How to REALLY use a Telescope will help you choose the right telescope for you and your family. Factors discussed include cost, portability, the object you want to observe and price range. The course includes tips on choosing, assembling and using your telescope in a realistic and concrete way. We also discuss and show examples of what objects like Mercury, Venus, the Moon, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn look like through a beginner telescope. Included are observation tips and interesting facts about the objects you’ll observe. We also discuss larger telescopes in use by professional astronomers, both land-based and orbital. This Course includes great BONUS LESSONS: What on Earth is Astronomy?Mini-Lesson: EclipsesMini-Lesson: Meteor ShowersMini-Lesson: AuroraHow to REALLY Use a Telescope1. Objective & Warm-up activity2. Tips and tricks to finding and tracking objects in the sky3. How to pick the right telescope for your family4. How much to pay for a telescope5. What to look for in a telescope6. What to expect to see with a telescope7. Galileo and telescopes8. Magnification, resolution and clarity9. Gathering light and the telescopes aperture10. Comparing and contrasting reflecting and refracting telescopes11. Telescope accessories and Tripods12. The functions and uses of lenses13. Focal length and eyepieces14. Calculating the telescopes magnification ability15. Where to buy a telescope16. Assembling your telescope and getting help at Star parties17. Tips and tricks for assembling and configuring your telescope18. Using the telescope during the day19. Proper storage of your telescope20. A checklist for your first night out with the telescope21. How to find the planets with your telescope22. Adjusting for the Earths movement23. Cleaning the telescope24. Using a telescope with young children25. Managing expectations26. Observation tips and interesting facts about the Moon27. Observation tips and interesting facts about Mercury28. Observation tips and interesting facts about Venus29. Observation tips and interesting facts about Mars30. Observation tips and interesting facts about Jupiter31. Observation tips and interesting facts about Saturn32. Using a telescope with glasses33. Keeping your telescope from fogging up34. Using binoculars to look at the sky35. Using your naked eyes to look at the sky36. Recognizing the constellations37. Observing the Sun with a telescope38. Very large telescopes around the world39. Different kinds of light40. Space-based telescopes41. Radio telescopes42. Infrared telescopes43. Ultraviolet telescopes44. X-ray telescopes45. Test questions & Cross-curricular activities
