
Course Objectives taken from Spring 2008 Syllabus:
"Observational Astronomy is a course in technical amateur astronomy. The objectives are to learn which astronomical objects can be seen with the naked eye and small telescopes, when and where astronomical phenomena occur, and what is going on. The lectures provide the necessary background material, and lab sessions provide hands on observing activities with binoculars and telescopes when it is clear outside (about 50% of the time), and with
maps, globes, and astronomical software when it is cloudy. Specific objectives include:
the ability to identify bright stars and constellations; the use of astronomical atlases and
handbooks; the ability to locate the planets; a firm
understanding of sky coordinates, the
seasons, the phases of the moon and eclipses; how to use astronomical telescopes and what
can be seen with them. A detailed list of topics and the associated readings are given in the
lecture/reading schedule. At the end of the course the successful student will likely be an
informed and interested reader of the popular astronomical press such as Sky and Telescope
and Astronomy magazines."
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