Amy Jackson is passionate about connecting people with the cosmos through experiential astronomy education, storytelling, dark sky conservation and education.
Stargazing for Events and Private Programs
Since 2009, we’ve engaged the Austin community with hands-on, experiential lessons for beginners wanting to learn astronomy. Add stargazing to your next event and share the cosmos with your guests. Amy comes with her 14″ telescope to view deep sky objects. She facilitates a laser pointer guided tour of the night sky constellations and tells star stories. She also teaches participants how to use star charts to find constellations.
Amy has facilitated successful programs at Camp Lucy, Lucky Arrow Resort, for the NameSayers and Alex Mass Ghost Town Event, Reimers Observatory, City of Austin Onion Creek Preserve, private programs and more. Amy taught UT Informal Classes- Stargazing for adults from 2010-2019 and at Reimers Observatory. Follow her on instagram: @starryskyaustin
Contact Amy to book her for an event: amy@starryskyaustin.com
Stargazing Classes for Kids
Since 2009, we’ve engaged the Austin community with hands-on, experiential learning for beginners ages 8 and up who are interested in astronomy. We have also offered Girl Scout Badge programs to small groups. In our astronomy classes, kids learn how to use a telescope on their own, navigate constellations with a star finder, hear star lore from cultures around the world, and experience activities important in setting a foundation for understanding our solar system and universe. Walk a scale model of the solar system, learn how to use an astrolabe to chart the moon, model the reason for our planet’s seasons and moon phases. We deepen our knowledge and understanding of the natural phenomena surrounding us in a small, outdoor classroom environment. To learn about past classes, visit our past blog or instagram account. Starry Sky Project, our non-profit organization, is currently seeking funding to support our educational programming.
Stargazing Classes for Adults
Amy has taught Stargazing for adult aged kids through the UT Informal Classes program since 2009. The UT Informal Classes Program ended in 2020.
Former Course Description:
Are you curious about the night sky? Do you want to learn how to use a telescope and gain confidence in finding planets, stars and constellations? Get a feel for the immense distances between the planets, learn why the North star changes over time, and understand what causes our seasons and our Moon phases through experiential and hands-on activities. Join Amy Jackson, founder and director of Starry Sky Austin for an opportunity to ignite your interest in astronomy and gain a new perspective of your place in the universe. https://informal.utexas.edu/classes/stargazing