SRJC Course Outlines

12/27/2024 1:33:26 AMASTRON 5 Course Outline as of Spring 1989

New Course (First Version)
CATALOG INFORMATION

Discipline and Nbr:  ASTRON 5Title:  LAB SOLAR ASTRON  
Full Title:  Solar Astronomy with Laboratory
Last Reviewed:3/3/1989

UnitsCourse Hours per Week Nbr of WeeksCourse Hours Total
Maximum4.00Lecture Scheduled3.0017.5 max.Lecture Scheduled52.50
Minimum4.00Lab Scheduled3.006 min.Lab Scheduled52.50
 Contact DHR0 Contact DHR0
 Contact Total6.00 Contact Total105.00
 
 Non-contact DHR0 Non-contact DHR Total0

 Total Out of Class Hours:  105.00Total Student Learning Hours: 210.00 

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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The techniques used to gather basic solar astron-observed properties of the sun, the moon, the planets, the satellites of planets, comets and minor planets. The laboratory includes star charts, diurnal and annual motion, coordinate systems, lunar and solar photography, solar spectroscopy, planetary motions and diameters.

Prerequisites/Corequisites:


Recommended Preparation:
Eligibility for ENGL 100 or ESL 100.

Limits on Enrollment:

Schedule of Classes Information
Description: Untitled document
Basic methods used to gather information about the sun, moon, planets, satellites & comets. Lab experiences designed to illustrate the gathering & reduction of such information.
(Grade or P/NP)

Prerequisites:
Recommended:Eligibility for 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:Spring 1989
Inactive:Spring 2011
 Area:C
Natural Sciences
 
CSU GE:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 B1Physical ScienceFall 1990Spring 2011
 B3Laboratory Activity  
 
IGETC:Transfer Area Effective:Inactive:
 5APhysical SciencesFall 1981Spring 2011
 5CFulfills Lab Requirement  
 
CSU Transfer:TransferableEffective:Spring 1989Inactive:Spring 2011
 
UC Transfer:TransferableEffective:Spring 1989Inactive:Spring 2011
 
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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Students will:
1.  Distinguish among dirunal, annual and precessional motion.
2.  Be able to describe the phenomena which lead to the earth's seasons.
3.  Describe the differences among the geographical, horizon and
   equatorial coordinate system.
4.  Be able to use star charts to identify particular stars and
   constellations in the planetarium sky.
5.  Be able to distinguish between solar and sidereal time.
6.  Be able to predict the phases of the moon.
7.  Be able to tell time by the moon.
8.  Be able to identify the major lunar seas.
9.  Be able to determine the age of a planetary surface from crater
   counts.
10. Be able to predict eclipses by observations of lunar orbital nodal
   points.
11. Be able to determine planetary gravitational fields from planetary
   mass and radius.
12. Be able to use Kepler's 3rd law to determine period of revolution
   from orbital semi-major axis.
13. Be able to contrast the grass qualitative properties at the major
   planets.
14. Be able to describe the general properties of the solar magnetic
   cycle.
15. Be able to describe the nuclear process by which the sun generates
   energy.

Topics and Scope
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1.  Introduction.
     a. scale of the solar system.
     b. scale of the stellar system.
2.  The Celestial Sphere & Diurnal Motion.
     a. celestial equator
     b. celestial poles
     c. diurnal circles
3.  Annual Motion.
     a. the ecliptic
     b. seasonal variation of constellations
4.  Seasons & Coordinate Systems.
     a. variation of solar intensity.
     b. variation in duration of sunlight.
     c. tropics.
     d. solstices and equinoxes.
     e. geographic coordinate system.
     f. horizon coordinate system.
     g. equator coordinate system.
5.  Star Charts and Telescopes.
     a. star charts.
     b. reflecting telescopes.
     c. refracting telescopes.
6.  Time and the Calendar.
     a. solar time.
     b. sidereal time.
     c. apparent time.
     d. mean time.
     e. equation time.
7.  Aspects of the Moon.
     a. orbit of moon.
     b. phases of moon.
     c. distance of moon.
     d. mass of moon.
     e. diameter of moon.
8.  The Space Program.
     a. ranger program.
     b. surveyor program.
     c. orbiter program.
     d. apollo program.
9.  The Lunar Surface.
     a. the lunar seas.
     b. the lunar high lands.
     c. the lunar craters.
     d. the lunar mountains.
     e. the rays.
10. Tides and Eclipses.
     a. tides.
     b. solar eclipses.
     c. lunar eclipses.
     d. frequency of eclipses.
11. History of Astronomy.
     a. Greek astronomy
          1. Aristarchus
          2. Pythagoras
          3. Plato
          4. Aristotle
          5. Hipparchus
          6. Ptolemy
     b. Renaissance astronomy
          1. Copernicus
          2. Galileo
          3. Brahe
          4. Kepler
          5. Newton
12. Mercury and Venus.
     a. mariner 10 mission.
     b. surface features.
13. Mars.
     a. History of observations.
          1. Sciaparelli's "Canali"
          2. Lowell's "Canals"
          3. Well's "Martians"
     b. flights of mariners 5,6,7,8,9 and vikings 1 and 2.
     c. surface features.
     d. satellites.
14. Jupiter and Saturn.
     a. earth based observations.
     b. voyager 2.
     c. satellites.
     d. rings.
15. Uranus, Neptune, Pluto.
     a. earth based observations.
     b. voyager 2.
     c. satellites.
     d. rings.
16. Minor Members of the Solar System.
     a. minor planets.
     b. comets.
     c. meteoroides, meteors, meteorites.
17. The Sun.
     a. the photosphere. 1-sunspots, 2-the sunspot cycle
     b. the chormosphere (solar flares)
     c. the corona
     d. the solar wind.
     e. the solar core. 1-hydrogen fusion, 2-the destiny of the sun
18. The Origin of the Solar System.
     a. duelistic theories
     b. monistic theories

Assignments:
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1.  To use star charts to determine the equatorial coordinates of a set
   of stars.
2.  Given a set of equatorial coordinates, to determine the stars
   indicated.
3.  To use star charts to locate particular stars and constellations in
   the planetarium sky.
4.  To determine the sidereal and solar times from particular setting
   of the planetarium sky.
5.  To determine the age of the lunar surface from crater counts.
6.  To determine the time of day from particular settings of the
   plantarium moon.
7.  To determine surface gravities of the moon and planets from given
   values of mass and radius.
8.  To observationally map the lunar surface.
9.  To predict eclipse times at various locations on the earth's surface.
10. To construct an eclipse.
11. To use Kepler's 3rd law to predict planetary revolution periods.
12. To predict times of retrograde motion for superior planets.
13. To determine the age of the mercurian and martian surface from
   crater counts.
14. To determine the time of the next sunspot maximum.

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%
Reading reports
Problem solving: Assessment tools, other than exams, that demonstrate competence in computational or non-computational problem solving skills.Problem Solving
10 - 40%
Lab reports, Exams
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
25 - 50%
Multiple choice, True/false
Other: Includes any assessment tools that do not logically fit into the above categories.Other Category
0 - 0%
None


Representative Textbooks and Materials:

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