We are pleased to offer the following optional courses. These courses are aimed at beginners and are very informal and practical in nature. Their availability is of course, subject to the weather, your plans and also our commitments. You can either request them when you book or while you're here. We don't charge you until you've had the course. The times quoted are approximate. We do not 'clock watch' so we're confident you'll feel you've had value for money. You can stop the session anytime you wish but the minimum chargeable time is one hour.
NB. It may be necessary to share a facility or 'at the telescope' courses with other guests.

Visual observing. Help and guidance. For groups of up to 4 people. Time - up to 3 hours maximum. Cost £16 per hour.

The constellations Finding objects What to see in the night sky and a tour of the nights best objects Choosing the best magnification Observing techniques and the use of filters to enhance observations.

Imaging deep sky objects with a digital SLR camera. Time needed 1 - 2 hours. Cost £20 per hour.
The aim is to capture all the images necessary, of one deep sky object, from which a good quality image could later be produced.

Telescope preparation and Go-To set-up Attachment of the camera to telescope Camera set up Optional SLR camera control and focusing via a laptop* Manual focusing Target finding and auto guider set-up Exposure
Our Canon 350D, autoguider and laptop, are used for this course.
*Cameras supported by DSLR Focus only. eg Canon 300D, 350D.

Imaging the Moon and planets with an Imaging Source DFK 21AU04.AS. Time needed approx 1hr. Cost £20 per hour.
The aim is to capture an AVI sequence, of one planet, from which a good quality image could later be produced.

Telescope preparation and Go-To set-up Attachment to telescope Connection to laptop and camera set up via capture software Target finding and Focusing Exposure Our camera and laptop are used for this course.
All of the techniques used with this camera are relevant with webcams.

Image processing - basics and beyond. Time needed 1 - 2 hours. Cost £16 per hour.

Can be specific to either deep sky, or planetary images How to use Registax or Deep Sky Stacker Getting the most from your images using Photoshop CS. Can cover adjusting colour, levels, curves, sharpening, masking, etc. etc.


An informal talk on astronomy. Per lodge. Time needed about 1hour. Cost £16.

With a slide show Plenty of opportunity for questions or discussions Can be great fun! Ideal if the weather doesn't co-operate.

How to set-up and use your telescope. Time needed 1 hour. Cost £16 per hour.

If polar alignment is a mystery or your Go-To Does-Not, then bring your telescope and we'll try and help Can include how to colimate ( Newtonian reflectors) Or anything else you'd like help or advice with.

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