Starting in September, a 1-unit astronomy seminar will accompany Foothill College’s popular beginning course, Astronomy 10B: Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe.

Astronomy 105: Astronomy for Recreation will be an overview of astronomy for those looking for more ways to enjoy the cosmos. It will be offered 1:40-2:30 p.m. Mondays starting Sept. 26. No background in science or special equipment will be required. An optional Friday evening session at the college observatory will be available for students in the course.

The seminar will cover:

• The best Web sites for astronomy knowledge, pictures and observing help.

• The best places in the Bay Area to look through a telescope.

• Family Astronomy: fun, hands-on astronomy projects to do with your children or grandchildren.

• Constellation lore and constellation finding: using a handy star-finder wheel.

• Astronomy and science fiction (movies and books): the good, the bad and the ugly.

• Eclipses and eclipse chasing: where and when to go.

• Buying and using binoculars or a telescope.

• Local organizations and projects in which to become involved.

• Getting your mind around the big astronomy issues in the news: black holes, cannibal galaxies, the big bang and dark matter.

To take Astronomy 105, students must sign up for Astronomy 10B at the same time or must have taken 10B within the past three years. Astronomy 10B, which is designed for non-

science majors and does not require math, will be available during the day and in the evening.

Astronomy 105 is especially recommended for students who are retired or working part time and interested in spending more time exploring their personal interests in astronomy.

Instructor Andrew Fraknoi, who appears frequently on Bay Area radio programs explaining science in everyday language, will teach both courses. His Physics for Poets class recently won the national Innovation of the Year Award of the League for Innovation in the Community Colleges.

For more information, visit www.foothill.fhda.edu/ast/ast105.htm. This site has a link for registration information.