Beginner Telescope Workshop, Fall 2021 (Outdoor Event)

Wabash Valley Astronomical Society (WVAS)is a non-profit organization that promotes the science and hobby of astronomy. We've been in the Greater Lafayette, Indiana area since 1971 and our current membership includes people with many different backgrounds and with ages from high school through retirees. People join WVAS because they have an interest in planetary and deep sky observing, locating constellations, astrophotography, telescope making, cosmology, or they just "want to see what's out there".

Wabash Valley Astronomical Society

Do you have a telescope and aren’t sure how to use it? Have an interest in astronomy but don’t know where to begin? Join us for this event!

West Lafayette Observatory

Do you have a telescope and aren’t sure how to use it? Have an interest in astronomy but don’t know where to begin? Come to the free Beginner Telescope Workshop hosted by the Wabash Valley Astronomical Society and we will help get you started. We will cover the basics of telescopes and astronomy in a short presentation and then break into small groups to walk you through how to setup and use a telescope out under the night sky. No experience required, only an interest in exploring the cosmos.To improve everyone's safety this event including the presentation will be conducted outdoors with distancing between participants. Astronomy is of interest to people of all ages and backgrounds so, per CDC guidance, masks will be required when within 6 feet of others. FAQs Do I need to bring a telescope to the event?No. If you have one, please feel free to bring it; it will be most useful to show you how to use your own equipment. If you don't have a telescope, don't worry. We have extras for you to setup and use.What if the weather is bad the day of the event?We will keep an eye on the weather leading up to the event. If the weather is cloudy, we will still have the workshop. We can still show you how to setup and use a telescope to look at things around the observatory. If it is raining, well, telescopes don't do well when wet. In this case, we will work to create a rain date and hope you can make it.What if my plans change and I cannot make it?Please return your tickets through this website. Our telescope workshops fill up quickly and we'd like to get as many people into the workshop as possible. Returning tickets you aren't going to use will allow people on the waitlist to attend.Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?No.