ASTR 1050 - Survey of Astronomy

 

Credits: 4

Instructional Method Lecture and Lab

General Education Requirement: Physical Science
Comments: This course meets UW’s Physical and Natural World requirement.

Minimum Student Competencies
Upon completion of ASTR 1050 Survey of Astronomy, the student will:

1. Relate fundamental concepts of physics, to include Newton’s laws of motion, the Law of Universal Gravitation, the various radiation laws, spectroscopy, and the theories of special and general relativity, to problems in astronomy.
2. Evaluate the methods used to measure the distances to celestial objects.
3. Discriminate among the various telescope designs employed to observe celestial objects at radio, infrared, visible, ultraviolet, X-ray, and gamma-ray wavelengths.
4. Interpret the long term, annual, seasonal, and daily celestial motions of the stars, planets, sun, and moon.
5. Identify the constellations, brightest stars, and planets that are visible during the semester.
6. Critique the historical development of astronomer’s ideas regarding the structure of the universe and Earth’s place within this structure.
7. Summarize the chemistry, atmospheric compositions and phenomena, internal structure, surface geology, and origins of the various objects of the solar system.
8. Defend theories regarding the evolution of stars of various masses.
9. Interpret a Hertzsprung-Russell diagram.
10. Defend the theories regarding the structure and origin of the Milky Way galaxy.
11. Discuss the possible origins of the various galactic structures.
12. Discuss the evidence that supports the Big Bang Theory.
13. State the most important astronomical questions which have yet to be answered.