Tentative outline for the entire year
I. General Introduction
A. What is Science?
B. The role of mathematics in science
1. Quantitative vs. qualitative understanding
2. Linear and angular measurement
3. Unit conversion
4. Equations
5. Graphing
B. What is Astronomy?
C. Value of Astronomy and benefits to the individual
D. Scientific Method and the central role of skepticism
1. Contrast with Pseudoscience
2. Possible Pseudosciences to examine as related to Astronomy
a. Astrology
b. Scientific creationism as related to the solar system and the origin, age and life on Earth
c. Jupiter effect
d. Moon muddling
e. Comets as mystical messengers of doom
f. Immanual Velikovsky’s Planetary Billiards
II. Solar System
A. Cosmic perspective: the Solar System’s location in space and time
B. General description and structure
C. Age of the Solar System
D. Origin: theory and evidence
E. Planets orbiting other stars
III. Descriptive Study of Individual Objects
A. Sun
B. Earth and Moon
1. Tidal effect
2. Solar-Terrestrial connections
3. Origin of the Moon
C. Mercury
D. Venus
E. Mars and satellites
F. Jupiter and satellites
G. Saturn and satellites
H. Uranus and satellites
I. Neptune and satellites
J. Pluto and Charon
K. Comets, asteroids, and their origins
IV. History of Astronomy
A. Astronomical practice, invention, and discoveries around the world
B. Development of modern science
1. The Greeks
2. Aristotelian Science
3. Demise of Science
4. Islamic contributions
5. The Scientific (Copernican) Revolution and its impact on the World
V. The Technical Development of Modern Astronomy
A. Major Observatories
B. Telescopes
1. Optics
2. Instruments
C. Celestial coordinates
VI. Space Exploration and Development
A. History
B. Values: costs versus benefits
C. Future explorations and economic development
VII. Reprise: Cosmic Perspective—Beyond Global Awareness
A. Our location in time and space
B. Astronomical numbers
C. Specialized units
VIII. In-Class Collaborative Exercises and Activities
A. Solar System to scale
B. Solar System models
C. Celestial Sphere and star charts
D. Equatorial coordinates
E. Horizon coordinates
F. Lost on the Moon
G. Planetary models
H. Discussion groups on varied topics
1. Aspects of Pseudoscience
2. Global warming and what to do about it
3. Space exploration: pros and cons
4. Pluto as a planet: pros and cons
IX. Individual Laboratory Exercises
A. Terrestrial Planets Mercury and Venus
B. Terrestrial Planets Mars
C. Kepler’s Law
D. Sidereal time
E. Stellar parallax
F. Measuring large distances
G. Lunar geology
H. Construction of a sun dial
X. Videos Related to Lecture Topics
XI. Space Exploration and Economic Development
A. Historical development
B. Future exploration possibilities
C. Pros and cons of space development
XII. Observation Projects
A. Standardized observing and recording of sky phenomena
B. Sun
C. Moon
D. Planets and their satellites
E. Identifying bright stars and constellations
F. Star counts
G. Finding asteroids
XIII. Nature of Starlight
A. Magnitude system
B. Electromagnetic spectrum
C. Physics: what light tells us
1. Radiation Laws (Planck, Wien, Stephan-Boltzmann)
2. Doppler effect
XIV. Modern Astronomy
A. Major observatories
B. Telescopes
1. Optics
2. Instruments
C. Celestial coordinates
XV. Stars
A. Physical nature
B. Distances
C. Motions
D. Associations
E. Clusters
1. Open or galactic
2. Globular
F. H-R Diagram
G. The Sun and stellar evolution
XVI. Galaxies
A. Milky Way
B. Galaxy morphology
C. Quasars
D. Clusters, superclusters, and voids
XVII. Universe
A. Description of present-day Universe and modern discoveries
1. Hubble expansion
2. Superclusters
3. 3K cosmic microwave background
B. Theories of origin
1. Steady state
2. Big Bang
3. Inflationary
C. Future of Universe
XVIII. Life in the Universe
A. The nature of life
B. Probability estimates
1. Simple life forms
2. Complex life forms
C. Pseudoscience: UFO’s and ancient astronauts
XIX. Cosmic Perspective: Beyond Global Awareness
A. Our location in space and time
B. Astronomical numbers
C. Specialized units
XX. Observation Projects
A. Standardized methods of observing and recording sky phenomena
B. Circumpolar constellations
C. Identifying bright stars and constellations
D. The Sun
E. Cluster star counts
F. Double stars
XXI. Collaborative Exercise and Activities
A. Stellar brightness and magnitudes
B. Sunspot observation
C. Sunspot cycle
D. H-R diagram
E. Life in the Universe
XXII. Individual Laboratory Exercises
A. Tools of the astronomer
B. EM radiation
C. Constellations
D. Galaxies
XXIII. Videos Related to Lecture Topics
XXIV. Potential Field Trips
A. Kitt Peak National Observatory
B. Whipple Observatory of Mt. Hopkins
C. Flandrau Planetarium
D. Group observational session at a dark site with telescope
E. University of Arizona Mirror Lab