Is there life on other planets?
How do stars form?
These are only a few of the exciting questions confronting astronomers in the 1990s. The development of space observatories, the construction of large telescopes on earth, and the availability of computers for data analysis and theorertical calculations has been accompanied by a rapid growth in the sophistication of this explosive field. Of course if your want to learn more about the Earth itself, check out the Geology Program
This course is intended to give the student, especially the nonscience student, some insight into the ancient and modern views of the universe and the methods used to study it. Topics discussed include the sky and its apparent motion, ancient astronomy, the enterpretation of light, the solar system, stars and their evolution, interstellar space, galaxies, pulsars, quasars, black holes, cosmology, and life in the universe.
117L. Introductory Astronomy Lab. (1 unit)
(Prerequisite: Astronomy 101 or Physics 110 or concurrent enrollment.
Three laboratory hours weekly.)
This course will develop the student's ability to investigate and solve problems in astronomy. Techniques of expermentation, direct observation, data gathering and interpretation will be employed to solve both classical and contemporary problems in astronomy.
The class will include observations using telescopes, astrophotography, and computer acquisition of data. This course will develop the student's awareness of the scientific method and how to apply it to specific problems and their solutions.