Students will explore physical properties and orbital behavior of planets, moons, asteroids and comets as revealed by telescopic observations and spacecraft missions. They will learn how the scientific method changed our understanding of orbital motions within the solar system. Recent astronomical techniques for studying exoplanets orbiting other star systems will be investigated. Techniques for operating telescopes and analyzing astronomical data will be examined with online access to computer-simulated laboratories. Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours and 1 Practicum/Lab hoursPrerequisite(s): Foundations of Mathematics 20 or Pre-Calculus 20 Note: Students can take this course to fulfill 3 of the 18 credit units required for the Astronomy Minor offered by the College of Arts and Science in conjunction with the Department of Physics and Engineering Physics. Costs in addition to tuition will apply to this course. Please contact the department for details.
Students will explore physical properties and orbital behavior of planets, moons, asteroids and comets as revealed by telescopic observations and spacecraft missions. They will learn how the scientific method changed our understanding of orbital motions within the solar system. Recent astronomical techniques for studying exoplanets orbiting other star systems will be investigated. Techniques for operating telescopes and analyzing astronomical data will be examined with online access to computer-simulated laboratories. Weekly hours: 3 Lecture hours and 1 Practicum/Lab hoursPrerequisite(s): Foundations of Mathematics 20 or Pre-Calculus 20 Note: Students can take this course to fulfill 3 of the 18 credit units required for the Astronomy Minor offered by the College of Arts and Science in conjunction with the Department of Physics and Engineering Physics. Costs in addition to tuition will apply to this course. Please contact the department for details.