Course Number: NatSci 225

Course Title: Introductory  Astronomy

Credits: 3

Potential Hours of Instruction: 48

Hours in class: 48

Hours outside effort: 96

A. Classroom Presentation: 0

B. On Campus Laboratory and Clinical: 0

C. Individualized/Independent study: 96 Hours

D. Simulated or Actual Work Experience: 0

Course Description:

This course traces the historical development of astronomy.  It is designed to provide an understanding in three major instructional areas:
(1) basic information, principles, and theories of astronomy including time keeping , coordinate systems, and the way we view the changing sky.
(2) identification of tools in astronomy including an understanding of the nature and behavior of light.

(3) an overview of the solar system, stellar systems, stellar distances, stellar evolution, galaxies and cosmology.

Prerequisites:  None

Course Goal:

* Identify the laws of physics as they pertain to astronomy

* Identify  basic concepts in astronomy

* Identify the historical development of astronomy

* Identify the tools of astronomy

* Differentiate the classifications of planets, stellar systems and galaxies

* Describe the nature and evolution of our galaxy and universe

Competency:

 

1.                  Explain the historical significance of astronomy

Domain: Cognitive

            Level: Comprehension

Performance Standards

(Criteria) Performance will be satisfactory when:

*  learner describes the astronomical revolution as outlined by:

 

a.       the Ptolemaic System

b.        the Copernican System

c.        the Laws of Kepler

d.        Galileo’s observations

*learner compares the primitive, Babylonian and Greek astronomy

(Conditions) Competence will be demonstrated:

*in a written exam

 

Competency:

2.                  Explain the motions of the Earth, Moon and Sun

Domain: Cognitive

            Level: Comprehension

Performance Standards

(Criteria) Performance will be satisfactory when:

*learner identifies the relationships between Newton’s laws and the Earth’s motions specifically:

 

a.   Newton’s law of Motion

b.   Newton’s law of Gravitation

c.             Newton’s Laws applied to Kepler’s  Law

d.             Major motions of the earth, moon and sun

* learner describes the Celestial Coordinate systems and timekeeping as related to:

 

a.        The celestial sphere

b.         Latitude and longitude on the earth

c.         Celestial Coordinates

d.         Timekeeping

e.        The year and calendar

* learner identifies the moon’s:

 

a.        Phases and appearance

b.         Eclipses

c.         Lunar features

d.         Theories of formation

(Conditions) Competence will be demonstrated:

*in a written exam

Competency:

 

3.                  Distinguish Astronomy’s tools

Domain: Cognitive

           Level: Comprehension

Performance Standards

(Criteria) Performance will be satisfactory when:

* learner identifies the nature of light in regard to:

 

a.      The Wave Theory

b.       The Particle Theory

c.       Spectra

d.       The Doppler effect

e.      Black body radiation

* learner describes:

 

a.        Image formation

b.         Visual telescopes

c.         Notable optical telescopes

d.         Advances in telescope design

e.        Influence of the Earth’s atmosphere

f.          Radio astronomy

g.         Radar astronomy

h.        Space astronomy

(Conditions) Competence will be demonstrated:

*in a written exam

Competency:

 

4.                  Explain the Solar System

Domain: Cognitive

            Level: Comprehension

(Criteria) Performance will be satisfactory when:

 

* learner identifies the characteristics of the Earth’s:

 

a.        Atmosphere

b.         Crust

c.         Mantle

d.         Core

* learner describes characteristics of:

 

a.      Mercury

b.       Venus

c.       Mars

d.       Jupiter

e.      Saturn

f.        Uranus

g.       Neptune

h.      Pluto

i.        Notable satellites of  planets (Io, Europa, Titan, etc)

* learner compares structure, location and motion of:

a.        Minor planets (Asteroids)

b.         Comets

c.         Meteors

d.         Meteorites

e.        Kuiper Belt objects

f.          Extrasolar Planets

 

* learner describes the origin of solar system

* learner  explains the sun’s :

 

a.        Photosphere,

b.         Chromosphere, 

c.         Corona

d.         Sunspots/flares

e.        Solar activity

f.          Cycles

g.    Effect of above on earth

 

(Conditions) Competence will be demonstrated:

*in a written exam

Competency:

 

5.                  Explain Stellar Distances and classification

Domain: Cognitive

            Level: Comprehension

Performance Standards

(Criteria) Performance will be satisfactory when:

 

* learner describes the  distances and motions of the stars as related to:

 

a.      Stellar Parallax

b.       Stellar/galactic motions

c.       Standard distance indicators

* learner identifies special characteristics of Stellar spectra and classification  with regard to:

 

a.        Brightness

b.         Luminosity

c.         Spectral classification

d.         Luminosity classes

e.        The HR diagram

                 * learner  identifies:

 

a.        Visual binaries

b.         Spectroscopic binaries

c.         Eclipsing binaries

d.         The statistics of binaries

Conditions) Competence will be demonstrated:

*in a written exam

Competency:

 

6.                  Explain Stellar Structure and Evolution

Domain: Cognitive

                      Level: Comprehension

Performance Standards

(Criteria) Performance will be satisfactory when:

* learner describes the structure and evolution of stars regarding:

 

a.        Stellar energy

b.         The main sequence

c.         Evolution

d.         Formation

* learner identifies extraordinary events in stellar evolution known as:

 

a.        Planetary Formation

b.         Cepheid Variables

c.         Planetary Nebulae

d.         Supernovae

e.        Neutron Stars

f.         Black Holes

(Conditions) Competence will be demonstrated:

*in a written exam

Competency:

 

7.                  Describe Galaxies and Cosmology

Domain: Cognitive

           Level: Comprehension

Performance Standards

(Criteria) Performance will be satisfactory when:

* learner describes our galaxy, the Milky Way, with regard to:

 

a.      Shape & Size

b.       Composition

c.       Galactic rotation

d.       Stellar populations

* learner describes the Universe of Galaxies relating to:

 

a.      Types of Galaxies

b.       Galactic masses

c.       Distribution

d.       Distances

e.      Dark Matter

f.        Quasars

* learner differentiate concepts of the Universe with regard to:

 

a.      The expanding Universe

b.       Evolution

c.       Curvature

d.       The future of the Universe

(Conditions) Competence will be demonstrated:

*in a written exam