For general observing, one should check the On-line Calendars to see if there are any Solar System events of interest. Also check the circumstances of the Moon that might hinder observation of Aurora, Comets, Deep Sky Objects, and Meteor Showers from your observation site. Planning really enhances your observing session. Don't forget to check the Clear Clock Sky, Forecast, Weather Radar and dress appropriately! Syllabus Homework Astronomy: Journey To The Cosmic Frontier, 5th ed           by John (Jack) D. Fix (University of Iowa, University of Alabama-Huntsville) When you look out on a clear dark night, away from city lights, you are looking out into the Universe. This course will help you to make a connection between what you can see and some basic physical principles which govern the world and universe that you are a part of. You are an integral part of the universe! You are made of star stuff! The Hydrogen and Helium atoms where made in the first few seconds of big bang. Atoms heavier than Hydrogen, necessary for everything on the earth, including our bodies, were forged in the firey cores of stars and supernova explosions eons ago. Understanding the world about us is a life-long pursuit. In this course we only get a start in the form of an overview. John D. Fix writes in the preface of his fine textbook, "The book provides a complete description of current astronomical knowledge, neither at an extremely technical level nor at a level that fails to communicate the quantitative nature of physical science." The course is a lot of work, but it's also a lot of fun. We will be looking at the night skies with our naked eyes, binoculars and with small telescopes from the MCC campus grounds. You will gain some understanding of what everything is all about! Read the text, work the problems, pose your questions, and learn about this truly awesome universe and our connections to it.   American Astronomical Society (AAS) Asteroids Astrology versus Astronomy Astronomical Calculations Astronomical Calendars Astronomical Data Astronomy/Astrophysics on the Internet Astronomy Clubs, Societies, Associations and Organizations Astronomy: Journey to the cosmic Frontier Astronomy Picture of the Day Aurora Automated Telescopes Binary Stars Binoculars Books Comets Conferences, Lectures, Meetings & Star Parties Constellations Cosmology Dark Skies, the Need For Deep Sky Objects Double and Multiple Stars Earth Eclipses Educational Resources Galaxies General Relativity Gravitational-Wave Astronomy Hubble Space Telescope Images Introductory Astronomy at MCC Iowa State University, Dept. of Physics & Astronomy Journals Messier Objects Meteors Moon Naked Eye Observing Neutron Stars & Black Holes News Observing Resources Occultations On-Line Courses in Astronomy Planets Planetary Maps Radio Astronomy Satellites Science Magazines Science versus Psuedoscience Sketcher's Astronomical Sketches Software Solar System Sounds of the Universe Space Weather Star Catalogs Star Charts StarDate Sun Tasking the Educational Observatory ATFs Telescopes Time Variable Stars Weather What's Happening in the Sky White Dwarfs   © Copyright 2009 - Samuel J. Wormley   by swormley1@mchsi.com