(3-Adult) Enjoy activities including guided star gazing, looking through the telescope, and listening to ancient stories about the constellations around the campfire. Participate in other activities and games throughout the evening. Hot chocolate included with price of registration. Canceled if raining or snowing.

This program satisfies most of the requirements to earn the badge. Scouts must complete all prework before the start of class. Pre-work and program details available at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/scouts. Scouts unable to complete all requirements may receive partial credit from their merit badge counselor.

(8-Adult) Join the adventure to understand cosmic noise and what it tells us about the sun, the magnetic structure surrounding some of our planets and the radio signals from Jupiter. Learn how our galaxy is mapped using the faint signals from hydrogen atoms and the behavior of molecules. Listen to the sounds of pulsars, strange dense fast rotating stars. Come hear what our universe is saying. The class will be held in the roll-top observatory at Turner Farm Park. Instruction for this program is provided by volunteers of the Analemma Society.

(8-Adult) Join park naturalists as they take you on a tour of constellations, comets and other current events happening in the skies above. Children must be accompanied by adult also registered.

(5-Adult) Have you ever seen a shooting star? Join park naturalists for a special opportunity to be in the park after dark and delight in the magic of the geminid meteor shower. Peer through the telescope and enjoy an astronomy talk with a park naturalist. Bring a yoga mat or blanket and find a comfortable spot on the boardwalk to gaze at the night sky while you sip hot cocoa. Bundle up and space out with us on this crisp winter evening.

(6-12 yrs.) Join a park naturalist to learn about this branch of astronomy that studies planets, moons, asteroids and comets in our solar system. Discover what they are made of and why earth is so special. Make a model solar system to take home.

(8-Adult) For those who are new to using a telescope or contemplating purchasing one. This course goes into introductory basics of astronomy, observing the sky, and what you need to know to setup and use your telescope. Class will provide hands-on use of telescopes and observing objects in the sky in the Roll-Top Observatory if the weather allows. Attendees can bring their own telescope for assistance and advice. Advance registration required, no walk-in registration available. Instruction for this program is provided by volunteers of the Analemma Society.

(8-Adult) This course provides a general introduction to some fundamentals of astronomy and the universe we see in the sky around us. We will discuss the basic types of astronomical objects from the small to the large, the motions of the planets and stars, and interesting phenomena in the night sky. The classroom discussion is followed by an observatory session with telescopes, weather permitting. The course is held rain or clear skies in the Roll-Top Observatory at Turner. Instruction for this program is provided by volunteers of the Analemma Society.

(8-Adult) This program is a fun tour of planets, constellations, stars, nebulas, and galaxies in the night sky that can be seen with the eye and in telescopes at the Roll-Top observatory at Turner Farm Park. If inclement weather, then we will discuss and show images of objects that could be observed in clear skies. No knowledge of astronomy is needed, just an interest in learning about the universe around our planet. The course is held rain or clear skies in the Roll-Top Observatory at Turner Farm Park. Instruction for this program is provided by volunteers of the Analemma Society.

(6-Adult) This program is a tour of the planets and moons of our Solar System which are viewable in the current night sky. The classroom discussion is followed by an observatory session of planets and the stars beyond in telescopes, weather permitting. No knowledge of astronomy is needed, just an interest in learning about the universe. The course is held rain or clear skies in the Roll-Top Observatory at Turner Farm Park. Children need to be accompanied by a registered adult. Instruction for this program is provided by volunteers of the Analemma Society.

(8-Adult) This course covers the basics of observing the night sky and objects with a telescope and astronomy resources. Class will provide hands-on observing with telescopes if the weather allows. Attendees can bring their own telescopes to use and for assistance. Supplements the “Introduction to Telescopes” class but can be taken independently. The course is held rain or clear skies in the Roll-Top Observatory at Turner Farm Park. Instruction for this program is provided by volunteers of the Analemma Society.