The AAA offers astronomy related courses at beginner and intermediate levels. Most meet weekly for six weeks. At this time classes are online via Zoom. Check course descriptions below.
The tuition for a 6-week course is $75 for AAA members, $85 for non-members.
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Registration opens three weeks before the start date and closes two weeks after the first class. Class members can review the material or catch up if they were absent by watching class recordings. Links to the recordings are sent to class members and posted in the class’ Google Classroom (GC) after each meeting. Recordings remain available for about four weeks after the course ends.
Astro News Hour #9
ZoomA FREE, bimonthly, single class about developments in astronomy.
Background presentation with Q&A and class discussion.
Feature- Gravitational Waves and their newest detections.
Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023, 7-8:15 PM. Click title for details.
Urban Astrophotography: Planetary Imaging, 2023
ZoomPhotographing planets, the sun, Solar System objects and processing the images.
Thursdays, 7-9 PM, Nov. 9, 16, 30; Dec. 7, 14, 21.
Non-AAA-members welcome.
Click course title for details.
ATOMS AND ASTRONOMY (Part 1)
Tuesday, Dec. 19, 7-9 PM
A FREE preview/review on atoms, radioactivity, half-life.
In preparation for subsequent classes starting Jan. on atoms as cosmic clocks.
Click title above for details.
Southern Skies
Single evening talk on Southern Hemisphere skies.
Thursday, Jan. 4, 2024. 7-9 PM online. Free.
Click title for details.
Atoms and Astronomy (Part 2): Atoms as Timekeepers
Jan. 16, 23, 30; Feb. 6, 2024. $50/$60
"The Universal Timekeepers: Reconstructing History Atom by Atom.'
Stable and radioactive isotopes act as cosmic clocks, even back to the Big Bang.
The course involves some mathematics.
A free, recorded refresher on chemistry, atoms, and radioactivity is provided.
Click title above for details.
Introduction to Night Sky Photography (2024)
Thursdays Jan 18, 25; Feb 1, 8, 22 29. 7–9 PM online. $75/$85
Learn how to capture top quality night sky images using only your DSL camera.
Includes review of image-processing software.
Click on title above for more details.
Refresher Class on the Amazing Gaia Satellite
Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2024, 7-8:30 PM, free to all
History, features, and science behind Europe's Gaia satellite. Review of parallax, photometry, spectra.
In preparation for the Feb. 13 monthly lecture on Gaia's newest findings.
Click title above for more information.
Accessing the class
Once registration is completed, a confirmation email is sent. It contains the link to the Google Classroom (GC) which is vital, containing a Welcome letter and the link to the Zoom classes. Immediately click on the GC link so you are added to the roster of the class.
Classes under construction or consideration
- Cosmology 101- Tuesdays, March 19, 26: April 2, 16, 23, 30. Relativity, Big Bang, and redshift measurements. Caosmic mysteries including alien life and and exoplanets around stars. With Matthias Schmidt and Dave Kiefer.
- Cosmology 102- Summer 2024. Advancement to Big Bang and universe’s evolution. Cosmic expansion and changes to H parameter. Standard Model for matter, forces, and essential constants. WMAP and other hot issues in cosmology. With Dave Kiefer and Matthias Schmidt.
- Touring the cosmos using Stellarium.
- Basics of Stars, Galaxies, and the Cosmos (formerly Astro 102) with Irene Pease, former AAA President and instructor. Wednesdays, March 20, 27; April 3, 17, 24; May 1
- Astrobiology
- Astrochemistry- April 23 – June 4, researcher from NSF’s NRAO (radio astronomy)
- Urban Astrophotography: Deep Space Imagining, with Mauri Rosenthal. Early 2024.
- Orientations to new telescope projects: Observatory (Bronx) and Remote Access (Texas). Scheduled as special events.
Got an idea for a class? Please let us know!
We’re eager to receive suggestions about classes, including topics that may not have been addressed yet. Also we encourage members to present individual talks or classes on subjects they are familiar with and would be willing to share with other members. Send an email to [email protected] with your suggestions and topics.
Past classes
Pricing
A request for a fee reduction due to hardship is welcome and should be sent to [email protected].