Rouse Company Foundation Student Services Building

ASTR 114 Elementary Astronomy Laboratory

Students learn to identify prominent stars and constellations and develop an understanding of basic astronomical measurements and calculations. Students explore measurements and calculations related to angular sizes, absolute and apparent magnitudes, stellar spectra, and sizes and motions of objects in our Solar System, our Galaxy, and beyond our Galaxy. Field trips, including at least one night-time observation, are required.

Credits

1

Prerequisite

MATH 037 or eligible to enroll in MATH 070. Pre- or corequisite: ASTR 104

Hours Weekly

2 hours lab

Course Objectives

  1. Identify prominent stars and major constellations in the night sky.
  2. Analyze potential sources of error or uncertainty in astronomical measurements and evaluate
    the reasonableness of claims based on these measurements.
  3. Calculate the sizes, distances, and motions/apparent motions of objects in our Solar System
    from astronomical observations.
  4. Identify absorption, emission, and blackbody spectra and analyze each spectrum to
    determine characteristics of a celestial body.
  5. Explain the difference between absolute and apparent magnitude and use magnitude
    measurements to calculate stellar distances.
  6. Analyze measurements of objects outside our Solar System to determine characteristics of
    our Galaxy and of the Universe beyond our Galaxy.
  7. Apply basic algebra and trigonometry to common astronomical equations and diagrams to
    solve problems regarding distances, angular sizes, or temperatures.
  8. Summarize evidence using appropriate symbols, notation, and vocabulary.

Course Objectives

  1. Identify prominent stars and major constellations in the night sky.

    This objective is a course Goal Only

  2. Analyze potential sources of error or uncertainty in astronomical measurements and evaluate
    the reasonableness of claims based on these measurements.

    Learning Activity Artifact

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Canvas quizzes; written reports

    Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

    • Scientific Reasoning Rubric

    Scientific Reasoning

    • SR3
  3. Calculate the sizes, distances, and motions/apparent motions of objects in our Solar System
    from astronomical observations.

    This objective is a course Goal Only

  4. Identify absorption, emission, and blackbody spectra and analyze each spectrum to
    determine characteristics of a celestial body.

    This objective is a course Goal Only

  5. Explain the difference between absolute and apparent magnitude and use magnitude
    measurements to calculate stellar distances.

    This objective is a course Goal Only

  6. Analyze measurements of objects outside our Solar System to determine characteristics of
    our Galaxy and of the Universe beyond our Galaxy.

    This objective is a course Goal Only

  7. Apply basic algebra and trigonometry to common astronomical equations and diagrams to
    solve problems regarding distances, angular sizes, or temperatures.

    Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

    • Scientific Reasoning Rubric

    Scientific Reasoning

    • SR2
  8. Summarize evidence using appropriate symbols, notation, and vocabulary.

    Learning Activity Artifact

    • Other (please fill out box below)
    • Canvas quizzes; Written reports

    Procedure for Assessing Student Learning

    • Scientific Reasoning Rubric

    Scientific Reasoning

    • SR1