Skill Course in Observational Astronomy

Skill Course in Observational Astronomy

(Online Theory Sessions + Offline Practical Sessions with Large Professional Telescopes and Professional Astronomy Equipment)

Duration: 3 Months Online on Sundays + 2 Months Offline Practical (WEEKENDS ONLY)

Starts From: 02 Aug 2026, 07:00 PM (Every Sunday Evening)

Every Sunday, a 2-hour lecture will be conducted for 10 weeks, followed by 3 on-field practical sessions at our observatory, where you will get hands-on experience with large telescopes and heavy equipment.

HIGHLIGHTS:

 • Learn to observe the night sky like an expert

 • Mounting of a large professional telescope

 • Hunt deep-sky objects

 • Astrophotography using professional equipment, mounts, DSLRs, and cellphones (with post-processing)

 • Recording and processing observational and infrared astronomy data

 • Understanding sky maps and coordinate systems

And much more to learn and explore! Kindly read the complete details.

Course Details:

Medium of Course: Online + On-field practicals with telescopes and professional astronomy equipment

Course Start Date:

 • Online: August to October (First day of session is August 02, 2026)

 • Offline: October to November (At our observatory)

  Online Course Timing: Every Sunday, 7 PM to 9 PM

  Duration: 3 Months

  Language of Course: English

  On-field Practicals Location: Outskirts of Mumbai (will be conducted after the online course ends)

 • Only Online Lectures: ₹1,999/- per person. (Does not include offline practical session fees).

 • Complete Course Cost: ₹7,999/- for complete tuition fees, on-field practicals, food, stay, telescope handling, and guidance sessions from certified astronomers. (Avg. only ₹1,599/- per month for 5 months)

 • Early Bird Offer: ₹7,499/- for the first 10 students for complete tuition fees, on-field practicals, food, stay, telescope handling, and guidance sessions from certified astronomers. (Avg. only ₹1,499/- per month for 5 months)

Welcome to complete guidance for taking admission to the Skill Course in Observational Astronomy.

Throughout the course, you will learn many aspects related to observational astronomy. But let us first understand what observational astronomy is basically all about.

Have you ever looked up at the night sky and wondered what those stars could be? Whether what you are looking at is surely a star, or perhaps a planet? Observational astronomy is all about observing and keeping data of celestial objects. It’s as simple as that!

How is this different from stargazing?

Well, stargazing is looking up at the night sky and admiring the beauty of celestial objects. Say you go for a weekend getaway for a stargazing session on the outskirts of Mumbai. If you observe stars, planets, and constellations for a day, you can call yourself a stargazer.

Astronomers, however, are those who study the sky on a regular basis. If you study something as simple as the phases of the Moon every day for a month and understand how the Moon revolves around the Earth, you are already on course to becoming an observational astronomer. What is more important here is keeping data. You can simply note down at what time you saw the Moon and at how many degrees. Note the phase of the Moon or take a photo of the Moon every day! After keeping such data, you truly enter the field of observational astronomy.

An advanced observational astronomer is one who can hunt deep-sky objects, use heavy mounts and telescopes, perform visible to IR imaging, and much more.

Will there be mathematical calculations in this course?

NO! There won’t be any complex calculus in our course. This course purely focuses on observations. Small sums like addition, subtraction, and division will be discussed, which any 4th grader can easily do. Calculations make up hardly 1% of the course material.

Eligibility:

You don’t need to be from a science background at all! You can be from any field: lawyers, doctors, office clerks, college students, school teachers, and corporate employees are just a few examples of people who have previously taken this course.

Min Age:

18+ (Ages 14 to 18 can join with a parent’s permission letter).

This course involves the use of a professional telescope provided by us. Handling these scopes might get technical as well as heavy for children below age 14; hence, parent permission is needed for teens, and children below 14 are not allowed. We have telescopes as big as 6 feet in height. Children need a small ladder or stool to view from them.

Topics Covered in the Course:

Online Sessions: 7 PM to 9 PM Every Sunday (Starting August 2026)

 1. Introduction to Astronomy and its various fields. Hobby, Scope, Career, Jobs, and Making Active/Passive Income from Astronomy.

 2. In-depth Solar System: Our solar system is more than 8 planets and the Sun. There are Trojans, quasi-satellites, comets, asteroids, and much more to know.

 3. Stars and Stellar Evolution: How stars are born, evolve, and end their lives.

 4. Constellations and Zodiac Signs.

 5. Eclipses, Lunar Phases, and Nakshatras.

 6. Sky Maps and Coordinate Systems.

 7. a) Astronomical Data Collection related to Observational Astronomy | b) The Sky Above.

 8. Types of Telescopes, Mounts, and Eyepieces.

 9. Astrophotography Equipment and Setup.

 10. Astronomy Terms, Astrophotography Software, Remote Astrophotography | Revision Session.

Terms and Conditions

Online Lectures:

a. Online lectures will be recorded, but it is mandatory for students to attend all sessions rather than relying on recordings, as some questions will be properly addressed online through direct discussions with experts.

b. In the event of missing a lecture, students may follow up with the lecturer to catch up on the missed content.

WhatsApp Group:

a. Students will be added to a WhatsApp group for the skill course.

b. It is strictly prohibited to privately message any student from the group.

c. Students are expected to maintain privacy throughout and after the course.

Course Coverage:

a. This course provides guidance from astronomers and professional stargazers through both online and on-field sessions.

b. The course fee does not cover your travel to the observatory. You may travel in your private vehicle or join the team on a cost-sharing basis for travel expenses.

c. To ensure fairness for all students, the course fee has been adjusted to exclude travel expenses, as some may travel by themselves and others may join us. Bills and expenses will be shared transparently to maintain a non-commercial approach.

On-Field Practical Sessions:

a. The essence of "Observational Astronomy" lies in the experience of observing the night sky in an open-ground setting.

b. Food and stay charges for the on-field sessions are included in the full course fee, i.e., ₹7,999/- (₹7,499/- Early Bird). Note: These are not included in the Online-Only course structure.

Make this course free of cost, get your money back, and start earning from Astronomy!

After completion of the course, you will have the option to interview and work with us as a Professional Stargazer. You can conduct or volunteer for stargazing events with the Horizon Astronomical Society on weekends, and you will be paid for the events.