AST-A 100 The Solar System (3 cr)

Celestial sphere and constellations, measurement of time, astronomical instruments, earth as a planet, moon, eclipses, planets and their satellites, comets, meteors, theories of origin of solar system.

• Offered fall, spring, and summer semesters.
• Prerequisite: None

AST-A 105 Stars and Galaxies (3 cr)

The sun as a star, physical properties of stars, principles of spectroscopy as applied to astronomy, double stars, variable stars, star clusters, gaseous nebulae, stellar motions, and distribution. Milky Way system, external galaxies, expanding universe, cosmic time scale.

• Offered fall, spring, and summer semesters.
• Prerequisite: None

AST-A 150 Introductory Astronomy Lab (2 cr)

Computer simulations, workbook and planetarium exercises, telescopic observation. Backyard astronomy techniques with visual and small-telescope observations. Topics include celestial navigation, time keeping and celestial calendars, light pollution, observing planets, binary stars, star clusters, nebulae and galaxies.

• Offered fall semester, typically 8 week course option.
• Lab fee required
• Prerequisite: None

AST-X 399 Research In Astronomy and Astrophysics (1-6 cr)

Research in astronomy, closely supervised by a faculty member. Projects can be theoretical, experimental, or observational, and may include opportunities to train in the planning and execution of data gathering runs at research telescopes and facilities, and in data mining.

• Offered Periodically.
• Instructor Permission Required.
• Prerequisite: None
• Recommended Prerequisite: AST-A 150