Effective: 2022-05-01

Course Description

The course outline below was developed as part of a statewide standardization process.

General Course Purpose

NAS 131 promotes an interest in astronomy and physics and to provide students with a working knowledge of solar system astronomy. Students who have completed this course will understand and be able to use scientific reasoning and principles through the study of basic astronomy, and apply knowledge to a specific problem in a systematic manner.

Course Objectives

• Scientific Literacy
• Explain what the scientific method is and how it is used in the science of astronomy.
• Quantitative Literacy
• Apply mathematical reasoning and techniques in discipline specific ways (including, but not limited to, quantitative analysis of data).
• Astronomy and the Birth of Modern Science
• Beginning with the solar system, name the major structures in the universe and list them in their order of size and distance from the Earth.
• Explain Kepler's Three Laws of Planetary Motion
• Describe the important telescopic observations of Galileo.
• Explain Newton's Laws of Motion and Law of Universal Gravitation and how they describe orbital motion (1/R2 law).
• Explain the physical principle of Electromagnetic Radiation and its application to the science of astronomy (c =^f, spectroscopy, Doppler Effect, Wien's Law, etc...).
• Identify the various telescopes used by astronomers and list their advantages and disadvantages (for all types of Electromagnetic Radiation).
• Describe the heliocentric model of the universe as proposed by Copernicus and perfected by Newton and compare it to the geocentric model of the universe as developed by the classical Greek philosophers and astronomers.
• Demonstrate the use of a computer based astronomical observational program (or Apps) for astronomical observation.
• Earth and its Moons
• Describe the various coordinate systems, both on the Earth and in the sky (right ascension and declination, azimuth and altitude), and how these are used to orient an earthbound observer to celestial phenomena.
• Describe how the tilt of the Earth's axis gives rise to the seasons.
• Explain the differences among sidereal, solar, and standard time.
• Describe the various motions the Earth undergoes and the observed effects produced by these motions.
• Describe the lunar orbit and how it is oriented with respect to the plane of the ecliptic.
• Explain the differences between the sidereal and synodic months.
• Draw a diagram showing the cause of the various phases of the moon, and name these phases.
• Explain how the moon and sun influence the Earth's ocean tides, and describe the concept of tidal forces.
• Describe the circumstances that result in the occurrence of various types of lunar and solar eclipses
• Planets and Moons
• Describe and explain for each planet, dwarf-planet, satellites / moon or solar system object, any properties and characteristics which determine its:
• Size, shape, mass, internal structure, atmosphere, atmospheric phenomena, magnetic field, surface features, etc.
• Orbital period, orbital distance, rotational rate, etc.
• Telescopic and naked-eye observational appearance
• Planetary space probe observation
• Relate any planetary characteristics using Earth as a reference (greenhouse effect on Venus, Martian polar ice caps, Jupiter's Great Red Spot, Planetary Rings, etc.).
• Describe any interaction with and consequences resulting from any solar phenomena (solar wind, coronal mass ejection, etc.) colliding with said planet (aurora).
• Explain the theory of how any satellites / moons were formed or were captured and any structural characteristics / properties of said satellite / moon.
• Explain the differences between Terrestrial and Jovian planets.
• Discuss the consequences of a collision between a planet (especially Earth) and an asteroid, meteoroid or comet.
• The Sun
• Describe all the properties and characteristics of the sun (internal structure, size, shape, mass, luminosity, appearance, energy generation, rotation, etc.).
• Explain the importance of monitoring the sun's activity with both Earth- and space-based telescopes.
• Name the important properties of the solar system that must be explained in any viable theory of the origin and evolution of the solar system.
• Describe each of the competing theories about the origins of the solar system.
• Describe the detection methods for and significance of extra-solar planets in orbit around other star systems.
• Describe the conditions necessary for an extra-solar system to contain planets with the possibility of life evolving on them (Drake's Equation or "modified" Drake Equation).

Major Topics to be Included

• Astronomy and the Birth of Modern Science
• Earth and its Moons
• Planets and Moons
• The Sun