Astronomy (class)

Astronomy is a subject taught at Hogwarts. It is a required subject for first through fifth years; it can be dropped in the sixth year. It is taught by Professor Sinistra. Harry was taking his Astronomy O.W.L. when Rubeus Hagrid was confronted by Profesor Umbridge and a team of Aurors in what was an attempted sacking. Astronomy is taught at night in the tallest tower of the School the Astronomy Tower.

Astronomy is also the only field of study at Hogwarts which has a direct equivalent in the Muggle world. Known student activities include learning the names of stars, constellations and planets, as well as their location and movements, and describing the environments of planets and moons.

Astronomy classes take place in the Astronomy Tower, the tallest tower in Hogwarts, every Wednesday and include sky observation sessions with telescopes (each student has to buy one of his/her own). Astronomy, with the option of a N.E.W.T. course in the sixth and seventh years. can help in the field of N.E.W.T. Divination, Astronomy is useful as it means that when doing the names of planets, moons, stars and etc. are already known.

In his first year, Harry has to memorise the names of Jupiter's moons; in his fifth year, he studies them again, writing an essay containing facts such as Europa being covered by ice (at first he accidentally writes mice), and Io having many volcanos. For their Astronomy O.W.L. exam in their fifth year, each student has to "fill in a blank star chart" based on a few hours of observing the night sky.

Aurora Sinistra is the current Astronomy teacher.