STAR DOME ASTRONOMY
September 22, 2009
Tuesday evenings 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Six weeks
$50.00 Enrollment ($35.00 - members)

Have you always wanted to learn astronomy but had no idea how to start? Do you admire the sky and wonder exactly what lurks within that darkness? Does the notion of understanding the cosmos and all its sundry wonders appeal to you? Or, most importantly, do you want to impress that certain somebody with your comprehensive knowledge of the night sky? (Let's face it: that's the real reason we geeky types went into astronomy in the first place. To the devil with cosmic curiosity.)

Well, ladies and gentlemen, the Southworth Planetarium invites you to enroll in our fun introductory astronomy course. Are you not sure this is for you? Remember, we assume you have no previous astronomy knowledge. (Well, we'll assume that you know that you live in a Universe of some sort and you're rather certain you could locate the sky given enough time.) Each class includes a session in our star dome theater, so you can learn astronomy among the stars themselves.

We cover the basics: finding the north star; determining sky directions; reading star charts; finding constellations. We also go a bit far afield: discovering how stars work, how planets move, and how we believe this whole mad catastrophe of the Universe started. Constellations to cosmology and everything in between is the focus of this fantastic -if we do say so, ourselves- beginning astronomy course.
The math is scant, but the stars are plentiful. Weather permitting, we'll venture outside after at least one class to observe the actual sky.
(The light pollution is not as blinding in Portland as some think. Well, it's not Las Vegas, anyway.)

To enroll or to ask questions, please call 207-780-4249 or send an e-mail egleason@usm.maine.edu.

Yes, you may register at the first class. You may also register in advance and pay on the first class day.

DISCOVER YOUR UNIVERSE!