Earn a certificate and pin with RASC’s Explore the Universe Online. Hosted by Jenna Hinds and John A. Read.

Watch the videos, check off the targets, and submit the form to receive your certification.

You can watch all the episodes below or on the RASC website found here: Explore the Universe Online

Explore the Universe

  • Full Moon (lunar phase)

  • Mare Crisium (lunar mare)

  • Mare Tranquilitatis (lunar mare)

  • Mare Serenitatis (lunar mare)

  • Tycho (lunar crater)

  • Ursa Major (constellation)

  • Ursa Minor (constellation)

  • Bootes (constellation)

  • Leo (constellation)

  • Mizar and Alcor (double star)

Session 1

  • Third Crescent Moon (lunar phase)

  • Hercules (constellation)

  • Scorpius (constellation)

  • Sagittarius (constellation)

  • Mu Bootes (double star)

  • M13 (deep sky object)

  • M8 (deep sky object)

  • Coathanger (deep sky object)

Session 2

  • First Quarter Moon (lunar phase)

  • Copernicus (lunar crater)

  • Mare Fecunditatis (lunar mare)

  • Mare Nectaris (lunar mare)

  • Mare Serenitatis (lunar mare)

  • Cygnus (constellation)

  • Lyra (constellation)

  • Aquila (constellation)

  • Epsilon Lyr (double star)

Session 3

  • Waning Gibbous Moon (lunar phase)

  • Capricornus (constellation)

  • Alpha Cap (double star)

  • Beta Cap (double star)

  • M16, Eagle Nebula (deep sky object)

  • M17, Swan Nebula (deep sky object)

  • M24, Sagittarius Star Cloud (deep sky object)

  • M4 (deep sky object)

Session 4

  • M11 (Wild Duck Cluster, deep sky object)

  • M25 (deep sky object)

  • M22 (deep sky object)

  • M23 (deep sky object)

  • Aristoteles (lunar crater)

  • Ptolemaeus (lunar crater)

  • Gassendi (lunar crater)

  • Mare Frigoris (lunar mare)

  • Mare Imbrium (lunar mare)

  • BONUS Sinus Iridum (lunar mare)

Session 5

  • Waning Crescent (lunar phase)

  • Petavius (lunar crater)

  • Cleomedes (lunar crater)

  • Cassiopeia (constellation)

  • Zeta Lyr (double star)

  • Delta Lyr (double star)

  • Nu Dra CORRECTED(double star)

  • 17/16 Dra (double star)

  • Mars! (planet, optional)

Session 6

Session 7

  • Oceanus Procellarum (lunar mare)

  • Nubium (lunar mare)

  • Humorum (lunar mare, bonus)

  • Theophilus (lunar crater)

  • Posidonius (lunar crater)

  • Beta Cyg (double star)

  • Omicron Cyg (double star)

  • Jupiter (planet)

  • Saturn (planet)

  • M31 (deep sky object)

  • Zodiacal Light (optional, solar system object)

Session 8

  • Pegasus (constellation)

  • Andromeda (constellation)

  • Delta Cep (double star)

  • Venus (planet)

  • Mars (planet)

  • Orbital Motion (planet)

  • Waxing Crescent (lunar phase)

  • Waxing Gibbous (lunar phase)

  • Perseus (constellation)

  • Aries (constellation)

  • 16 Cyg (double star)

  • Melotte 20 / Alpha Per (deep sky object)

  • NGC 869/884 (deep sky object)

  • Zodiacal light (solar system optional)

Session 9

Session 10

  • Mare Vaporum (lunar mare)

  • Orion (constellation)

  • Taurus (constellation)

  • Theta Tau (double star)

  • Pleiades / M45 (deep sky object)

  • Orion Nebula / M42 (deep sky object).

The Moon at Noon

Earn a certificate and pin with RASC’s Explore the Moon Online. Hosted by Jenna Hinds, John A. Read, and Samantha Jewett.

Watch the videos, check off the targets, and submit the form to receive your certification.

You can watch all the episodes below or on the RASC website found here: The Moon at Noon

  • Introduction

  • Basic Information

  • Q-days

  • Tracking the lunar cycle

  • When to observe

  • Lunar sketching tips

  • Finding mountain ranges, craters and lava plains

  • Common features

  • Cardinal directions on the Moon

  • Identifying crater features

  • Lunar landing locations

  • Observing problems

  • No targets this week

  • How to observe the Moon during the day

  • Rayleigh Scattering (the phenomenon that makes the sky appear blue)

  • 19 Lunar targets and how to find them

  • Taking photos of the Moon through a telescope or binoculars

  • Lunar libration and how to observe some unique objects on the edge of the Moon by looking at the right time.

  • First sketching section

  • The Apollo 16 landing site

  • Lunar geology

  • The first and last Apollo landing sites

  • Eclipses and how to observe them

  • Apply for your observing certificate

  • Wrap up