Astronomy GCSE

In the 2003/2004 academic year I taught an Astronomy for GCSE evening course as part of the adult education classes at Barton Peveril College, Eastleigh, Hampshire. The online notes for the course are kept here as a historical reference.

Some useful links:

NB: Forthcoming lessons are subject to change, and in the event of a clear evening an observing session will take place rather than the intended lesson. Please remember to bring warm clothes when it's a clear night!

Neil - click here for your coursework photos

Lesson 1 - 25/11/03 Observing the Universe Pt. 1
Telescope practical handout
Lesson 2 - 02/12/03 Observing the Universe Pt. 2
Multiwavelength Astronomy talk and handout
Lesson 3 - 09/12/03 Observing Session
No course material this week
Lesson 4 - 15/12/03 Planet Earth
Lesson 5 - 06/01/04 The Celestial Sphere
  • Two sets of handouts (OHP copies, and a handout)
  • Patrick Moore Questions
Lesson 6 - 13/01/04 The Moon and Eclipses
Lesson 7 - 20/01/04 Observing the Solar System - History and Concepts
  • Cosmos revision videos for lessons 4 & 6
  • Cosmos video
  • Reference page
Lesson 8 - 27/01/04 The Solar System - Gravity and the Terrestial Planets
  • Reference page
  • Handouts(4): Solar system distances, Rotation of Mercury, Formation of Mercury, Terrestial Planets presentation
Lesson 9 - 03/02/04 The Solar System - Asteroids and Jovian Planets
  • Reference Page
  • Handouts(1): Asteroids, Jupiter and Saturn;
  • Kepler's law Questions
Lesson 10 - 10/02/04 The Solar System - Comets and Meteor Showers
  • Reference Page
  • Handouts(3): Discoveries of the Outer Planets; Uranus and Neptune; Pluto, Comets and Meteor Showers
  • Coursework preparation, Exam choice
Lesson 11 - 24/02/04 Coursework Session
No course material this week
Lesson 12 - 02/03/04 Stars - Constellations, Magnitudes, Local Stars
  • Reference Page
  • Handouts(2): Constellations; Parallax
  • Meteor showers question sheets
Lesson 13 - 09/03/04 Stars - Variable Stars and The Sun
Lesson 14 - 16/03/04 Observing Session
No course material this week
Lesson 15 - 23/03/04 Stars - Stellar Evolution
  • Reference Page
  • Handouts(2): Spectra; Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram and Magnitudes
Lesson 16 - 20/04/04 Galaxies - Our Galaxy
  • Reference Page
  • Handouts(1): Nebulae; Black Holes; Exoplanets; Milky Way
  • HR diagram and magnitude questions
Lesson 17 - 27/04/04 Galaxies - Galaxy Types and Hubble's Law
Lesson 18 - 04/05/04 Cosmology
  • Reference Page
  • Handouts(1): Cosmology
  • Expansion of the Universe questions
Lunar Eclipse
Lesson 19 - 11/05/04 Space Exploration and Measuring Time
  • Space Exploration talk - ppt, web
  • Handouts(2): Measuring Time, Space Exploration
  • Past paper questions (1997, 1998 papers)
Comet Q4 just visible
Lesson 20 - 18/05/04 Revision
Covering 2001 paper
Best night to observe Comet Q4
Lesson 21 - 08/06/04 Mock Exam
Transit of Venus!
Lesson 22 - 15/06/04 Open Session