A member looking through a telescope eyepiece at sunset in the desert

Telescope Workshops

Get the Most Out of Your Telescope

Free, hands-on help for beginners — held throughout the year and open to the public.

Two Workshops, One Goal: Get You Under the Stars

PAS runs two complementary telescope workshops throughout the year, each taught by an experienced amateur astronomer familiar with the various types of telescopes and accessories a first-time observer needs. Both are free and open to the public.

Please register only one individual per telescope, and pay only one registration fee — but feel free to bring the whole family along to participate.

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Telescope Workshop 101

Choosing a Telescope

Designed to provide personalized assistance for individuals wishing to purchase a telescope. Knowledgeable PAS members walk you through the various types of telescopes and accessories required for a first-time experience observing the night sky, so you can shop with confidence.

Telescope Workshop 201

Operating Your Telescope

Designed to provide personalized assistance on how to operate your telescope. These workshops are held outdoors to enable actual night sky observing — they begin before sunset so that equipment setup can be learned in daylight, then continue into the dark.

First Light Under the Desert Sky

As astronomical twilight nears its end, new telescope owners get the chance to experience "First Light" — their first real look at the night sky through their own telescope — while the dark sky also gives more experienced operators a chance to try new skills.

Workshops in Action

PAS members helping attendees set up and align telescopes at an indoor workshop — PAS members walk attendees through setup and alignment at an indoor telescope workshop.

An attendee looking through a refractor telescope at sunset in the desert — Evening workshops often continue into a live observing session as the sky darkens.

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