BEGINNER'S SCHOOL OUTLINE

MONDAY August 9

I. FINDING YOUR WAY AROUND
  A. Constellations (limited: links to Lorri May star talks?).
   1. big drawing board to draw constellations.
   2. Planisphere and basic equipment (red flashlight, ect.).
   
  B. Star Charts/Atlases and magazines. 
   1. Sky and Telescope, Astronomy.
   2. Edmund Mag. 5 Star atlas (or other basic atlas).
   3. Sky Atlas 2000.
   4. Other atlases and software (emphasis on simlicity).
  C. Naked-eye and binocular Stargazing.
  D. Observing sites and light pollution.
  E. Clubs, Star Parties, and star party etiquette.

TUESDAY August 10

II. BINOCULARS AND TELESCOPES
  A. Choosing binoculars.
    a. Binocular guide (a Hyde Observatory publication).
    b. 7x35 or 10x50 binos recommended.
  B. Choosing a Telescope.
    a. Telescope Buyer's guide (a Hyde Observatory publication).
    b. Eyepieces.
    c. Finding aids (finders/telrads).
    d. Filters (CAUTIONS about solar observing!).

  C. Equipment Care.
    a. Handling and Storage.
    b. Cleaning and maintenance.
    c. Collimation.

WEDNESDAY August 11

III. SOLAR SYSTEM  (optional)
  A. Moon.
    a. Moon phases and best viewing times. 
    b. Powers and filters.
  B. Planets.
    a. How to find them (SKY and Tel).
    b. How they look (visual descriptions of each one with common
        scopes).
  C. Solar Observing.
  
IV. GOING DEEP-SKY
  A. Observing techniques.
    a. Dark adaptation and averted vision.
    b. proper magnification selection.
    c. star-hopping and right-angle sweep methods 
       (GOTO systems).
    d. Filters.
    e. Expectations (realistic and seeing with the mind's eye).

  B. Deep-sky targets (I suggest recommending Eicher's books:
  "DEEP-SKY OBSERIVING WITH SMALL TELESCOPES", 
   and  "THE UNIVERSE FROM YOUR BACKYARD").
    a. Double stars.
    b. Open Clusters (easiest DSO to see).
    c. Globular Clusters.
    d. Diffuse Nebulae.
    e. Planetary Nebulae.
    f. Galaxies (hardest and sometimes most disappointing).
    g. Messier, Herschel 400, Herschel II awards.