Astronomy for Autumn Evenings
Choose a starting date
Learning modes and locations may be different depending on the course start date. Please check the location of your chosen course and read our guide to learning modes and locations to help you choose the right course for you.
- Start Date: 02 Nov 2025End Date: 02 Nov 2025Sun (Daytime): 11:00 - 16:00In PersonFull fee £49.00 Senior fee £39.00 Concession £32.00
Please note: We offer a wide variety of financial support to make courses affordable. Just visit our online Help Centre for more information on a range of topics including fees, online learning and FAQs.
What is the course about?
What can you observe? We will explore planets we can identify at this time of year, (e.g. Saturn and Jupiter); stars including the Pleiades; and galaxies (e.g. M31 and M33).
What will we cover?
- Best observation times (e.g. early morning & sunset)
- The amateur axis – Plough, Polaris and Cassiopeia
- How Jupiter and Uranus will be at or near opposition.
- Remnants of the Summer Triangle
- From Autumn into Winter, including the Perseid meteor shower together with Orion and the other winter constellations
- Galaxies including Andromeda and Triangulum.
- Right Ascension and Declination
-Using equipment/Apps.
What will I achieve?
By the end of this course you should be able to...
- Point out to anyone, who wants to know, which is Saturn and which Jupiter.
- Enjoy looking at the more familiar current night sky
- Have an idea or two for things to see over the Autumn and Winter.
- Be more confident in using binoculars or a telescope.
- Decide whether to join an astronomical society.
- Know about sources of useful information.
What level is the course and do I need any particular skills?
A rudimentary knowledge of astronomy would be useful to help you get the most out of the course, particuarly if you have attended Astronomy: A Gentle Introduction. However, this is not essential, and the most important qualifications for attendance are an interest in the night sky and a willingness to engage respectfully and constructively in group discussions and exercises.
How will I be taught, and will there be any work outside the class?
Most of the teaching will be illustrated presentations, augmented by students’ questions and comments.
Are there any other costs? Is there anything I need to bring?
Bring a notepad and pen. There are no additional costs for the course.
When I've finished, what course can I do next?
HS316 Science Friday Lates with Radmila Topalovic: Navigating the Night Sky: Autumn/Winter
HS326 Science Friday Lates with Radmila Topalovic: Navigating the Night Sky: Spring/Summer
HS004 Cosmology: a study of the Universe
HS313 The Search for Life Beyond Earth.
Rad heads up Science & Engineering at Kaplan International College in London Bridge, having spent more than seven years at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich developing and delivering world-class education programmes. She holds a degree in Physics with Astrophysics and a PhD in Astrochemistry, and has taught physics, maths and astronomy for almost ten years. Her biggest passions are quantum physics and astrobiology. https://twitter.com/Rad_T
Please note: We reserve the right to change our tutors from those advertised. This happens rarely, but if it does, we are unable to refund fees due to this. Our tutors may have different teaching styles; however we guarantee a consistent quality of teaching in all our courses.