Chabot College/Las Positas College
February 1994
Removed Fall 2006
Course Outline for Astronomy 40
OBSERVATIONAL ASTRONOMY
Catalog Description:
40 - Observational Astronomy
1 unit
Fundamentals of observing the sky with and without telescopes; constellations, major and minor
planets, meteors and comets, moon and sun. 1 hour lecture, 1 hour laboratory.
Expected Outcomes for Students:
Upon completion of the course, the student should be able to:
1.
identify at least 25 constellations;
2.
identify at least 25 of the brightest stars in the sky;
3.
locate a star or planet in the planetarium sky or on a star guide when given appropriate
celestial coordinates;
4.
diagram the solar system showing the approximate locations of the planets;
5.
differentiate between the rotational and revolutionary motion of the earth;
6.
recognize the effect of changing celestial coordinates due to the earth's precessional
motion;
7.
diagram the possible orbital paths of comets in the solar system;
8.
diagram the paths of meteors throughout the earth's atmosphere relative to a designated
location on the earth;
9.
identify the components of both reflective and refractive types of telescopes when given a
diagram of each;
10.
position a telescope properly relative to the stars when given a set of geographical
coordinates;
11.
show, by constructing a diagram, the motion of the moon about the earth;
12.
identify the physical properties of the major planets;
13.
identify the physical characteristics of double stars or binaries;
14.
identify the physical characteristics of clusters and galaxies;
15.
identify the physical characteristics of the sun and moon.
Course Content:
1.
Orientation to the sky
2.
Seasonal and circumpolar constellations
3.
Bright stars, magnitudes and coordinates
4.
Planetary motions
5.
Meteors, meteoroids and comets
6.
Telescopes
7.
Moon
8.
Planets
9.
Sun
10.
Binaries, clusters and galaxies
Methods of Presentation:
1.
Lecture-demonstration
2.
Audio-visual materials
3.
Planetarium projection system
Chabot College
Course Outline for Astronomy 40, Page 2
February 1994
Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
1.
Periodic short quizzes
2.
Midterm examination
3.
Final examination
Textbook(s) (Typical):
Night Watch: An Equinox Guide to Viewing the Universe, Dickinson, Camden House Publishers
Special Student Materials:
SH/hp 1/94
a:ASTR40CO.CON
None