Why This Class

At some point, your student has probably asked you a question or two about outer space: How many stars are there? How big is the Milky Way? What is a black hole? As you know, these aren’t easy questions to answer. This course helps by taking your student on an introductory tour of the marvels and mysteries of astronomy.

Mentors in this course begin by showing students how astronomers locate and study the stars and constellations of the night sky. Next, students learn the characteristics of objects including the Sun, distant galaxies, black holes, quasars, and solar flares. Students also explore how light and distance determine whether a celestial object is visible to the naked eye or requires state-of-the-art technology to view—and learn how to spot some of those objects themselves.

By the end of this course, students expand their awareness of the natural world well beyond planet Earth. They feel inspired by a new level of fascination about the universe to continue exploring its unanswered questions.

Overarching Questions

How do we organize and understand the sky above us?

What is light and how do we use it to see distant objects?

What is the nature of the Sun? Of the moon? Of stars?

How do stars change as they age?

What is a galaxy and how does it form?