Milwaukee Area Technical College

NATSCI-225 Introduction to Astronomy

Course Outcome Summary

Course Information

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 but not limited to density, temperature, pressure, coordinate system(s), and the motions observed in our sky. 2. identification of tools in astronomy including an understanding of the nature and behavior of light, gravity and motion. 3. a detailed overview of the solar system, stellar properties, stellar distances, stellar evolution, galaxies and cosmology.
Total Credits	3
Total Hours	48

Types of Instruction

Instruction Type	Credits/Hours
traditional classroom presentation or complete online, depending on schedule choice

Purpose/Goals

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

Pre/Corequisites

Prerequisite

None

Career Essentials

1.	Effective Problem Solving

Course Competencies

1.	Explain the historical significance of astronomy.
	Assessment Strategies
	1.1.	in a written exam
	1.2.	through comparison of the contributions of cultural history
	1.3.	compare the accomplishments of past astronomical study
	Criteria
	Criteria - Performance will be satisfactory when:
	1.1.	learner describes the astronomical revolution as outlined by the Ptolemaic System, the Copernican System, the Laws of Kepler and Galileo's observations
	1.2.	learner applies astronomical laws to observation of motion in the universe
	1.3.	Learner achieves a 60% or higher on all tests, assignments, and discussion
	Learning Objectives
	1.a.	Identify the reasons past cultures studied astronomy
	1.b.	Outline the observations that led to acceptance of the Ptolemaic model of the universe
	1.c.	Outline the observations that led to acceptance of the Copernican model of the universe
2.	Analyze the ways astronomers map the sky
	Assessment Strategies
	2.1.	Simulation on a computer
	2.2.	Written Objective Test
	2.3.	Skill Demonstration
	Criteria
	2.1.	learner describes the ways the sky is mapped
	2.2.	learner identifies specific reference points in the sky
	2.3.	Learner achieves a 60% or higher on all tests, assignments, and discussion
	Learning Objectives
	2.a.	Outline the ways we map locations on the earth using longitude and latitude
	2.b.	Outline the ways we map the sky using Right Ascension and Declination
	2.c.	Identify important reference points in the sky - zenith, meridian, celestial equator, celestial poles, ecliptic, etc
3.	Explain the motions of the Earth, Moon and Sun
	Linked Career Essentials
	Effective Problem Solving
	Assessment Strategies
	3.1.	in a written exam
	3.2.	by relating the effects of gravity to celestial motion
	Criteria
	Your performance will be successful when:
	3.1.	Learner explains the motion of celestial bodies using the laws of motion and gravity
	3.2.	Learner summarizes how astronomical observations led to models of the universe.
	3.3.	Learner predicts celestial motion based on current theory.
	3.4.	Learner achieves a 60% or higher on all tests, assignments, and discussion
	Learning Objectives
	3.a.	Describe the changes in the sky as a result of Earth's rotation
	3.b.	Describe the changes in the sky as a result of Earth's revolution around the sun
	3.c.	Describe the changes in the sky as a result of Earth's precession
	3.d.	Explain planetary motion in the Ptolemaic model of the universe
	3.e.	Explain planetary motion in the Copernican model of the universe - retrograde motion
	3.f.	Explain planetary motion as they pertain to Kepler's laws
	3.g.	Describe the orbital properties of the moon, including the distinction between the sidereal and the synodic month
	3.h.	Describe the conditions necessary to produce a solar or lunar eclipse
	3.i.	Describe cycles observed in eclipses (Saros cycle)
	3.j.	Explain how the measurement of time is related to the celestial motions (day, month, year)
4.	Interpret the behavior of light and gravity with celestial objects
	Assessment Strategies
	4.1.	in a written exam
	4.2.	in calculation of the effect of gravity on celestial objects
	4.3.	in calculation of the behavior of light with distance
	Criteria
	Criteria - Performance will be satisfactory when:
	4.1.	learner identifies the relationships between Newton's laws and celestial motions specifically: Newton's Law of Motion, Newton's Law of Gravitation, Newton's Laws applied to Kepler's Law and Major motions of the earth, moon and sun.
	4.2.	learner identifies the relationship of gravity to mass of objects and distance between the centers of objects
	4.3.	learner describes the behavior of light with respect to both the wave and particle models.
	4.4.	learner identifies the nature of light in regard to the Wave Theory, the Particle Theory, Spectra, the Doppler effect, and black body radiation.
	4.5.	Learner achieves a 60% or higher on all tests, assignments, and discussion
	Learning Objectives
	4.a.	Describe Newton's laws of motion as they pertain to planetary motion
	4.b.	Describe Newton's law of gravity as a universal law
	4.c.	Explain Einstein's modifications to our understanding of gravity
	4.d.	Discuss the attempts to unify the various forces in nature into one unified theory
	4.e.	Describe the wave and particle properties of light
	4.f.	Identify the different types of spectra in light - continuous, absorption, and emission
	4.g.	Describe the conditions needed to produce each type of spectra
	4.h.	Explain what we can learn about matter by the spectra they emit
	4.i.	Explain motion as it pertains to observed Doppler Effects
	4.j.	Discuss Black body radiation and how this relates to celestial objects
5.	Use the tools of Astronomy
	Assessment Strategies
	5.1.	in a written exam.
	5.2.	by determining the properties of celestial objects based on light
	Criteria
	Criteria - Performance will be satisfactory when:
	5.1.	learner describes image formation, visual telescopes, notable optical telescopes, advances in telescope design, influence of the Earth's atmosphere, radio astronomy, radar astronomy, and space astronomy.
	5.2.	Learner achieves a 60% or higher on all tests, assignments, and discussion
	Learning Objectives
	5.a.	Distinguish between reflecting and refracting telescopes
	5.b.	Compare the advantages and disadvantages of reflecting and refracting telescopes
	5.c.	Identify several professional telescopes and/or probes relative to their application in the field of astronomy
	5.d.	Describe instruments that are designed to observe the universe outside the visible spectrum
	5.e.	Describe what we can learn about the universe from measurements of unusual emissions such as neutrinos, cosmic rays, and gravitational waves .
6.	Explain the Solar System
	Assessment Strategies
	6.1.	in a written exam
	6.2.	completion of in-class projects related to planetary science
	Criteria
	Criteria - Performance will be satisfactory when:
	6.1.	learner describes the overall physical properties of the solar system.
	6.2.	learner describes the origin of the solar system.
	6.3.	learner explains the sun's photosphere, chromosphere, corona, sunspots/flares, solar activity, cycles, effect of above on earth.
	6.4.	Learner achieves a 60% or higher on all tests, assignments, and discussion
	Learning Objectives
	6.a.	Identify the characteristics of the Earth's atmosphere, crust, mantle and core
	6.b.	Describe characteristics of Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto and notable satellites of planets Io, Europa, Titan, etc.
	6.c.	Compare structure, location and motion of dwarf planets, asteroids, comets, meteors, meteorites, and Kuiper Belt objects.
	6.d.	Describe theories related to the origin of the solar system
	6.e.	Describe properties of the sun's photosphere, chromosphere, corona, sunspots/flares, solar activity, cycles, and the effect of above on earth
7.	Explain Stellar Properties, Stellar Distances and Stellar classification
	Assessment Strategies
	7.1.	in a written exam.
	7.2.	completion of in-class projects describing stellar properties
	Criteria
	Criteria - Performance will be satisfactory when:
	7.1.	Learner compares the sun to the general population of stars. in terms of size, temperature, and luminosity.
	7.2.	Learner analyzes techniques to determine the distances to stars.
	7.3.	Learner achieves a 60% or higher on all tests, assignments, and discussion
	Learning Objectives
	7.a.	Describe the distances and motions of the stars as related to Stellar Parallax, Stellar/galactic motions, and Standard distance indicators.
	7.b.	Identify special characteristics of Stellar spectra and classification with regard to brightness, luminosity, spectral classification, luminosity classes and the HR diagram.
	7.c.	Identify visual binaries, spectroscopic binaries, eclipsing binaries and the statistics of binaries
8.	Explain Stellar Structure and Evolution
	Assessment Strategies
	8.1.	in a written exam.
	8.2.	by comparison of stellar lives using the H-R Diagram
	Criteria
	Criteria - Performance will be satisfactory when:
	8.1.	Learner investigates the dynamics of energy conversions within stars.
	8.2.	Learner analyzes the process of stellar evolution and how it relates to initial mass of the star.
	8.3.	Learner achieves a 60% or higher on all tests, assignments, and discussion
	Learning Objectives
	8.a.	Describe the structure and evolution of stars regarding: stellar energy, the main sequence, evolution, and formation
	8.b.	Relate stellar properties to stellar evolutionary stages depicted by the H-R Diagram
	8.c.	Identify extraordinary events in stellar evolution known as planetary formation, Cepheid variables, planetary nebulae, supernovae, neutron stars and black holes
	8.d.	Describe the evolutionary path of stars as they relate to their initial mass
	8.e.	Judge the importance that supernovas play in the evolution of the universe and the possibilities of life within it
9.	Analyze the overall makeup and evolution of the universe (Galaxies & Cosmology)
	Assessment Strategies
	9.1.	in a written exam.
	9.2.	by using light to describe star formation within galaxies
	Criteria
	Criteria - Performance will be satisfactory when:
	9.1.	Learner analyzes the Milky Way in terms of distribution of mass, motion and our location within it.
	9.2.	Learner compares the Milky Way to other galaxies in terms of size, shape, motion, and distribution
	9.3.	Learner describes the theories related to the origin, evolution and fate of the universe.
	9.4.	Learner achieves a 60% or higher on all tests, assignments, and discussion
	Learning Objectives
	9.a.	Describe our galaxy, the Milky way, with regard to: Shape and size, composition, galactic rotation, stellar populations and our location within it
	9.b.	Describe the Universe of Galaxies relating to types of Galaxies, Galactic masses, distribution, distances, dark matter and Quasars.
	9.c.	Differentiate concepts of the Universe with regard to: the expanding Universe, evolution, curvature, and the future of the Universe.
	9.d.	Describe our attempts to look for life beyond the earth and the steps we are taking to look for it.

Developed By:

Jim Mihal

Development Date:

11/27/2013

Revised By:

Jim Mihal

Revision Date:

11/23/2018