Description:

This class will cover both modern astronomy (generally what we have learned since the invention of the telescope) and classical astronomy (what we can learn from the patterns of movement of the sun, moon, and stars for practical use like timekeeping). For modern astronomy, we will use the Apologia Exploring Creation with Astronomy as a guide to our solar system and beyond and for an overview of the history of space flight. For classical astronomy, we will use Signs and Seasons as a guide to the historical practices of observing the sky in ways that many of us no longer learn how to do. We’ll cover this classical portion of the class in the spring in hopes of some clear skies to make our own observations!

There will be no required homework for this class, but there will be a variety of optional activities to do at home, some of which will also be opportunities for students to present in class.