Introduction to Astronomy

Catalog description

Three lecture. Three lab. Motion and structure of the sun, planets, constellations, comets, asteroids, and meteors. Cosmic explosions, quasars, and stellar evolution including white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes. Lab component requires numerous night observations. Students will be able to: compare the early historical ideas of astronomy with the modern theories of astronomy; learn the basic characteristics of the sun, planets, moons and the minor members of the solar system; discover the types of information gathered by planetary probes; explain the general theories of the origin and evolution of the solar system; state the basic properties of electromagnetic radiation; describe the basic methods involved in determining the distances, masses and sizes of stars; describe the methods used by astronomers to measure and classify the brightness of stars; state the characteristics of gaseous nebulas, star clusters, and variable stars; explain the theories involved in stellar energy generation and stellar evolution; state the characteristics of our galaxy and compare these with other galaxies; discuss the current theories of the origin of the universe; name and construct the hierarchy of objects in the observable universe. General Education: Natural Sciences