ASTRO 11 Astronomy of the Solar System

Units: 4
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Beginning Algebra or appropriate placement as determined by the college’s multiple measures assessment process.
This course is a general introduction to the astronomy of the solar system. The topics include the physical background necessary to understand the motion of planets, their moons, comets, asteroids, and other celestial bodies, the shapes of those bodies, as well as the nature of light and other electromagnetic waves. The structure, the geology, and the atmospheres of the planets of our solar system are discussed, as well as the nature and the movement of asteroids, comets, dwarf planets, and some other objects. Furthermore, the processes that take place in the Sun and around it are discussed, as are the issues related to the detection and the study of planets around other stars, including the potential existence of life in other solar systems. Lastly, celestial navigation and astronomical observations using various types of telescopes are discussed. Many of these topics are addressed hands-on in the laboratory part of the course. (HBCU, UC, CSU)