This course provides students who have successfully completed an introductory course in astronomy with the skills necessary to participate in and contribute to observational programs in astronomy. The course emphasizes the practical and computational skills used to make precise measurements of astronomical phenomena. Students work at Grainger Observatory, located on the Exeter campus, and study the work in progress at other observatories and research centers. The structure of the course depends on the instructor. However, here are the generalizations that can be made.
All courses meet four times a week during the day.
There is no fifth class meeting in recognition of the extra time spent out at the observatory. The class does not have a textbook in the traditional sense, however, there is a collection of materials that the instructors have put together to be purchased at the bookstore. There may also be an observing journal. This class uses the Sky Watcher's Handbook as the textbook. Students should find this book helpful in choosing what projects to work on for the independent project.