Where we have provided links to items, you are free to find your own alternatives. All links should open in a new browser tab.
A4 Refill Pad
Useful for completing your lesson assignments and general note taking. You may be able to find them locally to you quite a bit cheaper than online. An 80 sheet pad (160 pages) should be sufficient for completing your assignments.
A4 Lever Arch File
For storing your lessons and notes. These are available quite cheaply in most local supermarkets. You may also want to purchase dividers to keep lessons separate.
Hole Punch
These are also available quite cheaply in most large supermarkets. Useful if you want to use plain A4 paper for diagrams.
Scientific Calculator – Casio FX-83GTPLUS
Considered to be the UKs leading scientific calulator, it is also approved for use in UK examinations. Please note that if you decide to purchase a different calulator, if it is classed as ‘programmable’, there is a good chance you will not be able to use it in an exam room.
You will need a scientific calculator in order to work with logarithms, trigonometric functions, exponetials and π (Pi).
Oxford Helix Maths Set with Storage Tin
Contains useful items such as a self centring compass and pencil, ruler, protractor, set squares, stencil, eraser and sharpener. The ruler is only 15cm so you may wish to consider sourcing a 30cm ruler as well. At the very minimum, you will need the use of a ruler and protractor.
Circle and Ellipse Templates
Useful for drawing smaller circles that would be difficult with a compass, and the ellipse template may also be useful when reproducing diagrams.
A Dictionary of Astronomy 2/e rev (Oxford Quick Reference)
– Ian Ridpath
An established dictionary of Astronomy from a very well respected publisher and author. Not essential, but very handy to have lying around.
GCSE Astronomy – A Guide For Pupils and Teachers – 5th Edition – Nigel Marshall
This is not as some people state, a textbook, but more of a revision guide. It has been used effectively by many of our past students and it is written by a former examiner for Edexcel.
Stellarium – Free Planetarium Software
Stellarium is an open source planetarium you can install on your computer. It shows a realistic 3D sky, and can simulate the view you would see with your naked eyes, bioculars or even a telescope.
It is absolutely free and there is even a version available, that will work on a tablet or smartphone.
It has features that people just getting into Astronomy can use, yet is also a useful tool for serious amateurs, with many advanced features. It can be useful to help you learn your way around the night sky, observe what happens to the sky as time moves on, and can be useful in planning the observational component of the course.