UMUC-Europe Syllabus

ASTR 100 Introduction to Astronomy (3) (Not open to students who have taken or are taking any astronomy course numbered 250 or higher. For students not majoring or minoring in a science.) Prerequisite: MATH 012 or higher. A discussion of the major areas of astronomy. Topics include the solar system, stars and stellar evolution, and galaxies. Current topics in astronomy are also discussed. Students may receive credit for only one of the following courses: ASTR 100, ASTR 101, ASTR 120, or GNSC 125.

Course Goals/Objectives:

After completing this course, students should be able to: * explain the scientific method, why it is so successful, and how it has been used in astronomy * discuss the differences between science and pseudoscience, and how to distinguish one from the other * explain why the naked-eye astronomical objects (Sun, Moon, and nearby planets and stars) appear to move the way we see them move * discuss the basic properties of the main types of astronomical bodies, including planets, stars, and galaxies * describe the range of distances and time scales that apply to various astronomical objects and phenomena * cite the evidence that supports our understanding of celestial objects and processes, such as black holes, generations of stars, and the Big Bang * provide an overview of the astronomical, physical, chemical, and biological events that made it possible for life to exist on earth today * discuss the impact of scientific discovery on individuals and social systems * perform quantitative reasoning, and present and interpret quantitative scientific information

Course Introduction:

Astronomy is looking up! People have been looking up at the stars for a long time - probably for as long as there have been people! However, only recently have scientists developed a detailed understanding of many astronomical objects and phenomena. In this course, you'll find out a lot of what we have learned. Because astronomy is an interdisciplinary endeavor, you'll learn about many different types of science. This is good because, as an educated person in today's world, you'll need to be familiar with many different subjects. Many aspects of our life - in politics, at work, at home - involve science and technology. Examples of astronomy-related scientific issues that could affect us include the greenhouse effect, the destruction of the ozone layer, and the effects of different energy sources on our environment. An informed citizen will need to know about many of these issues. Besides the practical use of the science in this course, you'll learn more about the world (and universe) in which you live, expand your ability to think about the world, and be able to use your natural curiosity to learn more about the universe. The course will give you an overview of all major astronomical topics. The course starts from an observational point of view, as we discuss the motions of the celestial objects that can be seen with the naked eye. We then move on to modern astrophysics, touching on physical laws and on techniques for acquiring astronomical information. As we deal with various areas of astronomy, we'll continually examine how the scientific method helps us make sense of the observations and usefully relates observation and theory. We start our journey close to home - actually at home - by discussing the earth as a planet, moving on to the moon, and then to the other planets and their moons. We'll then look at the small astronomical bodies in the solar system and finally, the sun, ending our discussion of the solar system with an explanation of how the solar system formed and why it has the characteristics we observe. Next, we move on to the stars and aggregates of stars, from small star clusters to enormous galaxies, and even clusters of galaxies. We then consider the entire universe, looking at its large-scale structure and evolution. Lastly, we'll explore the conditions that allowed life on earth to develop, and we'll consider the probability of life elsewhere in our galaxy.

Grading Information and Criteria:

Grades in this course will be determined as follows: 5% Class participation 5% News Clippings File 15% Sky Observations 20% Homework Activities 20% Midterm Exam 35% Final Exam The grading scale in this course will be determined as follows: A = 90%-100% B = 80%-89% C = 70%-79% D = 60%-69% F = 0%-59%

Other Information:

None

Project Descriptions:

News Clippings File The daily news is not just sports and politics. It includes science too! For this simple project all you need to do is read newspapers or magazines throughout the course. When you find an article related to astronomy, cut it out and write a few sentences about it, stating what the article is about and what the conclusions were. Length and breadth of the original articles are not important, because this project is mainly to get you used to reading articles about astronomy and other sciences. You should collect at least five news clippings, and include the complete reference (author, title, publication, date, volume, and/or page numbers) for each. Sky Observations 1. Lunar Phase Observations - Consult the weather page in your newspaper, or ask the instructor to find out when there is a new moon. At some time during the course, starting two or three days after a new moon, observe the position of the moon at the same time every day for two weeks. Make a table showing the date and time of each observation, the position of the moon in the sky, and the phase of the moon. Alternatively, you can show this information in a diagram. At the end of the two weeks, write a few sentences about how its position in the sky changed over that time. Explain why that change occurred. 2. Constellation Observations - At some time during the course, use your star chart to identify any five constellations in the night sky. If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, also find the Big Dipper and the North Star (Polaris). Submit the names of the five constellations you found; describe how you found Polaris; and comment about how easy (or hard) it was to use the star chart to locate constellations. Do the constellations in the sky look like the ones on the star chart? If not, how do they differ? Homework Activities Weekly homework assignments are due in this course which reinforce the topics covered in the readings, lectures, and class discussions. These assignments can take many forms, including problem solving, graphing and quantitative reasoning activities, interpreting scientific data and information, short answer and short essay questions, sketching diagrams and figures, designing and/or constructing models, performing hands-on activities, making observations of nature, and searching for and evaluating information on the internet. Exams A midterm and final exam are required in this course. These exams will include the topics and skills covered in the required readings, lectures, and class discussions.

Academic Policies:

Cases of plagiarism are handled consistent with current UMUC guidelines. See the UMUC policies at the following URL: http://www.umuc.edu/policy/

Course Schedule:

Session 1 Topics: The Scale of the Cosmos & The Scientific Method Homework Activity Session 2 Topic: The Sky Homework Activity Session 3 Topic: Cycles of the Sky Homework Activity Session 4 Topic: The Origin of Modern Astronomy Homework Activity Session 5 Topic: Astronomical Tools Homework Activity Session 6 Topic: Atoms and Starlight Session 7 Topic: The Sun Midterm Exam Session 8 Topic: The Properties of Stars Homework Activity Session 9 Topic: Stellar Evolution Homework Activity Session 10 Topic: The Milky Way Homework Activity Session 11 Topic: Galaxies Homework Activity Session 12 Topic: The Solar System - I News Clippings File Due Session 13 Topic: The Solar System - II Sky Observations Due Session 14 Topic: Life in the Universe Session 15 Review for Final Session 16 Final Examination