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[-=CROMAN=-]

Can anybody recommend a decent astronomy class in the Chicago area?

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Croman,

Unfortunately, the region is bereft of any solely dedicated astronomy classes/courses.

The Adler used to offer them many years ago, but no longer

One may take a class at a local community college, but with the added expenses, pre-requisites and requirements...it's not easy nor convenient.

There seems to be a void here...

...Hmmmmm

[Centaur]

Jan 29, 2011 20:58:18 GMT -6 -=CROMAN=- said:

Can anybody recommend a decent astronomy class in the Chicago area?

I took an Astronomy 101 course while I was in 7th grade during the spring of 1958. It was taught by the Chicago City Colleges with lectures on WTTW-TV11. Since I was not a high school graduate I could not enroll for credit, but I was allowed to monitor the course and order the text book and other material. It would really be great for others if this setup could be resurrected. Meanwhile, as Joe suggests, an astronomy course can still be taken at a community college. Harper College in Palatine has an observatory. They do have brief non-credit continuing education courses in astronomy with modest fees. Go to page 40 in their CE catalog, croman777, for more information: goforward.harpercollege.edu/uploaded/continuingeducation/Spring_2011_catalog.pdf

[patrickm]

Or just audit a class at NW, UC, or Triton!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Croman,

Evey once in awhile, we telescope facilitators at the Adler are offered some classes....and I'm thinking about taking in some of these learning opportunities...

www.adlerplanetarium.org/educate/pd

Geared primarily for teachers seeking accreditation, it may provide a good insight for non-educators and a foundation for aspiring astronomers.

[-=CROMAN=-]

Wow.. thanks for all of the information guys! I will definitely begin investigating what options are available to me. I contacted a man named Kevin Murphy who teaches beginner astronomy at Moraine Valley community in Palos. He is sending me information on courses he instructs as well as some contacts he has at mount lemmon in arizona ( probably overkill for me no but nice to know ) The Harper college info looks great! I am especially interested in the deep sky observation class!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

This is excellent news.

I hope you share your experience with us all here once you start classes...

[-=CROMAN=-]

I just signed up for the deep sky observation class! Just have to hope for clear skies on those nights. Is there any ritual dance for clear skies I should know about?

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Don't.....

...buy any new telescopic equipment!!

A guaranteed stretch of cloudiness will follow.

[Paulie pchris00]

I'm not surprised Centaur mentioned Harper College. It didn't escape my attention when I was there that they had an observatory.

This is something I've been thinking about often lately. I was thinking about adding a page to my blog, advertising private lessons/star parties. Hillary and I went to a planetarium show at Pierce Middle School in Merrillville last Friday, and I noticed they offer a five or six week introductory class for $69 for adults. I also contacted an organization that is a educational partnership between my dad's employer and labor union late last year about conducting an introductory class combined with observations. They are interested, but I haven't heard any commitment from them yet. I barely have any college credits to my name, but I think I've absorbed enough through my college astronomy classes, public lectures at universities, and experience watching the sky to put together a decent presentation for a novice crowd, and maybe make some money on the side.

I'm thinking about contacting local parks and libraries to see if they are interested in an astronomy program, and would be willing to do a season for free to establish myself, but what I'd really like to do is offer private star parties and astronomical discussion through my blog. If I go that route, what would be a fair price? What kind of content should I offer? Is it even a reasonable idea?