Strasenburgh Planetarium > Shows & Events
Homeschool Astronomy Fall 2026
The RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium offers an in-person astronomy course for homeschool families with students 11–15 years old looking for scientific challenge and substance.
This course includes seven in-person sessions, building on a continuous curriculum.
For families looking for a homeschool science course with challenge and substance, in-person homeschool astronomy returns to the RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium! This course is designed for students ages 11–15.
Our fall course includes seven 90-minute sessions, all held on Wednesdays from 11:30am to 1:00pm.
Each session is divided between activities and discussions in the Planetarium’s classroom and lobby, sky lessons in the Star Theater, and occasional outdoor activities.
FALL COURSE PACKAGE
7 classes, 90 min. each
October 21, 28 | November 4, 18 | December 2, 9, 16
tuition
$250 per student; $225 per student for multiple children living in the same household enrolling together.
curriculum: Observational Astronomy
A look into how astronomers look at the universe.
- Just-your-eye astronomy
- Celestial sphere/coordinates
- The basics of telescopes
- Ground-based observatories
- Space-based observatories
About your instructors
Jim bader
director, RMSC strasenburgh Planetarium
Jim Bader is an avid astronomer, with a background in physics, and a love of learning. He has been managing Planetariums for a decade, inspiring learners to look up & find wonder in the cosmos.
Paul krupinski (mr. K)
director, Maryvale ufsd planetarium
Mr. K is the proprietor of Mr. K.’s Mobile Dome Planetarium, and Strasenburgh Planetarium show presenter. He has been presenting at the Planetarium for 30 years!
Kain Mccall
RMSC Strasenburgh Planetarium Coordinator
Kain McCall is a Strasenburgh Planetarium show presenter who holds a Bachelor of Science in Physics from RIT and has been presenting at the Planetarium for over 7 years!
Frequently asked questions
does my student need any prerequisites?
None, except a desire to learn and willingness to support a learning environment for others!
are there any requirements for enrollment?
A parent or guardian’s functioning e-mail address. Our primary mode of communication about Planetarium homeschool courses is by email with parents or guardians.
Can parents accompany students?
Parents and guardians are welcome at all sessions, either to sit in the room or work with their children.
will someone be available for my student’s health needs?
Parents or guardians are responsible for all of their student’s health needs throughout their time on the RMSC campus, including administering medications or monitoring their condition.
What is the learning environment like?
We divide our time between the Planetarium’s multi-purpose room or lobby, the Star Theater, and some time outdoors. Some students are quiet; others are more talkative.
Any learning style is welcome, as long as it does not interfere with anyone else’s. We may conduct occasional quizzes so we and the students can get an idea of how we’re progressing, but we do not grade students.
how large is the class?
You can expect between 15 and 25 students in the class.
will my student need any supplies?
We recommend bringing:
- Two or three sharpened pencils with erasers
- A notebook with blank pages
- A laptop or tablet (some tablets are available upon request)
- We will sometimes use the internet to access astronomical data, as professional astronomers do. (Web surfing and social media scrolling are not part of the course!) We will make the announcement during class if a laptop/tablet is needed for the following class. If your family does not have a suitable device, please email Jim Bader, Planetarium Director, at jb****@**sc.org to arrange to borrow a tablet from the Planetarium during class time.
- We will sometimes use the internet to access astronomical data, as professional astronomers do. (Web surfing and social media scrolling are not part of the course!) We will make the announcement during class if a laptop/tablet is needed for the following class. If your family does not have a suitable device, please email Jim Bader, Planetarium Director, at jb****@**sc.org to arrange to borrow a tablet from the Planetarium during class time.
Are scholarships available?
A scholarship discount is available to families who let us know that it will make a real difference at this time.