SRJC Course Outlines

3/28/2024 2:22:34 PMASTRON 4 Course Outline as of Spring 2019

Changed Course
CATALOG INFORMATION

Discipline and Nbr:  ASTRON 4Title:  ASTRONOMY/SOLAR SYSTEM  
Full Title:  Astronomy of the Solar System
Last Reviewed:4/10/2023

UnitsCourse Hours per Week Nbr of WeeksCourse Hours Total
Maximum3.00Lecture Scheduled3.0017.5 max.Lecture Scheduled52.50
Minimum3.00Lab Scheduled06 min.Lab Scheduled0
 Contact DHR0 Contact DHR0
 Contact Total3.00 Contact Total52.50
 
 Non-contact DHR0 Non-contact DHR Total0

 Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00Total 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:
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A descriptive introduction to the Solar System including the Sun, Moon, planets, asteroids, and comets.Topics will include lunar phases, eclipses, historical geocentric and heliocentric models of the cosmos, planetary geology, planetary atmospheres and climates, the formation of the Solar System, and extrasolar planetary systems.

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: Untitled document
A descriptive introduction to the Solar System including the Sun, Moon, planets, asteroids, and comets.Topics will include lunar phases, eclipses, historical geocentric and heliocentric models of the cosmos, planetary geology, planetary atmospheres and climates, the formation of the Solar System, and extrasolar planetary systems.
(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:
 B1Physical ScienceFall 1981
 
IGETC:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 5APhysical SciencesFall 1981
 
CSU Transfer:TransferableEffective:Fall 1991Inactive:
 
UC Transfer:TransferableEffective:Fall 1991Inactive:
 
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:
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1.  Critically analyze astronomical observations and the scientific theories used to explain them.
2.  Recognize, differentiate, and describe the various astronomical bodies within the Universe,
    concentrating on the celestial bodies within the Solar System.
3.  Explain why some astronomical bodies exhibit phases.
4.  Recognize the factors affecting planetary seasons and atmospheres, and relate these to Earth.
 

Objectives: Untitled document
During this course, students will:
 
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. Describe and summarize the relationships between comets, asteroids, and meteor showers.
8. Summarize the physical properties of the major planets and their largest satellites.
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.
11. Discuss the methods of detection of extrasolar planets and describe the properties of some of
    these recently found worlds.

Topics and Scope
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I. Overview of the Universe
    A. The nature of science
    B. Celestial bodies of the Universe
    C. Distance scales
II. History of Astronomy
    A. Historical geocentric and heliocentric models of the cosmos
    B. The Copernican revolution
    C. Kepler's 3 laws of planetary motion
    D. Newtonian laws of motion and gravity
    E. Surface gravities of planets
III. Terrestrial Worlds: Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars
     A. Interiors and compositions
    B. Geological processes and surface features
    C. Atmospheres
    D. Seasons and climates
    E. Comparative planetology
     F. Exploration
IV. Jovian Worlds: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune
    A. Interior structure and composition
    B. Atmosphere and cloud layers
    C. Ring systems
     D. Discovery of Uranus and Neptune
    E. Satellites
    F. Exploration
V. Pluto and Other Dwarf Planets
    A. Discovery
    B. Properties
    C. Exploration
VI. Comets and Meteor Showers
    A. Anatomy of a comet
    B. Orbital paths
    C. Historical comets
    D. Comet-meteor relationships
    E. Meteors and meteor showers
VII. Asteroids and Meteorites
    A. Asteroid classification
    B. Impacts
    C. Meteorite classification
VIII. The Moon
    A. Lunar rise/set times
    B. Phases
    C. Orbital and surface properties
    D. Geology
    E. Tides
    F. The Space Program
IX. Eclipses
    A. Types of shadows
    B. Lunar eclipses
    C. Solar eclipses
    D. Eclipse seasons and future eclipses
X. The Sun
    A. Interior and atmosphere
    B. Nuclear fusion
    C. Photosphere and sunspots
XI. The Origin of the Solar System
    A. Nebular Hypothesis
    B. Age of the Solar System
XII. Extrasolar Planets
    A. Methods of detection
    B. Types and properties  
     C. Discoveries of potentially habitable worlds
Additional topics may include:
XIII.  Earth and Sky
    A. Celestial Sphere
    B. Diurnal and annual motion
XIV. Constellations and Mapping
    A. Star charts and planispheres
    B. Terrestrial and celestial coordinate systems
XV. Optical Systems
    A. Image formation
    B. Lenses and mirrors
    C. Telescopes types
    D. Cameras

Assignments:
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1. Weekly reading from the textbook or instructor prepared materials (20-30 pages)
2. Homework assignments (5-20)
3. Five to ten page, typed research paper using at least two outside sources (0-1)
4. In-class exercises (0-30)
5. Quizzes (0-30)
6. Exams (0-4)
7. Final exam

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%
Homework, research paper
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%
Exams and/or quizzes
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.Other Category
0 - 10%
Participation


Representative Textbooks and Materials:
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The Solar System. 10th ed. Seeds, Michael and Backman, Dana. Cengage Learning.2018
The Cosmic Perspective; The Solar System. 8th ed. Bennett, Jeffrey and Donahue, Megan and Scheider, Nicholas. Pearson. 2016
Pathways to Astronomy. 4th ed. Schneider, Stephan and Arny, Thomas. McGraw Hill. 2014

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