Lecture: The Night Sky and Astronomy
Introduction to The Night Sky and Astronomy - Mountaineers Seattle Program Center
The first lecture will focus on dark sky etiquette and an orientation to the stars visible with the naked eye and binoculars.
- Tue, Jul 5, 2022
- Seattle Night Sky Committee
- Night Sky
- Adults
- Casual
- 1 (19 capacity)
- Cancellation & Refund Policy
Meet at the Seattle Program Center in Magnuson Park. The workshop will begin at 8:30pm in Cascade A and Cascade B. The workshop will run until 11:30pm.
Students shall learn and demonstrate:
Dark sky etiquette
- The reason for using red light
- Dark vision processes and protections
- Walking and navigating in the dark
- Using other people’s gear responsibly
- When and when not to use a laser pointer, and responsible use of the laser pointer
Navigation terminology and use in astronomy
- Altitude and Azimuth style coordinates
- Right Ascension and Declination style coordinates
- See how these methods differ using known objects.
- If this course is done during the evening, then locating visible objects using
these methods will be performed.
Identification and navigation to constellations
- Understanding and using a planisphere
- What constellations are, and which are available during different times of the year, and why this changes over the year
- Using a laser pointer to trace a number of constellations (responsibly, following dark sky etiquette)
Identification and navigation to the planets
- Identification of the different planets that are viewable from the Northern
Hemisphere - Discussion of seasonality and location in the sky
- Discussion of closest approach, oppositions, and many-year cyclical nature of
altitude and angular size - The timing of different features of Jupiter and its moons
- The timing of the apparent tilt of Saturn’s rings
Use of binoculars in astronomy
- Understanding different specifications of binoculars
- Focusing and diopter use
- Using binoculars to observe asterisms and features of the Moon
Identification and navigation to asterisms
- What asterisms are, and which are available
- Using constellations and pointer starts to help navigate
- Using binoculars observe the asterisms and point them out using a laser pointer
Required Equipment
TK