Last Chance to Take 'Planets for Tourists' Class with Foothill College Professor Fraknoi

LOS ALTOS HILLS, CA – After 25 years of teaching at Foothill College, Professor Andrew Fraknoi will be retiring at the end of June 2017, but locals still have one last chance to take his "Planets for Tourists" class.

Each winter quarter, he teaches Astronomy 10A, a course that explores the many intriguing planets and moons with which we share our solar system, from a tourist perspective -- no math, lots of great pictures! The full title is An Introduction to the Planets & Life Out There.

Students from 16 to 80 are welcome and the course requires no science background.

The course is offered at Foothill College both during the day (Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12 noon to 1:25 p.m.) and in the evening (Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 8:20 p.m.) in room 5015. An optional hands-on lab class (Astronomy 10L) accompanies each course.

"This is an exciting time for planet fans, and we invite you to spend 11 weeks being part of the excitement," said Fraknoi, 2007 Professor of the Year for California. "Astronomy 10A is a transferable, introductory course for non-science majors. Ideas and discoveries are introduced with analogies, examples from real life, the latest color images shown on a big screen, and touches of humor."

Among the lessons planned:

"Share the adventures of the Curiosity Rover as it searches for evidence of flowing water on the planet Mars. Get up to speed on the salt-water geysers erupting on one of Saturn's moons (and take a peek at Saturn's kinky rings).

"Find out what the New Horizons spacecraft discovered about Pluto when we got close-up pictures for the first time. Learn about the cosmic event that killed the dinosaurs and how we are working to prevent something similar from killing us."

After retirement, Fraknoi will continue to organize the Silicon Valley Astronomy Lectures.

Winter quarter at Foothill starts Jan. 9 and 10, 2017. Registration fees are reasonable. Adults who don't need a grade can make arrangements once they have registered and attended.

To enroll, go to the college web site at: foothill.edu/admissions.php or go to the admissions center on campus.

For more information on the Foothill Astronomy Program or the instructor, see: foothill.edu/ast/.

ALSO COMING UP IN THE AREA:

• 'Winter Wonderland' Ballet: Campbell
• Community Christmas Celebration with Living Nativity
• A Magical Holiday Nutcracker Not to Miss! - December 9th to 11th
• Fantasy of Lights Drive-Thru: Vasona Lake County Park. Los Gatos
• Mountain View Community Tree Lighting Celebration

--Image courtesy of Foothill College