Backyard Astronomy

Classes in Backyard Astronomy given through the Barrington Community School http://www.barrcommschool.com/
BCS usually offers the course twice a year, once in the late winter and once in the early fall.  .

The course description typically reads:

Have you ever looked up at the nighttime sky and wondered what it all means?  Or are you having trouble finding astronomical wonders with that Christmas telescope?  In this five-week course, you will develop a better under stan ding of our universe and a familiarity with the night sky.  Weather permitting, 2 or 3 of the 5 sessions will consist of fieldwork observing from Barrington ’s Wishing Star Observatory, using a combination of naked eye, binoculars, and telescopes ranging from small to large professional systems.  If the weather cooperates you will view constellations, planets and their moons, satellites, asteroids, stars and star clusters, nebula, distant galaxies, quasars and more. 

The instructor, Pete Peterson , has been an avid amateur astronomer for more than 50 years.  Pete is on the board of the Astronomical Society of Southern New England, and one of his businesses involves the design, manufacture and worldwide distribution of telescope parts and accessories.  The lessons are designed for the adult beginner. but are suitable for adult/child pairs (minimum age 14).

Consider the Cosmos

This 2 hour course that focuses on the awesome aspects of space and our place in the universe.  While viewing objects within our solar system, within our galaxy and far beyond, we discuss related mind-bending facts and theories that, in the words of Einstein, cause one to "pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe".   The night sky is not the only path to deeper awareness. It¹s just one of the easiest.