Dr. Mike Ruiz will teach "Stars, Constellations and Deep Sky Objects"

This fall, UNC Asheville will offer a special online science class for local K-12 teachers. The course, "Stars, Constellations and Deep Sky Objects," will be offered pass/fail September 1-December 12. Upon completion, teachers will earn one academic credit and three technology continuing education units. Cost is $86.06. Twelve $100 stipends are also available; preference will be given to K-8 teachers.

"Stars, Constellations and Deep Sky Objects" will employ the latest in Web-based technology to cover celestial latitude and longitude, major constellations and properties of stars. Photos taken by the Hubble Space Telescope will be used to explore deep-sky objects, including star clusters, nebulae and galaxies. The workshop will also introduce students to some of Einstein's concepts and how they are applicable in astronomy.

The course will be taught by UNC Asheville physics Professor Michael J. Ruiz. Since joining UNC Asheville faculty in 1978, Ruiz has received numerous awards including the 1995 UNC Asheville Distinguished Teaching Award, the 1997 UNC Asheville Distinguished Teacher Award in the Natural Sciences and the 2004 UNC Board of Governors Award for Excellence in Teaching. Ruiz often draws praise for his innovative teaching methods and ability to convey physics to non-science majors. He has also developed interactive online textbooks for his classes, called e-texts, which were featured on CNN's Next@CNN.

For more information or to register, visit www.unca.edu/distedu/extension_courses.html or call UNC Asheville's Extension and Distance Education Office 828/232-5122.