* Are you still in mourning for Pluto?
* Did you know that we have now found over 800 planets orbiting other stars, including several that are in zones where life might be possible?
* Do you hope that we will find alien civilizations whose economies are in better shape than ours?
* Do you enjoy seeing the amazing close-up images of alien worlds on a giant screen?
Then you may want to take Astronomy 10A at Foothill College in the coming Winter Quarter. The full title is "An Introduction to the Planets& Life Out There" (but it's affectionately known as "Planets for Poets").
Share the adventures of the Curiosity Rover as it searches for evidence of flowing water on the planet Mars. Learn about "Makemake" and the other dwarf planets at the edge of the Solar System that helped get Pluto kicked out of the planet club. Get up to speed on the water geysers erupting on one of Saturn’s moons (and take a peek at Saturn's kinky rings). This is an exciting time for planet fans, and we invite you to spend 11 weeks starting in January being part of the excitement.
Astronomy 10A is an introductory course for non-science majors, requiring no background in science or math. Basic ideas are introduced with analogies, examples from real life, the latest color
images shown on a big screen, and touches of humor. The instructor, Andrew Fraknoi -- who was the 2007 Professor of the Year for California--- specializes in explaining scientific ideas in everyday language.
The course is offered at Foothill College both during the day (Mon, Tues, and Thursday, from 12 noon to 1:25 pm) and in the evening (Tues and Thurs, from 6:00 to 8:20 pm) in room 5015 (with a terrific new audio-visual set-up). An optional hands-on lab class (Astronomy 10L) accompanies each course.
Winter Quarter at Foothill starts January 7 and 8, 2013. Registration begins at the end of November for new students. Registration fees are very reasonable. Adults who do not need a grade can make arrangements with the instructor once they have registered and attended.
To enroll, please go to the college web site at:http://www.foothill.edu/admissions.php or go to the admissions center on campus. If you prefer to see the course in action first, just come to the first class Jan 7 or 8 in room 5015.
For more information on the Foothill Astronomy Program or the instructor, see:www.foothill.edu/ast
