Erin Hynes | Editor
July 18, 2023
Constellations are a beautiful sight for all, but in Rico Tyler’s astronomy class, scholars look beyond the sparkling lights. Scholars cover a variety of topics such as observing the night sky, naming constellations and learning how the night sky is viewed differently each month. Rico’s astronomers spend time on the practical uses of astronomy: its role in the seasons, calendars and drawing state lines. Big topics such as cosmology, the origins of the universe and space travel are all touched on at some point in the five-week course. Skills scholars learned in the five-week course go far beyond the classroom, and into nighttime observations.
In class scholars created planispheres, a star chart analog used to accurately display the sky at any point in the year. After creating these tools, Rico walked scholars through how to read a planisphere. That night, you could see scholars utilizing that tool to show friends where constellations can be found. This is just one example of projects in class leaving a lasting impact on scholars.
The course’s biggest project is building their own telescope with the help of Rico and Travis Oliver. Using materials such as PVC pipe and a custom made machined aluminum lens and tools like a nail and drill gun, scholars immediately are given an interactive experience. According to astronomy teacher Rico Tyler, two-thirds of his scholars had no prior building experience and were asked to use a nail gun within the first week.
Scholars should expect the unexpected from Rico Tyler’s astronomy focus area. Rico is notorious for his cube Earth argument from his opening class. When asked about why he did that, he noted that, “My job is to make sure what we do is not what we expected.” Rico started the program with an idea that scholars think is obviously wrong, and make them justify that idea. Doing so makes that first class memorable and leaves scholars curious.
Astronomy Teacher, Rico Tyler walking scholars through how to use a planisphere.
