Faculty: David Whelan
Description: Views of the night sky are, and always have been, diverse and changing. Today, you do not have to be a scientist to be aware of the groundbreaking discoveries in physics and astronomy that continually challenge our modern worldview. To many of our ancestors, however, the stars were eternal, and the patterns that they made in the sky were an opportunity to preserve their oral histories and mythologies. In this course, we will take a look back at the stories that our ancestors handed down to us. We will also engage with some of the most modern astronomical equipment available for taking pictures of deep sky objects, so that we can see just how much our outlook has changed. Class will be held at night to allow us to observe the night sky. If possible, we will also take a short trip to a dark site to provide us some insight into what we have gained, and what we have lost, by becoming technologically advanced.
Meeting Information: 01/03/2022-01/25/2022; M-F 07:00PM – 11:59PM; IDEA Center, Room 301
Section Requisites: Instructor permission via e-mail is required
Course Fee: $350
Out-of-Pocket Expenses: N/A