AST 1002 - Introduction to Astronomy

College of Natural Sciences

Credit(s): 3
Contact Hours: 47
Effective Term Fall 2025 (655)

Requisites

(Prerequisite ENC 0025 and
Prerequisite REA 0017 and
Prerequisite MAT 0028) or
(Prerequisite EAP 1695 and
Prerequisite MAT 0028)

Course Description

This course provides a comprehensive look at modern astronomy, emphasizing the use of the scientific method and the application of physical laws to understand the universe including earth and its environment. Throughout this course, students will develop the ability to discern scientific knowledge from non-scientific information by using critical thinking. State Core Course Description (State Rule 6A-14.0303).

Course Topics

Topic 1
 

Study Abroad- Italy

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

  1. *Students will define terms used to measure and describe the universe.
    1. Students will identify the basic metric units that describe mass, distance, force, velocity, and acceleration.
    2. Students will employ scientific notation and metric prefixes to describe large (and small) numbers often encountered in astronomy.
    3. Students will describe key aspects of the celestial sphere, including celestial coordinates, constellations and asterisms, star naming conventions, and stellar magnitudes.
    4. Students will summarize the major motions of the Sun, Moon, and planets, and phenomena involving these objects.
    5. Students will summarize and compare the characteristics of the objects that populate the solar system.
    6. Students will distinguish between different distance indicators within and beyond the solar system, including the astronomical unit, light year, and parsec.
    7. Students will apply basic physical laws and principles to astronomical situations.
      1. Students will state Newton's three laws of mechanics and recounting several examples of each.
      2. Students will describe the law of universal gravitation and its historical significance.
      3. Students will use the laws of mechanics and gravitation to describe orbital motion.
      4. Students will describe the physical nature and characteristics of light using both the wave and particle models.
      5. Students will explain how spectral analysis can be used to determine the physical characteristics of celestial objects.
      6. Students will describe the different types of telescopes, both optical and non-optical, and their limitations.
      7. Students will select the appropriate telescope and/or instrumentation to study different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum.
    8. Students will summarize the contents and characteristics of the solar system.
      1. Students will describe the dynamical similarities among the major planets and their satellites.
      2. Students will describe the physical characteristics that distinguish Terrestrial planets from Jovian planets.
      3. Students will identify the similarities and differences between Earth and the other Terrestrial planets.
      4. Students will describe the nature and properties of the Jovian planets and their satellites.
      5. Students will discuss the nature and properties of asteroids, comets and meteoroids.
      6. Students will identify potentially habitable environments in the solar system.
    9. Students will summarize the contents and characteristics of the Milky Way and other galaxies.
      1. Students will explain how astronomers determined the size, shape and structure of the Milky Way galaxy.
      2. Students will describe the different stellar populations that make up the Milky Way.
      3. Students will discuss the work of Edwin Hubble and the true nature of the "spiral nebulae."
      4. Students will identify the different types of normal galaxies and their characteristics.
      5. Students will describe the nature, characteristics, and energy source of active galactic nuclei.
      6. Students will discuss the observational evidence for dark matter, and possible dark matter candidates.
  2. *Students will explain the processes involved in the formation and evolution of celestial bodies over astronomical time according to different models and theories.
    1. Students will explain the processes involved in the formation and evolution of celestial bodies over astronomical time applying fundamental laws and principles of motion, gravity, and light to different astronomical situations.
    2. Students will discuss the current theory of planet formation, and how this theory accounts for many of the dynamical and physical characteristics of the solar system.
    3. Students will identify the geologic processes that change planetary surfaces and atmospheres over time.
    4. Students will explain how astronomers measure vital stellar characteristics such as distances, temperatures, luminosities and masses.
    5. Students will discuss the interrelationships and trends among stellar properties such as temperature, mass, radius and luminosity.
    6. Student will describe the organization of stellar characteristics on the H-R (Hertzsprung-Russell) diagram.
    7. Students will explain the mechanism of energy production and nucleosynthesis in stars, and how this leads to stellar evolution.
    8. Students will describe the formation and evolution of stars of different initial masses.
    9. Students will describe the role of gravity in the formation of white dwarfs, neutron stars and black holes.
    10. Students will describe basic celestial motions as seen from Earth.
      1. Students will define key aspects of the celestial sphere, including celestial coordinates, constellations and asterisms, star naming conventions, and stellar magnitudes.
      2. Students will summarize basic diurnal motions and how these motions change with latitude on Earth's surface.
      3. Students will trace the apparent annual motion of the Sun and seasonal changes of the Sun's position in the sky.
      4. Students will observe the motion and phases of the Moon, and relating the circumstances that result in eclipses.
      5. Students will track the motions of the planets and explaining their changing visibility in the sky.
  3. *Students will describe how scientific theories evolve in response to new observations and critically evaluate their impact on society.
    1. Students will discuss the factors that motivated early peoples to observe and record celestial events.
    2. Students will cite examples of how early cultures perceived and interpreted celestial motions.
    3. Students will explain how ancient Greek astronomers applied logic and reasoning to model planetary motions.
    4. Students will recount the Greek worldview and its influence on the subsequent development of astronomy and western society.
    5. Students will discuss how the work of Renaissance astronomers such as Copernicus, Kepler, and Galileo led to a change in worldview from geocentric to heliocentric.
    6. Students will describe the work of Edwin Hubble and the true nature of the "spiral nebulae."
    7. Students will describe the standard model of Big Bang cosmology, and the observational evidence that supports it.
    8. Students will discuss the evidence for dark energy, and its implications for the possible fate of the universe.
    9. Students will explore the large-scale structure, origin, and evolution of the universe by:
      1. describing how galaxies are distributed throughout the universe in clusters and superclusters.
      2. discussing the work of Edwin Hubble and his discovery of the redshift-distance relationship.
      3. discussing the meaning and implications of the Hubble law and cosmological redshifts.
      4. stating the cosmological principle and how it applies to the study of cosmology.
      5. describing the standard model of Big Bang cosmology, and the observational evidence that supports it.
      6. discussing the evidence for dark energy, and its implications for the possible fate of the universe.
  4. *Students will formulate empirically testable hypotheses derived from the study of physical processes and phenomena.
    1. Students will test whether Kepler's Third law of planetary motion regarding the major planets applies to other solar system bodies.
    2. Students will predict the wavelike characteristics of light by analogy with water waves.
    3. Students will test the hypothesis that the brightest stars in the sky are also the nearest stars.
    4. Students will explore the correlation between redshift and distance of galaxies using Hubble's law.
  5. *Students will apply logical reasoning skills through scientific criticism and argument to separate science from non-science.
    1. Students will explore the early Greek worldview of perfection in the heavenly realm, and their emphasis on the intellect over empirical measurement and observation (Aristotle’s law of falling bodies).
    2. Students will critically examine pseudoscientific beliefs such as astrology, and claims that observational evidence favors a flat Earth over a spherical Earth.
  6. *Students will gather and analyze astronomical data and communicate results in graphic and written forms.
    1. Students will observe and record the daily position and phase of the Moon, or the changing position of the Sun at a given time of day throughout the term.
    2. Students will assess a database of the nearest stars and brightest stars, to determine if there is any correlation between observed brightness and distance.
    3. Students will deploy online databases such as Galaxy Zoo or Exoplanet archive to analyze and interpret astronomical data.
*Major Learning Outcome is set by and in compliance with DOE State Rule 6A-14.0303.

Criteria Performance Standard

Upon successful completion of the course the student will, with a minimum of 70% accuracy, demonstrate mastery of each of the above stated objectives through classroom measures developed by individual course instructors.

History of Changes

DBT 12/20/94 Effective Session 19943 DBT 5/16/95 Effective Session 19951 3 Year Review 1999-2000. Effective Session I, 2001 (20011). 3 Year Review 2007. Amended prerequisites effective 20112(0450). C&I Approval: , BOT Approval: , Effective Term: Spring 2012 (450). C&I Approval: , BOT Approval: , Effective Term: Fall 2021 (595).
C&I Approval: , BOT Approval: , Effective Term: Fall 2025 (655)

Related Programs

  1. American Sign Language Studies (SLIP-TR) (670) (Active)
  2. Architecture (ARCHIT-TR) (670) (Active)
  3. Art Education (ARTED-TR) (670) (In Review)
  4. Associate in Arts Degree (GEN-AA) (670) (Active)
  5. Biology (BIO-TR) (670) (Active)
  6. Biotechnology (BIOT-TR) (670) (Active)
  7. Business Administration (BUS-TR) (670) (Active)
  8. Chemistry BS (CHEMBS-TR) (670) (Active)
  9. Communication (SPC-TR) (670) (Active)
  10. Computer & Information Science (COMSC-TR) (670) (Active)
  11. Construction Technology (BCNST-TR) (670) (Active)
  12. Criminology (CRIM-TR) (670) (Active)
  13. Cybersecurity (CYSEC-TR) (670) (Active)
  14. Digital Media (DIGME-TR) (670) (Active)
  15. Economics (ECON-TR) (670) (Active)
  16. Education (EDU-TR) (670) (Active)
  17. Educational Studies Early Childhood Education (PRESCHL-TR) (670) (Active)
  18. Educational Studies Interdisciplinary (IDS-TR) (670) (Active)
  19. Educational Studies Training & Development (TRNDEV-TR) (670) (Active)
  20. Engineering (ENGINE-TR) (670) (Active)
  21. English (ENGLISH-TR) (670) (Active)
  22. Environmental Science (EVSC-TR) (670) (Active)
  23. Essential Work Skills Certificate (EWS-CT) (670) (Draft)
  24. FAMU Accounting (FMACC-TR) (670) (Active)
  25. FAMU Biology (FMBIO-TR) (670) (Active)
  26. FAMU Criminal Justice (FMCRIM-TR) (670) (Active)
  27. FAMU Health Science, Pre-Physical Therapy (FMDPT-TR) (670) (Active)
  28. FAMU Journalism (FMJOU-TR) (670) (Active)
  29. FAMU Mechanical Engineering (FMENGIN-TR) (670) (Active)
  30. Fire Officer Leadership (FOL-TR) (670) (Active)
  31. Florida Gulf Coast University Accounting (FGCUAC-TR) (670) (Active)
  32. Florida Gulf Coast University Analytics and Informatics (FGCUAN-TR) (670) (Active)
  33. Florida Gulf Coast University Biology (FGCUBIO-TR) (670) (Active)
  34. Florida Gulf Coast University Civil Engineering (FGCUCE-TR) (670) (Active)
  35. Florida Gulf Coast University Computer Science (FGCUCS-TR) (670) (Active)
  36. Florida Gulf Coast University Construction Management (FGCUCM-TR) (670) (Active)
  37. Florida Gulf Coast University Digital Media Design (FGCUDM-TR) (670) (Active)
  38. Florida Gulf Coast University Environmental Engineering (FGCUENV-TR) (670) (Active)
  39. Florida Gulf Coast University Finance (FGCUFIN-TR) (670) (Active)
  40. Florida Gulf Coast University Marine Science (FGCUMA-TR) (670) (Active)
  41. Florida Gulf Coast University Marketing (FGCUMKT-TR) (670) (Active)
  42. Florida Gulf Coast University Mathematics (FGCUMT-TR ) (670) (Active)
  43. Florida Gulf Coast University Software Engineering (FGCUSE-TR) (670) (Active)
  44. Florida Gulf Coast University Supply Chain Management (FGCUSCM-TR) (670) (Active)
  45. General (GEN-AS) (670) (Active)
  46. Health Sciences (HSA-TR) (670) (Active)
  47. Health Sciences: Emergency Medical Services Focus (HSA-EMS-AS) (640) (Active)
  48. Health Sciences: General Health Sciences Focus (HSA-GEN-AS) (640) (Active)
  49. Health Sciences: Health Information Technology Focus (HSA-HIT-AS) (640) (Active)
  50. Health Sciences: Veterinary Technology Focus (HSA-VETTC-AS) (640) (Active)
  51. Human Services (HUMSVC-TR) (670) (Active)
  52. Management & Organizational Leadership (MGTORG-TR) (670) (Active)
  53. Mass Communications (COMM-TR) (670) (Active)
  54. Mathematics (MATH-TR) (670) (Active)
  55. Middle Grades General Science Education (5-9) (MGSED-TR) (670) (Active)
  56. Music (MUSIC-TR) (670) (Active)
  57. Music Education (MUSICED-TR) (670) (Active)
  58. New College of Florida Biology (NCFBIO-TR) (670) (Active)
  59. New College of Florida Chemistry (NCFCHM-TR) (670) (Active)
  60. New College of Florida Economics (NCFECO-TR) (670) (Active)
  61. New College of Florida Marine Biology (NCFMABI-TR) (670) (Active)
  62. New College of Florida Psychology (NCFPSY-TR) (670) (Active)
  63. Nursing (NURSING-TR) (670) (Active)
  64. Paralegal Studies (LEGAL-TR) (670) (Active)
  65. Pharmacy (PHARM-TR) (670) (Active)
  66. Prekindergarten/Primary Education (age 3 through grade 3) with Infused ESOL and Reading Endorsements (PKPED-TR) (670) (Active)
  67. Psychology (PSYCH-TR) (670) (Active)
  68. Public Policy and Administration (PPA-TR) (670) (Active)
  69. Public Safety Administration (PSA-TR) (670) (Active)
  70. Secondary Education Mathematics (MTSED-TR) (670) (Active)
  71. Secondary English Education with Reading and ESOL Endorsement (ENGEDR-TR) (670) (Active)
  72. Social Work (SOCIAL-TR) (670) (Active)
  73. Studio Art BFA (ARTBFA-TR) (670) (Active)
  74. Sustainability Management (SUSMGT-TR) (670) (Active)
  75. Technology Development & Management (TMGT-TR) (670) (Active)
  76. TEST GEN-AA (TESTGEN-AA) (655) (Draft)
  77. Theatre (THEATRE-TR) (670) (Active)
  78. USF St. Petersburg - Accounting (FSPACC-TR) (670) (Active)
  79. USF St. Petersburg - Anthropology (FSPANTH-TR) (670) (Active)
  80. USF St. Petersburg - Biology (FSPBIO-TR) (670) (Active)
  81. USF St. Petersburg - Business Analytics and Information Systems (FSPISM-TR) (670) (Active)
  82. USF St. Petersburg - Criminology (FSPCRIM-TR) (670) (Active)
  83. USF St. Petersburg - English Creative Writing (FSPWRT-TR) (670) (Active)
  84. USF St. Petersburg - English Literary Concentration (FSPLIT-TR) (670) (Active)
  85. USF St. Petersburg - Finance (FSPFIN-TR) (670) (Active)
  86. USF St. Petersburg - History (FSPHIS-TR) (670) (Active)
  87. USF St. Petersburg - Interdisciplinary Social Sciences (FSPIDS-TR) (670) (Active)
  88. USF St. Petersburg - Management (FSPMGT-TR) (670) (Active)
  89. USF St. Petersburg - Marine Biology (FSPMABI-TR) (670) (Active)
  90. USF St. Petersburg - Marketing (FSPMAR-TR) (670) (Active)
  91. USF St. Petersburg - Political Science (FSPPOLS-TR) (670) (Active)
  92. USF St. Petersburg - Psychology (FSPPSY-TR) (670) (Active)
  93. USF St. Petersburg Digital Communication & Multimedia Journalism (FSPCOMM-TR) (670) (Active)
  94. USF St. Petersburg Supply Chain Management (FSPSCM-TR) (670) (Active)
  95. USF Tampa - Accounting (FTACC-TR) (670) (Active)
  96. USF Tampa - Anthropology (FTANTH-TR) (670) (Active)
  97. USF Tampa - Art History (FTARHIS-TR) (670) (Active)
  98. USF Tampa - Biology (FTBIO-TR) (670) (Active)
  99. USF Tampa - Biomedical Sciences (FTBIOMD-TR) (670) (Active)
  100. USF Tampa - Business Analytics and Information Systems (FTISM-TR) (670) (Active)
  101. USF Tampa - Cell and Molecular Biology (FTCMBIO-TR) (670) (Active)
  102. USF Tampa - Computer Engineering (FTCOEN-TR) (670) (Active)
  103. USF Tampa - Computer Science (FTCOSC-TR) (670) (Active)
  104. USF Tampa - Criminology (FTCRIM-TR) (670) (Active)
  105. USF Tampa - Cybersecurity (FTCYSEC-TR) (670) (Active)
  106. USF Tampa - English Creative Writing (FTWRT-TR) (670) (Active)
  107. USF Tampa - English Literary Concentration (FTLIT-TR) (670) (Active)
  108. USF Tampa - Finance (FTFIN-TR) (670) (Active)
  109. USF Tampa - Geology (FTGEOL-TR) (670) (Active)
  110. USF Tampa - History (FTHIS-TR) (670) (Active)
  111. USF Tampa - Information Technology (FTINFO-TR) (670) (Active)
  112. USF Tampa - Interdisciplinary Social Sciences (FTIDS-TR) (670) (Active)
  113. USF Tampa - Management (FTMGT-TR) (670) (Active)
  114. USF Tampa - Marine Biology (FTMABIO-TR) (670) (Active)
  115. USF Tampa - Marketing (FTMAR-TR) (670) (Active)
  116. USF Tampa - Mass Communications (FTCOMM-TR) (670) (Active)
  117. USF Tampa - Political Science (FTPOLS-TR) (670) (Active)
  118. USF Tampa - Psychology (FTPSY-TR) (670) (Active)
  119. USF Tampa - Public Health BS (FTPHBS-TR) (670) (Active)
  120. USF Tampa - Social Work (FTBSW-TR) (670) (Active)
  121. USF Tampa - Studio Art BA (FTARBA-TR) (670) (Active)
  122. USF Tampa - Studio Art BFA (FTARBFA-TR) (670) (Active)
  123. USF Tampa - Supply Chain Management (FTSCM-TR) (670) (Active)
  124. USF Tampa - World Languages & Cultures: French & Francophone Studies (FTFRN-TR) (670) (Active)
  125. USF Tampa - World Languages & Cultures: Spanish & Latin American Studies (FTSPN-TR) (670) (Active)
  126. Veterinary Technology (VETTC-AS) (640) (Active)