20806254Astronomy: Stars, Galaxies & Cosmology
Course Information
Description
An introductory astronomy course covering gravity, light and astronomical instruments, our Sun, stars and stellar evolution (including nebulae, supernovae, white dwarfs, pulsars, and black holes), Milky Way and other galaxies, and cosmology (history, structure, and fate of the universe, big bang theory). Some optional evening observing sessions may also be included. (These are off campus meetings for star viewing with the school's binoculars and telescopes.)
Total Credits
4
Course Competencies
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Summarize major theories of physics (mechanics and gravity) as they relate to astronomyAssessment StrategiesCompleting lab projectsParticipate in class activityParticipate in class disussionTaking written test/quizCriteriaexplain Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motionexplain Newton's Laws of Motionexplain Newton's Universal Theory of Gravityapply Newton's Laws of Motion of Gravity to orbitsdescribe Special Relativity as relates to astronomydescribe General Relativity as relates to astronomydescribe Quantum Mechanics as relates to astronomy
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Summarize major properties of lightAssessment StrategiesCompleting lab projectsParticipate in class activityParticipate in class discussionTaking written test/quizCriterialist types of electromagnetic radiation (light) in order of wavelengthidentify how to observe each type of electromagnetic radiationdescribe the following particle properties of light reflecting and photoelectric effectdescribe wave properties of light:reflection, refraction, diffraction, interference, and Doppler effectexplain the relationship between light and atoms (spectroscopy)
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Show how to determine various stellar propertiesAssessment StrategiesCompleting lab projectsParticipate in class activityParticipate in class discussionTaking written test/quizCriteriaexplain how to determine distances to starsexplain how to determine luminosities of starsdemonstrate the relationship between flux, luminosity, and distanceexplain how to use stellar spectra to determine stellar temperatures, compositions, radial velocities, magnetic fields, and rotation ratesdemonstrate the relationship between luminosity, radius, and temperature (Stephan-Boltzman relationship)explain how to use binary stars to determine stellar masses and radiiplot stellar information on a HR diagraminterpret a HR diagram
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Describe the Sun and solar activityAssessment StrategiesCompleting lab projectsParticipate in class discussionParticipate in class activityTaking written test/quizCriteriasummarize the physical properties of the Sunexplain the process of nuclear fusion occuring in the Sunexplain the solar activity cycleexplain how solar activity cycle influences the Earth (and other planets)
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Explain the evolution of stars (low mass stars and high mass)Assessment StrategiesCompleting lab projectsParticipate in class activityParticipate in class discussionTaking written test/quizCriteriadescribe conditions and environment needed for star formationexplain the evolution of a low mass star (i.e. Sun) from birth to deathexplain the evolution of a high mass star (i.e. Betelgeuse) from birth to deathcompare the evolution of stars of various masses (ex. low mass stars vs. high mass stars)contrast the evolution of stars of various masses (ex. low mass stars vs. high mass stars)describe three types of stellar remnants: white dwarfs, neutron stars/pulsars, and black holessummarize how astronomers search for and detect exoplanetsrelate the current status of extra-solar planetary searches
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Summarize the history of our understanding of the Milky WayAssessment StrategiesCompleting lab projectsParticipate in class activityParticipate in class discussionTaking written test/quizCriteriaexplain how our view of the Milky Way has changed with time (ancient Greeks, Galileo, Herschel...)explain Shapley's model of Milky Wayexplain Kapteyn's model of Milky Waydiscuss the Great Debate and its significanceexplain Hubble's resolution to Great Debate
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Explain how to determine the properties of the Milky WayAssessment StrategiesCompleting lab projectsParticipate in class activityParticipate in class discussionTaking written test/quizCriteriacharacterize the major components of the Milky Way (disk, spheroid, galactic halo, nuclear bulge, globular clusters...)sketch the Milk Wayexplain how to determine the dimensions of the Milky Wayexplain how to measure the mass of the Milky Wayexplain significance of flat rotation curve and dark matterdiscuss the Milky Way supermassive black hole (Sag. A*)
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Explain the properties and structure of galaxiesAssessment StrategiesCompleting lab projectsParticipate in class activityParticipate in class discussionTaking written test/quizCriteriacharacterize the basic types of galaxies (Hubble tuning fork)sketch the basic types of galaxiesclassify galaxies by their basic shapesexplain how astronomers determine the sizes of galaxiesexplain how astronomers determine the composition of galaxiesexplain how astronomers determine the distances to galaxies (Hubble law; Cepheid variables, supernovae measurements...)describe major types of active galaxiesexplain the nature of quasarsexplain the Unified AGN model
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Describe the large-scale structure of the universeAssessment StrategiesCompleting lab projectsParticipate in class activityParticipate in class discussionTaking written test/quizCriteriaidentify our location in universedescribe the Local Group and its major memberslist some groups and clustersdescribe the Local Supercluster (Virgo, Supercluster)describe the largest scale structure of universe (superclusters and voids)recognize some example superclustersexplain how to map the structure of the universe
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Discuss the Big Bang Theory and the major evidence for itAssessment StrategiesCompleting lab projectsParticipate in class activityParticipate in class discussionTaking written test/quizCriteriaexplain Hubble's observation of the expansion of the universediscuss the importance of Hubble's Lawexplain the cosmological principledescribe the Big Bang Theoryexplain 5 major categories of evidence for Big Bang Theoryexplain the three major measurements of Cosmic Microwave Backgrounddiscuss the status of Big Bang Nucleosynthesis Theory
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Summarize the evolution (origin and fate) of the universeAssessment StrategiesCompleting lab projectsParticipate in class activityParticipate in class discussionTaking written test/quizCriteriasummarize the origin and early evolution of universeexplain the role of Inflation (modification to Big Bang Theory)discuss status of our understanding of dark matterexplain the discovery of accelerating expansion and its significancediscuss the status of our understanding of dark energydescribe how to measure the shape of the universesummarize the possible fates of the universeexplain what observations astronomers are making in order to more accurately determine the fate of the universe
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Explore the possibility of life in the universeAssessment StrategiesCompleting lab projectsParticipate in class activityParticipate in class discussionTaking written test/quizCriteriadetermine the characteristics that all life must shareexplain the conditions which are favorable to lifeexplain the Drake equationexplore possible methods to scientifically search for life in the universeassess the issues or problems that scientists may encounter in the search for extra terrestrial lifeevaluate the worthiness of the search for terrestrial life
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Identify the purpose of important space missions and astronomical experiments as they apply to our modern understanding of stars, galaxies, and cosmologyAssessment StrategiesCompleting lab projectsParticipate in class activityParticipate in class discussionTaking written test/quizCriteriadescribe the major contributions of Hubble Space Telescopeidentify major contributions of other space telescopes (i.e. Spitzer, Fermi, Chandra...)describe the major discoveries of the Kepler missionexplain the purpose of the solar missions (SOHO, SDO, STEREO...)describe some of the major cosmology missions (COBE, WMAP...)
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Use various astronomical instruments (telescope, planisphere, etc.) (OPTIONAL)Assessment StrategiesCompleting lab projectsParticipating in observing sessions (Optional)Taking written test/quizCriteriaexplain the major functions of a telescope and/or binocularsfocus a telescope and/or binocularsexplain the structure of reflecting and refracting telescopessketch the structure of reflecting and refracting telescopesuse a starfinder (planisphere)explain the function of spectroscopes (diffraction gratings)use a spectroscope (diffraction grating)explain the function of photometers (filters)use astronomical sky simulation software (i.e. Stellarium, Starry Night)use astronomical websites for data gathering (i.e. USNO Astronomical Applications, Heaven's Above...)