AST 103 : OBSERVATIONAL ASTRONOMY

Spring 2007

In this course, you will learn about observing the sky and celestial objects. We will begin by teaching constellations so that you will have a reference point for your observations. We shall use binoculars and some small telescopes, but mostly we'll conduct naked-eye observations. The primary goal of this course is for you to learn about astronomy by observing the night sky. We intend to learn how the celestial bodies such as the Sun, the Moon, the stars, and the planets move throughout the course of the year, and how these movements are perceived from our vantage point on Earth.
Please check the class webpage on Monday mornings for any update. Following are some of the handouts


Please check the class webpage on Monday mornings for any update. Following are the pdf version of some of the handouts:

Course structure

Constellation Presentation

List of Constellations

Moon Project

Sunset Project

Other useful links-

This month's Evening Sky

Directions to the sunwheel

Direction to Amherst College's Bassett Planetarium

Orchard Hill Observatory

Analemma : There is a site devoted to this phenonenon! www.analemma.com