ASTR26300 (ASTR263L) Fall 2008
12/13/2008
12/10/2008
11/28/2008
11/24/2008
11/24/2008
11/24/2008
11/24/2008
10/28/2008
10/12/2008
10/09/2008
10/09/2008
10/01/2008
10/01/2008
10/01/2008
10/01/2008
09/28/2008
09/27/2008
09/16/2008
09/02/2008
09/02/2008
09/02/2008
08/25/2008
08/18/2008
08/18/2008
Descriptive Astronomy: The Solar System Laboratory
The night sky is an astonishingly beautiful sight, from which primitive man derived spiritual inspiration, while our more advanced civilization derives a scientific understanding of the universe. Today, astronomy generates perhaps the most public interest of all the sciences. Part of this is no doubt due to its accessible character embodied in the stunning pictures from the Hubble Space Telescope. Another part of the appeal of astronomy remains undeniably spiritual. Almost everyone would like to know how the universe came in to being, and if other advanced life forms exist in the Universe.
The appeal of astronomy is reflected in the large enrollment offered in introductory astronomy courses offered at most universities. The purpose of these courses is to provide the student with a sufficiently broad and deep background in astronomy and to, subsequently, critically follow the new developments in the field for the foreseeable future.
Astronomy is an observational science. Progress in our understanding of the universe is based upon: (a) the development and application of advanced technology to observe the universe and (b) interpretation of astronomical observations in the context of other sciences such as physics, chemistry, earth science etc.
Current session: NOT IN SESSION
Offering: Sem. 1. class 2, lab. 2, cr. 3
Prerequisites: Not available to students with credit in ASTR 363.
Description: A descriptive, nonmathematical course in astronomy intended for non-physics majors. Topics include: description of the sky; historical development of astronomy; motion of the sun and the moon; solar and lunar eclipses; the seasons and the calendar; the sun and the planetary system; comets, meteoroids, and asteroids. Includes required observing sessions. Not available to students with credit in ASTR 363.
| Course | Title | Author | Edition | ISBN | Publisher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ASTR263 | Introductory Astronomy Lab Manual | I. Shipsey, J. Coy & B. MacCall | 6th | 0-07-353949-X | McGraw-Hill |
| ASTR263 | Cosmic Perspective | Jeff Bennett | 5th | 0-321-50567-0 | Addison-Wesley |
