For students in grades 4 through 9, this Introduction to Astronomy for beginners is a workshop that will have you literally exploring outer space on your own computer. We will learn to use a planetarium program that you can download for free. Explore the solar system, stars, constellations, and planets.

We will look at various meteorites, rocks from outer space that are older than the Earth! Explore the geology of the planets and moons, and learn how one big impact changed life on Earth.

We will explore current events in space science with rovers and space probes, NASA, SpaceX, Blue Origin, Virgin Galactic, and others. Also learn about the milestones in space exploration and where we are headed in the future.

Learn about the tools of astronomy and the milestones in discovery of how the universe works. Calculate distances in Light Years. Learn about reflector vs. refractor telescopes, and how solar telescopes safely view the hydrogen-helium fusion on the surface of the sun.

Workshop meets at Sci-Tech in Natick FOUR times, 1.5 hours each meeting, for a total of 6 hours. There is an ONLINE version of this workshop given at a different time.

In-person workshop attendees will get to handle meteorites, enjoy a full-dome planetarium show, handle models of rovers and rockets, look through telescopes, and even touch a piece of the moon! You will get a small meteorite to keep.

On-line workshop attendees will get to download a planetarium software for free, and we will mail to you a small meteorite that you can keep. We may be able to let you use a remote telescope account. Sorry you won't be able to touch and hold other things. If you are ever in the Natick area, stop in and we will make it up to you.