Practical Astronomy for Beginners Warrumbungle Mountain Motel Timor Rd Coonabarabran 22- 24 October 2010 Phone Peter Starr at Warrumbungle Observatory, 0488 425 112 email: starr_peter@hotmail.com

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Do you own a telescope that is gathering dust in the shed? Not sure how to set up your telescope? Considering purchasing a telescope but not sure what to buy? Want to learn how find planets nebulae and galaxies and navigate around the sky? Want to learn some basic astronomy? Or just want to Observe the dark Skies over Coonabarabran. This is the course for you!

Warrumbungle Observatory in conjunction with the Warrumbungle Mountain Motel is conducting a telescope workshop  over 2 days and evenings in conjunction with the Coonabarabran Festival of the Stars. Bring your own telescope and SLR Camera, or use ours. Visit Siding Spring Open Day and have a close up look at Australia's largest optical telescopes and meet astronomers.

The course is hosted by Peter Starr, owner of Warrumbungle Observatory and former Manager of Siding Spring Observatory. The course is desined for the novice but those with more experience are welcome to share their experiences and have a great time observing the dark skies of Coonabarabran. Cost of course is $250 and includes course notes, and meals outlined in the program below. Cabin style accomodation is provided at The Warrumbungle Mountain Motel at a discount rate. Single  $tba per night Double $tba per night 3 Share 4 Share

WORKSHOP PROGRAM Day 1 5:30 Arrive and Registration  (Mountain Motel) 6:30pm Festival of the Stars Event - Science in the Pub, Royal Hotel, John St Coonabarabran. Two astronomers debate a hot topic in astronomy over a beer or two or three. Plenty of audience participation nd prizes. Entry Approx $5 Dinner Available at the Pub $18 Late: Night Sky Viewing through telescopes provided or bring your own at Warrumbungle Observatory. Day 2 8am Breakfast Served (Mountain Motel) 9am Lectures: Telescopes (Mountain Motel) Types & Designs Mounts Aligning Telescopes 10:30am Morning Tea Served (Mountain Motel) 11am Lecture Telescopes Continued (Mountain Motel) Tracking Accessories Purchasing a telescope 12:30 pm Lunch Served (Mountain Motel) 1:15pm Solar Observing (Warrumbungle Observatory) 2pm Lecture Basic Astronomy & Navigation (Mointain Motel) Our place in the universe Celestial coordinates and find your way around the night sky Magnitudes & astronomical distances Motions of the planets Astrophotography 3:30pm Afternoon Tea served (Mountain Motel) 4:45pm Workshop (Warrumbungle Observatory) Setting up your own telescope 6:30pm Dinner served and a talk by an astronomer. Speaker TBA Late: Night observing and astrophotography till late at Warrumbungle Observatory Day 3 8am Breakfast served (Mountain Motel) 9am Lectures: (Mountain Motel) The Big Bang Life & Death of Stars 12:30pm - 4pm Festival of the Stars Event: Siding Spring Observatory Open Day 7pm Festival of the Stars Event: Bart Bok Lecture -  Coonabarabran Public School, Speaker, TBA.