Advanced Astronomy

Requires Grades 9-12th Level Membership

A College Level Science Course for High School Students (and Advanced Middle Schoolers)

This is a fun, inspiring, and academically challenging astronomy course created especially for advanced homeschoolers who are ready for something beyond the usual science class. It’s the kind of course you’d find in college— designed by astronomers to be exciting, hands-on, and accessible for teens.

Real Astronomy for Teens

Students will explore planets, stars, black holes, galaxies, and more through interactive labs, stargazing, real science projects, and weekly assignments that spark curiosity and build confidence. Whether your student dreams of becoming a scientist or just loves looking at the night sky, this course is designed to ignite their passion for space and help them think like a real astronomer. (Parents are welcome to do this course with your student.)

Real Research & Publication

For the Capstone Project, students can earn their spot on a special team and work with a professional astronomer, doing real research and have the chance to publish a scientific paper—an impressive accomplishment to highlight on college applications! (No telescope required.)

Live & Self-Paced Classes

Classes are taught on a weekly live schedule (download Teaching Schedule below), but you are welcome to go at your own pace, on your own schedule. Participating in live classes is not required. By keeping up with the coursework, students will earn a special invitation to work alongside professional astronomers on research teams in the Spring term.

Ready to explore the universe from your backyard?

Our new astronomy course for high schoolers is taught by astronomers who bring real research and hands-on labs right to you. Here’s what you’ll get:

* Interactive stargazing sessions & star-charting
* Weekly hands-on astronomy discovery projects
* Live Q&A with our astronomers
* College-level space science, paced for teens

This course is included with your Grades 9-12th Level Membership. Ready to enroll?

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Science Lessons & Lab Classes

This is a BIG course. Expect to spend at least one hour every day outside of class time working through the reading, homework, and lab project assignments. Students that complete this course will have completed a one-year (two semesters or three quarters) in-depth college-level Astronomy course, with 28 hands-on project labs, seven biography posters, weekly homework assignments and quizzes, three full exams, and opportunities for contributing to at least three different astronomy research papers slated for publication.

Click the buttons below to download the course materials and read these over carefully. Then gather your binder and materials together so you can feel great about being organized and ready for each new week.

 


Live Class Schedule, Recordings, and Handouts

We've unlocked the first two lessons so you can preview this course with your K-8 membership level.

This is where you'll find everything you need to stay on track with our weekly astronomy classes. Each week, we'll post the recording of the live class session along with any related handouts, project instructions, and bonus materials. If you miss a class or want to review a concept, you can always come here to catch up. We recommend bookmarking this page and checking it weekly so you’re ready for the next lesson, lab, or project. 

We will be publishing one new lesson every week to build this course over the year. Please refer to Teaching Schedule for dates.

Getting Started with the Course

Chapter 1: A Modern View of the Universe

Chapter 2: Discovering the Universe

Chapter 3: The Science of Astronomy

Supplementary Chapter: Celestial Time Keeping

Chapter 4: Making Sense of the Universe

Chapter 5: Light & Matter

Chapter 6: Telescopes

Chapter 7: Our Planetary System

Chapter 8: Formation of the Solar System

Chapter 9: Planetary Geology

Chapter 10: Planetary Atmospheres

Chapter 11: Jovian Planet Systems

Chapter 12: Asteroids, Comets, and Dwarf Planets 

Chapter 13: Exoplanets

Supplementary Chapter 2: Space and Time

Supplementary Chapter 3: Spacetime and Gravity

Supplementary Chapter 4: Building Blocks of the Universe

Chapter 14: Our Star

Chapter 15: Surveying the Stars

Chapter 16: Star Birth

Chapter 17: Star Stuff

Chapter 18: The Bizarre Stellar Graveyard

Chapter 19: Our Galaxy

Chapter 20: Galaxies and the Foundation of Modern Cosmology

Chapter 21: Galaxy Evolution

Chapter 22: The Birth of the Universe

Chapter 23: Dark Matter, Dark Energy, and the Fate of the Universe

Chapter 24: Life in the Universe

By keeping up with the coursework, students will earn a special invitation to work alongside professional astronomers on research teams in the Spring term. Possible projects include:

  • Measuring Double Stars
  • Variable Stars
  • Asteroid Photometry
  • Radio JOVE Astronomy (Jupiter)
  • Seestar Spectroscopy
  • Lunar Polarimetry
  • Speckle Infrarometry

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.

 

As a student in this course, you’re invited to join our discussions on Google Classroom!

We're using Google Classroom to stay connected with other students and the teacher. You’ll still need to come back to this page for lessons, class links, handouts, and assignments.

Google Classroom is where you can:

  • Ask questions and get help with homework

  • Share photos and videos of your lab projects

  • Join in discussions with your teacher and classmates

The more you show up, share your work, and stay engaged in our Google Classroom community, the better your chances of being selected for the Spring Capstone Project, where a select number of students will get the rare opportunity to work side-by-side with a professional astronomer on real research. We'll let you know more details about this amazing opportunity later in the course.

For now, please use the Google Classroom link to post your questions, lab projects, and help one another out with assignments so you can learn as much as you can this year in our Astronomy course!

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.