Course Competencies for Physical Science Astronomy GS 107
by Bob Powell
Upon completing this course a student should be able to:
Describe and explain the observed daily and long-term motion of objects
(sun, moon, planets, stars).
Sketch the ecliptic and identify locations of the sun, moon and planets
for various times of the year.
Assign correct values for right ascension and declination for each of the
items above.
Explain how astronomical distances are determined using parallax and
luminosity techniques.
Sketch and explain the relationships of objects in solar and lunar
eclipses. This includes partial, total and annular eclipses.
Use a star chart with planets to sketch the relative positions of sun,
moon, planets and constellations.
Discuss the contributions of Ptolemny, Copenicus, Kepler, Tycho, Galileo
and Newton to astronomy.
How continuous and non-continuous spectra are formed. How spectra can be
used to identify elements, temperature, and radial velocity.
Discuss the general structure of the solar system, especially commenting
on the patterns within that structure.
Show how the structure of the solar system can be used to evaluate various
theories of planetary evolution.
Identify the balance between radiation and gravity in various types of
stars, and relate this to the aging process.
Sketch the H-R Diagram, and use this to determine distance and discuss the
evolution of a stellar object.
Discuss binary stars and how they can be used to determine masses of
stars, and diameters of stars.
Show how novas, supernovas, neutron stars, white dwarfs, red giants, and
black holes relate to stellar masses and ages.
Sketch a Hubble diagram, and show how this information is consistent with
the “Big Bang” cosmology