Note: AstroSchool is Closed for the Summer!
Astroschool is usually held on the 2nd Thursday of most months at the Robinson Nature Center. Start and end times vary, but are approximately 6:30 to 8:30pm.
The Robinson Nature Center
6692 Cedar Lane
Columbia, MD 21044
Thursday, March 14, 2024 from 6:30 to 8:30
Topic: What it takes to be an Astrophotographer
Presenter: Jim Johnson, Former HAL President
Thursday, February 8th from 6:30 to 8:30
Topic: How Our Moon Was Formed
Presenter: David Stein
The formation of our nearest neighbor, the Moon, has long been the source of much speculation and debate. Did it break off from the young Earth? Was it a captured asteroid? Was it a planet that failed to form? Was it the result of a massive impact and, if so, with what object? (Well, at least we know it’s not made of cheese and there is no Man in the Moon!)
Thursday, January 11, 2024 from 6:30 to 8:30
Topic: ZWO Seestar S50 – All-in-One Smart Telescope
Presenter: Grace Coventry, HAL’s 2nd VP
This month, Grace Coventry will provide a presentation on the new ZWO Seestar S50 smart digital telescope that HAL has recently acquired. Topics to be discussed include:
- The smart digital telescope paradigm (compared to traditional optical telescopes)
- Seestar specifications overview
- How the Seestar compares with other digital telescopes on the market
- Different observing modes on the Seestar, with sample images
- Seestar image post-processing
- What the Seestar does well, and not so well
- Final thoughts
- Q&A
Join us for a lively look into a revolution in electronically assisted astronomy, and what it could mean for the future.
Thursday, November 9th from 6:30 to 8:30
Topic: Solar System in Your Pocket
Presenter: Cosmic Storyteller Bob Savoy
| How far apart is everything in our solar system? It can be hard to imagine, but this activity can help! The relative distances between the orbits of the planets will be illustrated. Images in textbooks often depict the planets squeezed together, but this model shows how far apart they are, especially beyond Mars. |
Thursday, October 12th from 6:30 to 8:30
Topic: Black Holes
Presenter: Outerspace Bob Savoy
Listen to the cosmic storyteller, Outerspace Bob, as he expounds on the enigmatic and elusive black holes that are found in nearly every large galaxy.