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DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20270119T180000
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DTSTAMP:20260922T180319Z
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UID:10000347-1800381600-1801944000@slobg.org
SUMMARY:Youth Observational Astronomy Workshop Series
DESCRIPTION:Calling all Aspiring Youth Astronomers!\n \nIn partnership with the Central Coast Astronomical Society\, and because of a generous grant offered by the Robert H. Janssen Foundation Youth & Youth Sports Fund\, we are offering a FREE youth astronomy program to High School students in grades 9-12. \nBecause space is limited\, students will complete a short application so we can learn more about their interest in astronomy and make sure the program is a good fit. No previous astronomy or telescope experience is required.  \nOver four 2-hour sessions (including a “dark-sky” exploration outside of the City to minimize light pollution)\, students will engage in activities that foster these assets: \n\nTelescope set up and operation\nGuided sky navigation using star charts and binoculars\nObserving planets\, the Moon\, star clusters\, galaxies\, and deep sky objects\nGuided sky navigation using star charts and binoculars\nObservational activities\n\n \nWho is this program for?\nYou do not need to know anything about astronomy or have used a telescope before. We’re looking for students who are curious about the night sky and excited to learn by doing. You’ll use binoculars\, work directly with telescopes\, learn to find objects yourself\, make observations\, and work alongside local astronomers. If you’ve ever looked up at the night sky and wished you knew what you were looking at or how to explore it for yourself\, we’d love to hear from you. \n  \nThe Youth Astronomy Workshop Series is taught over three weeks: \nWorkshop 1: Learn the Night Sky with Star Charts & Binoculars \nTuesday\, January 19\, 2027 \nStudents will learn how to orient themselves under the night sky\, identify bright stars and constellations\, understand basic sky motion and magnitude\, use star charts\, and begin star hopping. \nEach student will also receive a pair of 7×50 binoculars to use throughout the program and keep afterward. Students will learn how to focus them properly\, hold them steady\, scan the sky\, and use them with a star chart to locate objects. \nWorkshop 2: How Telescopes & Binoculars Work \nTuesday\, January 26\, 2027 \nStudents will work directly with several types of telescopes\, including refractors\, Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes\, and Dobsonian reflectors. \nThey will learn about aperture\, focal length\, eyepieces\, magnification\, field of view\, focusing\, and finders\, and will rotate through telescope stations where they can practice aiming\, focusing\, changing eyepieces\, and comparing views. \nWorkshop 3: Observe the Night Sky with Astronomers \nTuesday\, February 2\, 2027 \nStudents will begin learning how astronomers actually observe different types of objects\, including planets\, double stars\, open and globular clusters\, nebulae\, and galaxies. \nThey will compare views through binoculars and telescopes\, record what they observe\, and learn why what we see through a telescope can look very different from astrophotography images. \nField Trip: Dark-Sky Observing Night \nSaturday\, February 6\, 2027 at Santa Margarita Lake (weather permitting) \nThe final observing night gives students the chance to put everything they have learned together under darker skies. \nStudents will bring their binoculars and work with CCAS astronomers and telescopes to: \n\nidentify constellations\nlocate star clusters and Milky Way regions\npractice finding targets with binoculars\nhelp point and operate telescopes\ncompare different eyepieces and instruments\nobserve fainter nebulae\, galaxies\, and clusters that are difficult to see from town\n\n  \nWeather Backup Plan for Workshops\nBecause this is an observational astronomy program\, clear skies matter. If any of the first three Tuesday workshops are clouded out\, that session will move to the following Wednesday evening. Applicants must plan to keep both the scheduled Tuesday and the following Wednesday available. The Santa Margarita Lake observing night is also weather dependent. \n*The student must be able to attend all four sessions in order to be considered for the program.*\n \nWe want to hear directly from the students! Applications that are filled out by parents/guardians will not be considered. \nApplications for the Youth Astronomy program open September 21 at 9:00 am\, and close on October 26 at 11:59pm. Decisions will be made at the end of October\, and you can expect to hear from us at the beginning of November.\nIf you have any questions\, please email Faith Richter at faith@slobg.org. Thank you for your time and consideration\, and we are excited to read through your applications! \n  \n  \n\n\n                \n                        \n                            Youth Observational Astronomy Application\n                            All application information is kept confidential.\n\nIf you have any questions or concerns\, please contact Faith Richter at faith@slobg.org \n                        \n                        Parent/Guardian Contact Information(Required)Please provide at least 1 parent/guardian's contact information including name\, phone number\, and email.Student's Name\, Age\, and Grade(Required)What school do you go to?(Required)\n			\n					\n					SLO High School\n			\n			\n					\n					Mission Prep High School\n			\n			\n					\n					Morro Bay High School\n			\n			\n					\n					Atascadero High School\n			\n			\n					\n					Templeton High School\n			\n			\n					\n					Paso Robles High School\n			\n			\n					\n					Arroyo Grande High School\n			\n			\n					\n					Nipomo High School\n			\n			\n					\n					Central Coast New Tech High School\n			\n			\n					\n					Other\n			Can you attend all 4 workshop sessions?(Required)\n			\n					\n					Yes\n			\n			\n					\n					No\n			Are you able to attend the dark-sky stargazing event at Santa Margarita Lake on the 4th workshop date?(Required)\n			\n					\n					Yes\n			\n			\n					\n					No\n			Will a parent or guardian be able to provide transportation and remain onsite during all four workshop sessions?(Required)\n			\n					\n					Yes\n			\n			\n					\n					No\n			Do you currently have access to binoculars or a telescope that you can use for astronomy?(Required)\n			\n					\n					No\n			\n			\n					\n					Sometimes\n			\n			\n					\n					Yes\n			Why would you like to participate?(Required)Tell us about something in science\, space\, or astronomy that you have wondered about or wanted to understand better.(Required)By the end of these workshops\, what would you like to be able to do on your own that you can't do now?(Required)How much opportunity have you had to do hands-on astronomy outside of school?(Required)\n			\n					\n					Never\n			\n			\n					\n					Once or twice\n			\n			\n					\n					A few times\n			\n			\n					\n					Quite a bit\n			These workshops are very hands-on. You'll use binoculars\, set up and operate telescopes\, find objects yourself\, record observations\, and work with astronomers. What part of that sounds most interesting to you\, and why?(Required)If weather requires it\, the January 19\, January 26\, or February 2 workshops may be moved to January 20\, January 27\, or February 3. Can you keep all three Wednesday backup dates available from 6:00-8:00 PM?(Required)\n			\n					\n					Yes\n			\n			\n					\n					No\n			Can you follow instructions and participate safely in a dark outdoor setting?(Required)\n			\n					\n					Yes\n			\n			\n					\n					No
URL:https://slobg.org/event/youth-observational-astronomy/
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