courtesy of the PPARC loans scheme

Courses run on Tuesday evenings from 7pm to 9pm at the CPE building, Berkeley Square, Bristol and are limited to 25 students at a time:

The Monthly Skyguide, Spring 2008:    Jan 8 ^th    -  Apr 1 ^st           book now

Watching the Night Sky: an Introduction to Practical Astronomy
John Meacham, CEng MIMechE

This six-week course will show you how to observe objects such as planets, the Moon, stars that change their light, deep sky objects, star clusters and galaxies. We will also include comets, asteroids and meteor showers. The use of all types of astronomical instruments will be covered together with visits to a local observatory. This course could be an ideal accompaniment to the Monthly Sky Guide.

Courses run on Wednesdays from 7.30 to 9.00 pm at the CPE building, Berkeley Square, Bristol:

• Introduction to Observational Astronomy : Oct 10^th  -  Nov 14^th      book now

The Seasonal Skyguide (5 weeks)
Steve Parkinson BSc, PGCE

This is a shortened version of the Monthly Sky Guide which uses a portable planetarium to identify the principal constellations visible each season, together with the astronomical objects they contain. Each week students spend half an hour inside the Stardome then proceed to annotate a starchart. Five basic topics of astronomy are covered: co-ordinate and magnitude systems; what are stars?; choosing and using astronomical instruments; observing the Moon and planets; observing deepsky objects. There will be opprtunities for real telescopic observing if weather permits.

Courses run on Tuesday evenings from 7pm to 9pm at the PPO building, Berkeley Square, Bristol and are limited to 25 students at a time:

There are no courses running this academic year