Practical Astronomy for Beginners Warrumbungle Mountain Motel Timor Rd Coonabarabran 14- 16 October 2011 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.

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. Cabin style accomodation is provided at The Warrumbungle Mountain Motel.

WORKSHOP PROGRAM Day 1 Arrive and Registration  (Mountain Motel) Dinner 8PM: 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 & how they work 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 1:30pm Solar Observing (Warrumbungle Observatory) 2:30pm 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 8pm: 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 Visit to Siding Spring Observatory