The Penticton branch of the Okanagan Centre of the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada is hosting a workshop for telescope owners who would like to learn how to better explore the night sky.
The Jan. 30 gathering at the Penticton campus of the Okanagan College will feature four stations displaying different types of telescopes with demonstrations by society members.
As well as learning more about how to use the telescopes, people interested in getting into astronomy can use the workshop to help decide what kind of telescope to purchase.
Later in the spring another gathering is being planned where participants will be able to bring their own telescopes for assistance in setting them up, and later join in a night sky gathering to use them to explore the spring sky.
In addition to the telescope workshop, the Jan. 30 evening will feature a special New Observers to Visual Astronomy (NOVA) presentation by outreach director Colleen O91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™Hare, which will feature the topics How to Use a Planisphere (or Star Finder) and Navigating with the Big Dipper.
A free Planisphere, which is a star chart with adjustable flat disks that rotate to display the visible stars for any time and date of the year, will be provided to all participants.
One of the most familiar constellation patterns among the stars is the Big Dipper or Ursa Major. The second part of the NOVA mini-session will explain how the stars of the Big Dipper can be used as a starting point to locate and identify other wonders of the sky.
The Jan. 30 gathering will take place at 7:15 p.m. in Room CO2 of the Okanagan College Penticton campus.
More information on all aspects of the society91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s activities can be found on their website at www.ocrasc.ca.
