Learning the night sky is like getting to know a new neighborhood. At first, it may seem big and confusing, but as you strike out and become more and more familiar with prominent landmarks, the day comes when you realize that the neighborhood is no longer new. It’s home.

Join us for monthly sessions as we get to know the night sky a little better. Participants will be introduced to prominent stars and constellations, where to look for them and how the motions of planet Earth cause them to appear to shift from hour to hour and month to month. You will receive a downloadable star map to help you make your way through the stars. We’ll learn a half dozen or so constellations every month and you will be invited to discuss your observations with the group as we each get to know the neighborhood a little better.

In July, we will look at a few more of the summer constellations, like Sagittarius (the archer), Lyra (the harp), Hercules (the champion), and Aquila (the eagle). There will be a heads up about one of the year’s best meteor showers (The Perseids) that peaks around August 11, with tips about how best to view it. The planets Jupiter and Saturn make a grand entrance into the evening sky this month, where they dominate the southeastern horizon.

Fee: $10 (plus HST) per person, per session (evening).