4/19/2024 1:00:28 PM	ASTRON 4 Course Outline as of Fall 2008	Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION
Discipline and Nbr:  ASTRON 4	Title:  ASTRONOMY/SOLAR SYSTEM
Full Title:  Astronomy of the Solar System
Last Reviewed:4/10/2023

Units		Course Hours per Week			Nbr of Weeks	Course Hours Total
Maximum	3.00	Lecture Scheduled	3.00		17.5 max.	Lecture Scheduled	52.50
Minimum	3.00	Lab Scheduled	0		6 min.	Lab Scheduled	0
		Contact DHR	0			Contact DHR	0
		Contact Total	3.00			Contact Total	52.50
		Non-contact DHR	0			Non-contact DHR Total	0

Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00

Total Student Learning Hours: 157.50

Title 5 Category:  AA Degree Applicable
Grading:  Grade or P/NP
Repeatability:  00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP
Also Listed As: 
Formerly: 

Catalog Description:

A descriptive introduction to the Solar System emphasizing the Sun, Moon, planets, asteroids, comets and origin of the Solar System.  

Prerequisites/Corequisites:

Recommended Preparation:
Completion of MATH 150A or higher AND Completion of ENGL 100 or ESL 100.

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description:

A descriptive introduction to the Solar System emphasizing the Sun, Moon, planets, asteroids, comets and origin of the Solar System.  

(Grade or P/NP)
Prerequisites:
Recommended:Completion of MATH 150A or higher AND Completion of ENGL 100 or ESL 100.
Limits on Enrollment:
Transfer Credit:CSU;UC.
Repeatability:00 - Two Repeats if Grade was D, F, NC, or NP

ARTICULATION, MAJOR, and CERTIFICATION INFORMATION

Associate Degree:		Effective:	Fall 1981	Inactive:
Area:	C	Natural Sciences
CSU GE:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	B1	Physical Science		Fall 1981
IGETC:	Transfer Area			Effective:	Inactive:
	5A	Physical Sciences		Fall 1981
CSU Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1991	Inactive:
UC Transfer:	Transferable	Effective:	Fall 1991	Inactive:
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course

COURSE CONTENT

Outcomes and Objectives:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:

 

1. Define and apply the scientific method.

2. Compare the Solar System and its components to other celestial bodies and structures within the Universe.

3. Describe the physical and orbital properties of the Jovian and

Terrestrial planets.

4. Identify the major contributions to astronomy made by various

philosophers, natural scientists, and astronomers.

5. Construct a diagram of the Earth-Moon-Sun system to determine the

Moon's phases at specific times during the lunar cycle.

6. Explain why seasons occur on Earth and other planets.

7. Distinguish and summarize the relationship between comets,

asteroids, and meteor showers.

8. Summarize the physical properties of the major planets and their

largest satellites, comparing such characteristics as

atmosphere, surface temperatures, surface composition and features,

surface gravity and internal structure.

9. Classify the major types of meteorites and summarize the

characteristics of each.

10. Describe the structure of the Sun as well as various solar processes and phenomena.  

Topics and Scope

I. Overview of the Universe

        A. The scientific method

        B. Celestial bodies of the Universe

        C. Distance scales

II. History of Astronomy

        A. Historical models of the cosmos

        B. Heliocentric Universe

        C. The Copernican revolution

        D. Kepler's 3 laws of planetary motion

        E. Newtonian laws of motion and gravity

        F. Calculating surface gravities of planets

III. Overview of the Major Planets

        A. Terrestrial Planets

        B. Jovian Planets

IV. Mercury

        A. Surface features and other properties

        B. Exploration

V.  Venus

        A. Atmosphere, surface features, and other properties

        B. Exploration

VI.  Earth

        A. Atmosphere, surface features, and other properties

        B. Seasons

        C. Life-planet relationships

VII.  Mars

        A. Canals and historical observations

        B. Atmosphere, surface features, and other properties

        C. Exploration

        D. Evidence of liquid water flow

VIII. Jupiter and Saturn

        A. Atmosphere, interior structure, and other properties

        B. Satellites

        C. Planetary ring systems and Roche's Limit

        D. Exploration

IX. Uranus and Neptune

        A. Discovery

        B. Atmosphere, interior structure and other properties

        C. Satellites

        D. Exploration

X.  Pluto and Other Dwarf Planets

        A. Discovery

        B. Properties

        C. Exploration

XI. Comets and Meteor Showers

        A. Anatomy of a comet

        B. Cometary orbits

        C. Historical comets

        D. Comet-meteor relationships

        E. Meteors and meteor showers

XII. Asteroids and Meteorites

        A. Asteroid classification

        C. Impacts

        D. Meteorite classification

XIII. The Moon

        A. Delay in rise/set

        B. Phases

        C. Surface and interior

        D. Orbit

        E. "Geologic" history

        F. The Space Program

XIV. Eclipses

        A. Types of shadows

        B. Lunar eclipses

        C. Solar eclipses

        D. Eclipse seasons and future eclipses

XV. The Sun

        A. Solar interior and atmosphere

        B. Nuclear fusion

        C. Photosphere and sunspots

XVI. The Origin of the Solar System

        A. Nebular Hypothesis

        B. Age of the Solar System

Additional topics may include:

XVII.  Earth and sky

        A.  Celestial Sphere

        B.  Diurnal and annual motion

XVIII. Constellations and mapping

        A. Star charts and planispheres

        B.  Terrestrial and celestial coordinate systems

XIX. Optical Systems

        A.  Image formation

        B.  Lenses and mirrors

        C.  Telescopes types

        D.  Cameras

XX.     Extrasolar Planets  

Assignments:

Assignments vary but typically include the following:

1. Reading from the textbook or instructor prepared materials (averaging

    one chapter per week, roughly 20-30 pages).

2. Homework assignments which may include: a) independent research, b)

    group projects, c) problem sets, d) written work. These homework

    assignments may involve explaining concepts

    discussed in class, in the text, and/or problem solving pertaining to

    such subjects as phases of the Moon, the Law of Gravity, Kepler's

    3rd Law, Roche's Limit and escape velocity.

3. Five to ten page, typed research paper (using at least two outside

    sources)on instructor approved subjects.

4. In-class exercises/activities on subject matter presented in class

    and/or pertaining to videos watched. Exercises/activities may involve

    explaining concepts discussed in class and/or problem solving, involving such subjects as phases of the Moon, the Law of Gravity, Kepler's 3rd Law, Roche's Limit, and escape velocity. Exercises/activities may be done individually or in groups.

5. Extra credit assignments involving visits to Santa Rosa Junior College

    Planetarium, and/or reaction papers to selected scientific movies or

    articles. Reaction papers should be typed and 1 to 1.5 pages.

6. Two to four exams, as well as a final exam (which may or may not be

    comprehensive). Exams may consist of true-false, multiple choice,

    problem-solving completion and/or essay questions.  

Methods of Evaluation/Basis of Grade.

Writing: Assessment tools that demonstrate writing skill and/or require students to select, organize and explain ideas in writing.		Writing 10 - 30%
Written homework, Term papers, Extra credit essays
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.		Problem Solving 5 - 30%
Homework problems, In-class exercises
Skill Demonstrations: All skill-based and physical demonstrations used for assessment purposes including skill performance exams.		Skill Demonstrations 0 - 0%
None
Exams: All forms of formal testing, other than skill performance exams.		Exams 60 - 80%
Multiple choice, True/false, Matching items, Completion, Problem-solving, essay questions
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.		Other Category 0 - 10%
Attendance, individual/group projects

Representative Textbooks and Materials:

THE COSMIC PERSPECTIVE - THE SOLAR SYSTEM. Bennett, Jeffrey. Donahue,

Megan. Scheider, Nicholas. Voit, Mark. Pearson Addison Wesley: 2007.

PATHWAYS TO ASTRONOMY. Schneider, Stephan. Arny, Thomas. McGraw Hill:

2007.

ASTRONOMY - THE SOLAR SYSTEM AND BEYOND. Seeds, Michael. Thomson

Brooks/Cole: 2007.  

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