The Cincinnati Observatory is excited to roll out a new set of astronomy courses for the public beginning on Tuesday, June 25. Courses will be taught by the Observatory’s astronomer, Dr. Wes Ryle, utilizing 16 years of experience teaching astronomy and physics at Thomas More University. The courses are intended for members of the general public, ages 14 and older.
“I know from experience that there are a lot of people in the greater Cincinnati area that have an interest in astronomy and the sciences, but don’t have the time to enroll in a semester-long college course,” says Dr. Ryle. “These courses are the perfect opportunity for those individuals to take one night a week to learn something new.”
Courses will be grouped into a series of three meetings related to a common theme, though each class will be self-contained. The first three class series concentrates on learning about our nearest stellar neighbor, the Sun. The first meeting will focus on the Sun’s interior, the second on the Sun’s atmosphere, and the final class on how the Sun’s activity can affect the Earth.
Those with an observatory membership can sign up for an individual class at a reduced rate of $20 or for the entire three class series for $50. Non-members can pay $25 per class or $65 for the series. The first class will take place on Tuesday, June 25 at 7 p.m., followed by meetings on July 9 and July 16.
The courses will be offered by the Observatory throughout the remainder of the year and will focus on a variety of astronomical topics. Future series will focus on topics of interest like the solar system, star formation, and galaxies.
Classes will be capped at 30 participants, so early registration is recommended. Additional information and registration details can be found at https://www.cincinnatiobservatory.org/events/all-events-and-programs/ .
ABOUT THE CINCINNATI OBSERVATORY
The Cincinnati Observatory is known as ‘The Birthplace of American Astronomy.’ It houses one of the oldest working telescopes in the world and was the first public observatory in the western hemisphere. Visit www.cincinnatiobservatory.org for more details.
