Aurora Lipper is an astronomer, mechanical engineer, and science educator with over 25 years of teaching experience. She holds a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering with a focus on gas dynamics and complex fluid flow for high performance jet engines. Aurora has taught engineering courses at the university level and currently serves as a guest lecturer for local high schools and Cal Poly.

She is the founder of Supercharged Science, an award-winning STEM curriculum used by thousands of homeschool families and charter schools. Aurora is also the president of the Central Coast Astronomy Society, where she leads public star parties, telescope demonstrations, and community science outreach. In 2025, she was appointed a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador in recognition of her efforts to bring astronomy to wider audiences.

Aurora is the author of Astronomy Activities for Kids (Penguin Random House, 2021), a bestselling book with over 1,000 five-star reviews. She brings her passion for space, teaching, and hands-on learning into every lesson to spark curiosity and confidence in her students.

This is a college-level introductory astronomy course adapted for high school (and advanced middle school) homeschoolers. Students are not expected to have prior experience in astronomy, but they should meet the following prerequisites to ensure success:

• Math Proficiency: Students should be comfortable with solving basic equations (3x +1 = 10 ), working with scientific notation (17,500 = 17.5 x 10³), ratios (like miles per hour), operations on powers of ten, and it’s helpful to be familiar with simple graphs. Full details on page 7 of the Info Packet (link above).
• Reading & Comprehension Skills: Students should be able to read and understand nonfiction texts at a high school or college level, as the course includes physics concepts presented through detailed readings, diagrams, and data visualizations. Textbook reading is essential for this course.
• Independent Study Habits: Since this course meets only once per week, students are expected to manage weekly reading assignments, complete labs and projects independently, and engage in self-directed learning between class sessions. We’ll help you learn how to do this!
• Curiosity and Commitment: A love of science and a willingness to ask big questions is essential! Students will explore not just facts, but the process of science, including how we know what we know about the universe.

And don’t worry—if math isn’t your favorite subject or you don’t feel confident with it, you’re still absolutely welcome! We’ll walk through the math step-by-step together, and there’s plenty of room for asking questions, building confidence, and learning by doing. All students with an interest in space or the natural sciences will find themselves right at home.

This course meets once per week and blends college-level content with an engaging, hands-on learning experience designed specifically for high school (and advanced middle school) homeschoolers.

Each week includes:

• Live Class Session (1x/week): Students participate in an interactive in-person class that includes group discussions, guided instruction, mini-lectures, demonstrations, and lab activities. Students are expected to come prepared, having read the assigned material before class. 
• Weekly Assignments: Between class sessions, students will complete reading assignments, short-answer homework questions, and weekly review quizzes to reinforce key concepts. Most homework is focused on understanding and applying big ideas, not busywork. 
• Lab Activities & Projects: Labs are designed to be fun, hands-on, and inquiry-based. Some labs are completed during class, while others are started in class and finished at home. Projects include long-term investigations, creative presentations, and real astronomical observations.
• Podcast Passport Journals: Each week, students will listen to a space-related podcast of their choice and write a short reflection. This encourages students to explore current science topics and make personal connections with the material. 
• Astronomer Spotlight Presentations: Students will research and present a short report on an influential astronomer, helping them learn to communicate science and appreciate the human side of discovery. 
• Optional Stargazing Events: Students are invited to attend monthly stargazing nights hosted by their local astronomical astronomy club, or participate in the online stargazing sessions hosted by the Central Coast Astronomy Society. These events offer telescope access, sky tours, and real-world application of course content. 

This flexible yet structured format is designed to build deep understanding while allowing room for creativity, curiosity, and student-led exploration.