SRJC Course Outlines

3/28/2024 6:54:00 AMASTRON 3L Course Outline as of Fall 2017

Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION

Discipline and Nbr:  ASTRON 3LTitle:  STELLAR ASTRON LAB  
Full Title:  Stellar Astronomy Laboratory
Last Reviewed:10/24/2022

UnitsCourse Hours per Week Nbr of WeeksCourse Hours Total
Maximum1.00Lecture Scheduled017.5 max.Lecture Scheduled0
Minimum1.00Lab Scheduled3.006 min.Lab Scheduled52.50
 Contact DHR0 Contact DHR0
 Contact Total3.00 Contact Total52.50
 
 Non-contact DHR0 Non-contact DHR Total0

 Total Out of Class Hours:  0.00Total Student Learning Hours: 52.50 

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:
Untitled document
Analysis and reduction of basic astronomical data concerning stars, nebulae, and galaxies.  Using collaborative activities, photos, spectra, and direct observations, the student will arrive at conclusions concerning fundamental properties of the universe.  Topics will include electromagnetic radiation, observed properties of stars, variable and binary stars, stellar evolution, black holes, the interstellar medium, star clusters, the Milky Way and other galaxies, cosmology, and the possibility of other life forms in the universe.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:
Course Completion or Current Enrollment in ASTRON 3


Recommended Preparation:

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description: Untitled document
Analysis and reduction of basic astronomical data concerning stars, nebulae, and galaxies.  Using collaborative activities, photos, spectra, and direct observations, the student will arrive at conclusions concerning fundamental properties of the universe.  Topics will include electromagnetic radiation, observed properties of stars, variable and binary stars, stellar evolution, black holes, the interstellar medium, star clusters, the Milky Way and other galaxies, cosmology, and the possibility of other life forms in the universe.
(Grade or P/NP)

Prerequisites:Course Completion or Current Enrollment in ASTRON 3
Recommended:
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:Inactive:
 Area:
 
CSU GE:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 B3Laboratory ActivityFall 1998
 
IGETC:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 5CFulfills Lab RequirementFall 1998
 
CSU Transfer:TransferableEffective:Fall 1997Inactive:
 
UC Transfer:TransferableEffective:Fall 1998Inactive:
 
C-ID:

Certificate/Major Applicable: Major Applicable Course



COURSE CONTENT

Student Learning Outcomes:
At the conclusion of this course, the student should be able to:
Untitled document
1.  Describe methods used to interpret observable astronomical phenomena.
2.  Use astronomical tools to make accurate observations.
3.  Employ critical thinking to evaluate observable data.
 

Objectives: Untitled document
Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Describe the fundamental properties of electromagnetic radiation and how these properties are
    used to discover the characteristics of stars, nebulae, and galaxies.
2. Discuss the observational techniques that are used to compute distances, temperatures,
     brightness, motions, compositions, and masses of stars.
3. Use exponential notation to numerically describe and compare the distances, temperatures,
    brightness, motions, compositions, and masses of stars.
4. Interpret, analyze, and graph information about the universe.  
5. Describe the nuclear processes that power the stars.
6. Compute the ages of stars from the Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) diagram.
7. Compute the distances to star clusters from the H-R diagram.
8. Compute the distances to galaxies from Hubble's Law.
9. Identify the Hubble galaxy classes.
10. Compute the age of the universe using the Hubble Constant.

Topics and Scope
Untitled document
I. Scientific measurement methods
    A. Distance units and scale
     B. Uncertainty and error analysis
II. Electromagnetic (EM) radiation
    A. The EM spectrum
    B. Spectroscopy
    C. The Doppler Effect
III. Stellar distances
    A. Parallax
    B. Standard candles
          1. Cepheid variable stars
         2. Type Ia supernovae
IV. Stellar properties
     A. Magnitudes/luminosities of star
    B. Masses of stars
    C. The spectral classification system for stars
    D. The H-R Diagram
    E. Motions
V. Stellar structure and evolution
    A. Nebulae and the interstellar medium
    B. Ages of star clusters
    C. Supernovae and the deaths of stars
    D. Neutron stars and black holes
VI. The Milky Way Galaxy
    A. Properties and appearance of the Milky Way
    B. The Solar System's location in the Milky Way
VII. Other galaxies
    A. Hubble galaxy classification
    B. The Local Group
VIII. Cosmology
    A. The expansion of the universe and Hubble's Law
    B. The fate of the universe
IX. Life in the universe
 
Additional topics may include:
X.  Earth and sky
    A. Celestial sphere
    B. Diurnal and annual motion
XI. Constellations and mapping
    A. Star charts and planispheres
    B. Terrestrial and celestial coordinate systems
XII. Optical systems
    A. Image formation
    B. Lenses and mirrors
    C. Telescope types
    D. Cameras

Assignments:
Untitled document
1. Weekly reading assignments (5-10 pages)
2. Laboratory assignments (10-20)
3. Outdoor observation reports (1-5)
4. Quizzes (0-15)
5. Exams (1-4)

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 - 40%
Observation reports
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.Problem Solving
20 - 50%
Laboratory assignments
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
10 - 40%
Objective examinations (multiple choice, true/false, and/or short answer), quizzes
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.Other Category
0 - 20%
Attendance and participation


Representative Textbooks and Materials:
Untitled document
Explorations: An Introduction to Astronomy. 8th ed. Arny, Thomas and Schneider, Stephen. McGraw-Hill Publishing. 2016
Observer's Handbook 2017. Edgar, James. Royal Astronomical Society of Canada. 2016
Foundations of Astronomy. 13th ed. Seeds, Michael and Backman, Dana. Brooks/Cole Publishing. 2015
A Workbook for Astronomy. 2nd ed. Waxman, Jerry. Quintessential Publishing. 2007 (classic)

Print PDF