Astronomy Classes
"Learning the night sky" presentations
David Fuller offers astronomy presentations to libraries and other organizations that offer informal education opportunities.
These are programs that teach attendees the basics to get started with night sky understanding:
- Brief history of important astronomy figures
- Magnitudes and Measurements
- Fun and memorable constellation mythology videos
- An overview of that season's night sky, and easily found objects within it
- Information on light pollution
The presentations are suitable for ages 14 and up, and will enable attendees to search for and find the brightest stars and constellations for themselves, easily. No telescope or previous night sky knowledge is required. These are fun, informative and engaging. Check out what one of the adult services librarians had to say recently:
"Thank you for a terrific program! We learned a lot and I...became aware of the topic of light pollution which was very interesting to me. The patrons all loved your presentation and you got all 5’s (out of 5) on the evaluation. Most wanted you to come back soon. I agree that you should come back... Thanks too for the information on the telescope."
Presentation schedule for 2015
Where |
City |
When |
| Plum Creek Nature Center | Beecher, IL | Jan 28 @7:30 pm |
| Plum Creek Nature Center | Beecher, IL | Feb 28 @7:30 pm |
| Forked Creek - Butcher Lane Access | Wilmington, IL | March 25 @7:30 pm |
| Eisenhower Public Library | Harwood Heights, IL | April 9 @7:00 pm |
| LaGrange Public Library | LaGrange, IL | April 27 @7:00 pm |
| Woodridge Public Library | Woodridge, IL | April 28 @7:30 pm |
| South Chicagoland Amateur Astronomers | Wilmington, IL | August 14 @8:30 pm |
| Thomas Ford Memorial Library | Western Springs, IL | September 16 @7:00 pm |
| South Chicagoland Amateur Astronomers | Wilmington, IL | September 18 @7:30 pm |
| Eisenhower Public Library | Harwood Heights, IL | September 24 @7:00 pm |
| Peotone High School - Lunar Eclipse | Peotone, IL | September 27 @7:00 pm |
| Plum Creek Nature Center | Beecher, IL | October 21 @7:00 pm |
| Shorewood Troy Public Library | Shorewood, IL | November 10 @6:30 pm |
| Forked Creek - Butcher Lane | Wilmington, IL | November 18 @7:00 pm |
| Plum Creek Nature Center | Beecher, IL | December 16 @7:00 pm |
Past presentation schedule for 2014
Where |
City |
When |
| Shorewood Troy Public Library | Shorewoord, IL | February 25 RESCHEDULED (see below) |
| Plum Creek Nature Center | Beecher IL | April 8 @ 7:30 pm |
| Lisle Library District | Lisle, IL | April 15 @ 7:00 pm |
| Justice Library | Justice, IL | May 8 @ 6:30 pm |
| Michiana Star Party (LP-AA) | Vandalia, MI | May 31 @ 2:00 pm |
| Shorewood-Troy Public Library | Shorewood, IL | June 19 @ 7:00 pm |
| Fountaindale Library | Bolingbrook, IL | July 22 @ 7:00 pm |
| South Holland Public Library | South Holland, IL | July 24 @ 7:00 pm |
| Prairie Skies Star Party (LP-AA) | Kankakee, IL | Sept 20 @ 2:00 pm |
| Lagrange Public Library | LaGrange IL | Sept 29 @ 7:00 pm |
| Plum Creek Nature Center | Beecher IL | Sept 30 @ 7:30 pm |
| Justice Public Library | Justice IL | Oct 2 @ 6:30 pm |
| Wilbur Wright College (LP-GP) | Chicago IL | Oct 6 @ 2:30 pm |
| Forked Creek Forest Preserve | Wilmington IL | Oct 21 @ 7:30 pm |
| White Oak Library District | Romeoville, IL | Nov 6 @ 6:30 pm |
| Forked Creek Forest Preserve | Wilmington IL | Dec 3 @ 7:30 pm |
Past presentation schedule for 2013
Where |
City |
When |
| New Lenox Public Library | New Lenox, IL | February 28 @ 6:30 pm |
| Bourbonnais Public Library | Bourbonnais, IL | June 4 @ 7:00 pm |
| Acorn Public Library | Oak Forest, IL | June 13 @ 7:00 pm |
| Lemont Public Library | Lemont, IL | July 31 @ 7:00 pm |
| Shorewood-Troy Library | Shorewood, IL | August 21 @ 7:00 pm |
| New Lenox Public Library | New Lenox, IL | Late summer (Date/time TBD) |
| Stickney-Forest View Public Library | Stickney, IL | September 25 @ 6:30 pm |
Past presentations in 2012
Where |
City |
When |
| Steger/South Chicago Heights Library | South Chicago Heights, IL | July 19, 2012 @ 6:30 pm |
| Kankakee Public Library | Kankakee, IL | February 28, 2012 |
| Willowhaven Interpretive Center | Bourbonnais Park District, Kankakee IL | March 27, 2012 |
| Prairie Skies Star Party * | Camp Shaw-Waw-Nah-See, Kankakee IL | Sept 15, 2012 |
| Manhattan-Elwood Public Library * | Manhattan, IL | October 11, 2012 |
| Steger/South Chicago Heights Library * | South Chicago Heights, IL | October 25, 2012 |
| Acorn Public Library * | OakForest, IL | November 29, 2012 |
Past presentations, 2011
Peotone Public Library, October 20, 2011 (free to the public, registration required)
Astrofest Outreach Star Party, Starved Rock State Park, August 29, 2011 (free to the public)
David Fuller is a professional speaker available to talk to most any group or organization about how to learn the night sky. Please contact him for availability and fees by email - use the prefix "dave" then address it to @eyesonthesky.com (helps avoid spammers that way).