Astronomy Course
The following are the syllabus and notes from the Introductory Astronomy class which I teach. The text is Astronomy (Third Edition) by John Fix. These notes contain most of the answers to the test questions.
Observing Exercises
- Exercise 1 (10 points): Observing Stellar Motion
- Exercise 2 (40 points): Altitude of Polaris
- Exercise 3 (25 points): Learning the Constellations
- Exercise 4 (25 points): HR-Diagram
- Exercise 5 (25 points): Quiz on Star Info
- Extra Credit Exercise A (up to 25 points): Learning Star Names
- Extra Credit Exercise B (up to 25 points): Objects for Binoculars/Small Telescopes
Knowing the Heavens, Constellations & Ancient Astronomy
Chapters 1-3.
Solar System Layout and Laws
Chapters 4-5.
Light & Telescopes
Chapter 6.
Earth and Moon
Chapters 8-9.
The Terrestrial Planets
Chapters 10-11: Mercury, Venus and Mars.
Jupiter and Saturn
Chapter 12: The two giant planets and their weird moons.
The Outermost Planets
Chapter 13: Uranus, Neptune and Pluto.
Other Solar Sytem
Chapters 15: Comets, Meteors, Asteroids, and the Origin of the Solar System.
Measuring Properties of Stars
Chapter 16: Brightness, Distances, Colors, Temperatures, and Composition of Stars
The Sun
Chapter 17: The Sun's Motion, and the Sun's Physical Characteristics
Birth of Stars
Chapter 18: Interstellar Atoms, Dust and Nebulae
Life and Death of Stars
Chapters 19-20: The H-R Diagram and the Birth, Life, and Death of Stars
Star Groups
Chapters 21: Binaries, Multiples, and Star Clusters
Galaxies
Chapters 22-23: Milky Way, Local Group, and Expanding Universe