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ASTRONOMY 110 - Survey of Astronomy |
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In order to view and/or access course resources and other materials, you must be registered in one of the course sections offered during the current semester and log in to the UH Laulima Portal.
This is a general survey course in astronomy. In this course we cover a wide range of topics, from the Earth to the farthest reaches of the observable universe. To do all of this in just one semester is impossible to do in great detail of course, so we choose topics that cover the most interesting aspects of our current understanding of the universe. Some topics we spend more time and get into greater detail on than others, some topics we don't have time to cover at all. In order to understand how everything fits together, we discuss a broad range of topics ranging from the appearance of the sky, astronomical cycles, observational astronomy and instrumentation, the properties and formation of the solar system, properties of stars and stellar evolution, galaxies, and cosmology. We also discuss current topics of interest in astronomy.
The major objective of this course is to help you develop a more cosmic perspective of things. This includes becoming familiar with various astronomical cycles affecting the Earth and the appearance of the sky throughout the year, developing an understanding of the various astronomical tools and methods that are used to enhance and broaden our knowledge of the Universe, gaining an understanding and appreciation of the nature, scope, and evolution of the Universe, and developing a conceptual framework of where our place is in the cosmos.
| To meet the major course
objective we discuss a wide range of topics that, upon completion of the
course, should allow you to synthesize a wide body of knowledge and
information to: |
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a. |
Describe patterns in the sky and explain why we experience the observed daily, monthly, and seasonal cycles on the Earth. |
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b. |
Describe
how distances to celestial objects are determined and explain the
relationship between, and significance of distance and time in the
observable Universe. |
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c. |
Describe how gravity affects motions of the Earth and Moon, and how it influences structure, movement, and interactions of celestial objects throughout the observable Universe. |
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d. |
Identify the major regions of the electromagnetic spectrum and explain how
spectroscopy is used in astronomy as a fundamental tool for determining
characteristics of celestial objects. |
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e. |
Illustrate how various methods and tools are utilized in astronomy for determining intrinsic properties of celestial objects. |
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f. |
Identify major solar system objects and their characteristics, and describe how we infer from observed properties and characteristics of the objects within the solar system how it formed and evolved. |
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g. |
Describe
at least two methods utilized by astronomers today to discover planetary
systems around other stars, and demonstrate how they are used to determine
characteristics of those planetary systems.
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h. |
Explain
how the H-R diagram is used as an astronomical tool for determining
various properties and characteristics of stars. |
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i. |
Explain how gravity and nuclear energy drive stellar evolution, and describe the various evolutionary paths stars can take during their life cycles. |
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j. |
Describe the major features and properties of the Milky Way and other galaxies, and illustrate how these characteristics are determined utilizing fundamental tools and methodologies. |
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k. |
Describe
the large-scale structure and characteristics of the observable Universe,
explain how these observations support the Big Bang Theory of the origin
of the Universe, and evaluate current hypotheses on the evolution
and fate of the Universe based on recent observational data. |
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ASTRONOMY 110L - Observational Astronomy Lab |
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In order to view and/or access course resources and other materials, you must be registered in one of the course sections offered during the current semester and log in to the UH Laulima Portal.
This course introduces you to methods and instrumentation used in astronomical observations and research. Astronomical principles will be demonstrated through laboratory and field observations and analysis of astronomical data. You will gain hands-on experience using instrumentation and software for observations, data collection and analysis, and image processing.
The major objectives of this course are to show how astronomical information is collected, processed, interpreted, and shared with others, to provide hands-on experience using various types of astronomical tools and instrumentation, and to develop observational skills. We will explore various methodologies and technology utilized in astronomical observations and data analysis, and provide an introduction to astronomical work being done in Hawaii in general, and on Maui in particular.
For interested students, this course will also qualify you to participate in various research and internship projects, where you can receive stipends and other support for your work.
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objectives you will carry out a variety of lab and observational
activities that complement written materials in the lab manual and class
discussions, allowing you to synthesize a wide body of knowledge,
information, and skills to: |
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a. |
Analyze and interpret astronomical images and data for making fundamental measurements in astrometry, photometry, and spectroscopy. |
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b. |
Explain
the characteristics of digital images and describe various methods used in
processing and analyzing digital images for astronomical applications. |
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c. |
Formulate
a basic strategy and plan for an observing project and collect,
synthesize, analyze, and interpret data in order to write a report,
prepare a poster presentation, and/or give an oral presentation explaining
the results.
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d. |
Use a telescope or other instrumentation to make measurements and/or collect data on select celestial objects, and explain the importance of angular resolution as it relates to astronomical imaging and data analysis. |
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e. |
Describe some of the astronomical research occurring on Maui, the infrastructure supporting this research, and some of the internship opportunities available to students in various high-tech or astronomy-related fields. |
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Describe the Faulkes Telescope project and the opportunities available for students to use the telescope for internship/research projects. |
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g. |
Demonstrate the ability to work as a member of a team on an assigned project. |
