Astronomy Delight!TM
Astronomy Programs and Innovative Educational Offerings
Real Time- Year Round
Daytime and Evening Celestial Observing
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Astronomy Programs and Innovative Educational Offerings Real Time- Year Round Daytime and Evening Celestial Observing
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Observational Astronomy For Children (and parents too!) Observational Astronomy for Children (and parents too!) is a course designed to increase children's understanding and appreciation of the universe. Based upon a similar course I taught at my home in 1985 for "gifted" children in the Putnam Valley, NY School District, the course has been continually revised and updated for today's inquisitive children of all ages and abilities. The course is a core program of the Astronomy Delight! company, and is given at many locations throughout our network. Please contact your nearest Astronomy Delight! location to inquire about schedules as the offering is celestial object positional dependent and is not always offered. At times, SPECIAL CONDENSED course offerings can be arranged for home schools, public and private schools, camps and resorts throughout the nation. Please call for more information. Throughout the course children "learn by doing". Each child learns how to operate various types of telescopes and whenever possible is given a fascinating experience in the actual observation of stars, planets, the moon and other celestial phenomena. Numerous visual aids, experiments, materials, and fun student role play when necessary, are used throughout the course to further increase understanding of the topics presented.There are a total of 8 sessions which run approximately 75 - 90 minutes each. Half of each session encompasses actual celestial observation, (weather permitting)! All telescopes, binoculars, and charts are provided. In addition to experiencing and participating in an extremely easy, yet highly informative, fun educational science course where both children and adults learn more about REAL HANDS-ON astronomy than they could possibly imagine in a classroom or at a club, ALL STUDENTS (and parents too!) who complete the course become Astronomy Delight! Alumni and are eligible for a variety of benefits. such as reduced course fee's for all future offerings, astronomical equipment discounts, and even part time Astronomy Delight! employment opportunities for students of ANY age. You, along with your child and his friends can explore the Real Universe for little more than the price of a science fiction movie. Treat your child to what is surely... THE GREATEST "SHOW" ON EARTH. The following is a brief course description. While some of the terminology may seem complex, it is always taught to the level of participating children. The small class size and informal atmosphere ensures individualized attention and instruction for each child. Sincerely, Ed Forrest
"The moons have changed since last week"
"I see them! I see them!"
".....The alien will need food for energy,
but he may not eat like we do"
OBSERVATIONAL RECORD HOLDER 7 year old Brian P. at our alumni star party with "the BIG ONE". Brian achieved the observation record by observing the planet Saturn's moons Rhea and Tethys (magnitudes 9.7 and 10.3 respectively) using a 13.1" Newtonian reflector under less than pristine observing conditions using averted vision during our Fall 1998 class when he was 5 YEARS OLD!
OBSERVATIONAL ASTRONOMY FOR CHILDREN Please note that the following course outline is a GUIDE to what is to be covered throughout the course. Celestial and atmospheric dependencies, along with class interests sometimes, (and usually do!) dictate variations in content or at what session subject matter will be covered. (Example: best time to observe moon or nebula Etc.) The course has been designed to take into account the optimum seasonal time for celestial object observation within the course weekday and timeframe constraints.Class 1
Welcome! "Peeker's!"
Introduction, telescopes, the universe, M+M’s, what’s it all about, who has a cat?, "Thinking like Einstein!" and let’s get to know each other!
"Think like Einstein!". Class 2 Astronomical Observation Techniques (Throw away those eyeglasses! We improve your vision by 15-25% immediately, yep! we REALLY do!) 
Astronomical observation is an art and by the end of this class all students have become true "artists"! Observational techniques and methods such as averted vision, past and back, and a variety of other "tricks of the trade" never found or mentioned in other courses or school which apply not only to telescopic observation, but to daily life are introduced to allow students of every age to really become trained observers! We begin to telescopically observe the wonders of the celestial universe and begin to learn about such topics as eyepiece types and usages, atmospheric conditions and phenomena, scintillation, light pollution and even safety issues while observing individual and double stars, and our own Milky Way galaxy! Note: During this class "sky staff kits are available for a nominal fee for students who wish to use this instrument in the forth coming class "Thinking Pizza" or throughout remaining observing sessions.
Class
3 Now that we know how to really observe its time to take a big look at "what’s out there"! We begin with a study of the solar system and learn about it’s origin, early astronomical observations, planets, asteroids and comets, orbits, satellites, compositions, distances, even planetary space flight while seeing the "real stuff" both from NASA and HUBBLE perspectives and through our own eyes!
Class
4
Constellations, "Star-Hoppin", Celestial Navigation and THINKING PIZZA! (No..we don’t serve pizza!..but THINK it!) A fun and imaginative session for all where the kids really excel as we discuss such things as the history and folklore of the constellations, using star charts, and determining our position by the stars. We use our sky staffs to find some of the major constellations and stars contained within them, even learn some of the same techniques that the Apollo astronauts used to get to the moon! Binoculars and our naked eyes are used to observe everything from stars and clusters, to the Milky Way all while learning some really imaginative story and lore! *(involves use of a sky staff)
Class 6
and "Where DID the dinosaurs go? Observing the moon is great fun for all, providing we know how fast is REALLY FAST! Our creative experiments supplement our Lunar observations as we discuss asteroids, meteors, and even what happened to the dinosaurs! We learn to read lunar maps, identify features such as craters, mountains, rills, and domes, and even learn about Lunar space flight and some of the very unique things the Apollo astronauts discovered that most books never mention! Class 7 "Deep Sky Stuff" Yikes! can children and their parents really understand this stuff? You betcha! Everybody is beginning to "think like Einstein" while we learn about some really mysterious stuff in the cosmos using fun and uniquely creative role play and experiments designed for all ages! We learn about everything from gravity through galaxy formation, differences, types, classifications, distances, Messier classifications and of course our own Milky Way.
Our Universe and "REAL" E.T.’s Throw science fiction, Star Wars, and the computer games out
the window!
children of every age and their parents as they
find that they REALLY have "Thought like Einstein" throughout the
entire course and can easily understand some simple cosmology and quantum
concepts! We discuss the formation of the universe, interstellar travel,
rockets, starships, SETI, black and white holes, radio astronomy, even BOATS!
Past experience has shown that students enjoy this discussion more than any
previous session. The knowledge they have gained through actual scientific
observation, inquisition, and discussion during prior sessions, coupled with our
on-going E.T. discussions prior to the start of each class topic, make this
final class truly a mind-boggling journey to the final frontier of their young
imaginations! Depending upon time available, a review of the past sessions will
also take place in addition to observing general objects of interest. Telescope
recommendations, purchase advice, and further astronomy related resources are
also discussed during this session.
2nd through 5th grade after-school enrichment class having just learned about COSMOLOGY AND QUANTUM MECHANICS! (YEP! THEY SURE DID! ) Based upon material from the "Alien" lesson
component in (and parents too!)
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"Wow! are they real?"
Our
reining Observational
Astronomy
for Children (and parents too!)
Course 
Our first
session welcomes both children and parents into the 
exciting 
Class 5 
The Moon
