PHS 152 - Astronomy

1. Use units in the SI unit system as well as other common Astronomical units
   1. List the Si units
   2. Identify the common SI unit prefixes
   3. Convert the Si unit and measurement into equivalent units
   4. Identify the units parsec, light-year, and astronomical unit (AU)
2. Recognize major constellations
   1. Identify at least two constellations
   2. List the major stars that make up the constellation
   3. Explain the name and associated story with a constellation from at least one culture
   4. Identify major constellations in the sky
3. Review the historical development of Astronomy
   1. Identify famous astronomers in history
   2. Identify key developments in astronomical perspective and theory
   3. List developments in astronomical tools
4. Examine optics and properties of the electro-magnetic spectrum
   1. Explore the laws of reflection and refraction
   2. Investigate spherical mirrors
   3. Distinguish between converging and diverging lenses
   4. Recognize parts of the electromagnetic spectrum
   5. State Doppler’s effect
5. Examine types of telescopes and their uses
   1. Identify reflecting telescopes and refracting telescopes
   2. Identify the telescopes used to look at different parts of the spectrum.
   3. Explain spectral analysis
   4. Identify the uses of Doppler shifts in Astronomy
6. Examine the physics of gravity and orbits
   1. Examine Newton’s law of gravity
   2. State Kepler’s first law
   3. State Kepler’s second law
   4. State Kepler’s third law
7. Explain the parts and the development of the solar system
   1. Identify the planets in the solar system
   2. Distinguish between the Terrestrial planets and the Jovian planets
   3. Identify the unique features of the planets in the solar system
   4. Identify the Earth’s moon
   5. Identify the major moons of Jupiter and Saturn
   6. Explain the evolution of the solar system
   7. Identify comets and asteroids
   8. Distinguish the orbits of objects in the solar system
8. Explain different stars and their development
   1. Examine stellar luminosity
   2. Examine stellar spectra
   3. Examine stellar surface temperatures
   4. Examine stellar masses
   5. Draw and interpret the Hertzprung-Russell diagram
   6. Examine the idea of fusion
   7. Explain the evolution of stars
   8. Identify the different stages in the life of a low mass star
   9. Identify the different stages in the life of a high mass star.
   10. Identify brown dwarfs
9. Outline the evolution of the Universe
   1. Examine the big Bang theory
   2. Examine the different forces in the universe.
   3. Identify key points in the early evolution of the universe.
   4. Explain the evolution of galaxies
   5. Identify different types of galaxies
   6. Identify other objects in the Universe