| 4/19/2024 9:49:03 AM |
| 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:
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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 extra-solar 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:
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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 extra-solar 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: |
| | 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:
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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. 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 extra-solar 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. Extra-solar 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. Reading from the textbook or instructor prepared materials (averaging
one chapter per week, roughly 20-30 pages).
2. Homework assignments (5-20) which may include: a) independent research, b)
group projects, c) problem sets, d) written work.
3. Five to ten page, typed research paper (using at least two outside
sources) on instructor approved subjects.
4. In-class exercises and activities on subject matter presented in class
and/or pertaining to videos watched.
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. Exams (2-4), 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% |
| Exams: 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% |
| Participation, individual/group projects | |
Representative Textbooks and Materials:
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THE COSMIC PERSPECTIVE - THE SOLAR SYSTEM. Bennett, Jeffrey. Donahue,
Megan. Scheider, Nicholas. Voit, Mark. Pearson Addison Wesley: 2013.
PATHWAYS TO ASTRONOMY. Schneider, Stephan. Arny, Thomas. McGraw Hill:
2011.
ASTRONOMY - THE SOLAR SYSTEM AND BEYOND. Seeds, Michael. Backman, Dana. Thomson
Brooks/Cole: 2013.
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