AST 109 - Planetary Astronomy

(3 units) CO4L

Descriptive introduction to current concepts of the solar system. Modern observational techniques and their results. Supplementary use of telescopes and planetarium facilities.

Prerequisite(s): Completion of the Core Math requirement or SAT score of 630 or ACT score of 27 or Accuplacer QAS score of 276 and AAF of 276 or ALEKS PPL of 61 or Corequisite. Corequisite(s): MATH 126 or MATH 127 or MATH 128 or MATH 176 or MATH 181.

Grading Basis: Graded
Units of Lecture: 3
Offered: Every Fall and Spring

Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. explain natural and physical phenomena predicted and observed, such as sunspots, red- and blue-shifted spectra from “star-light”, supernovae, and colliding galaxies, and the role of nuclear fusion in producing most of the light and heat from the Sun and the other stars.
2. judge the relative temperatures of stars observed using a telescope and, for stars on the main sequence of the H-R diagram, deduce relative main sequence lifetimes of stars, their relative masses, their relative luminosities, their relative absolute magnitudes, and their relative surface temperatures.
3. (on a clear night, at a location in the Northern Hemisphere), determine the latitude by observing Polaris, the North star, and in addition determine the North, South, East, and West directions.
4. calculate the magnifying powers of simple astronomical telescopes, given the appropriate information.
5. estimate the relative resolving powers of simple astronomical tele- scopes, given the appropriate information.
6. calculate the f/number of simple astronomical telescopes given the appropriate information and explain the utility of knowing the f/number of a simple telescope.
7. determine the phases of the Moon by looking at it, and to so determine how far along the Moonth (old Anglo-Saxon word for month after which our Moon is named) is.
8. formulate questions, and analyze scientific evidence, to discriminate between sound and unsound claims, for example comparing and contrasting different hypotheses regarding the origin and evolution of the universe.

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