ASTR 100 — Introduction to Astronomy and
Cosmology with Lab 4 cr. When humans first looked to the sky and wondered about the true nature of what they were seeing, Mankind’s quest for a scientific understanding of our place in the Universe began. That sense of wonder continues to this day. This in troductory course will outline the basic concepts of astronomy, its history, its scientific underpinnings, and how, in the last one hundred years, astronomy has inevitably led to the field of Cosmology. Topics will include but are not limited to: Features of our Solar System, standard units of measurement used by astronomers, direct observation and recording of astronomical phenomena, optics, star formation, galaxies and nebulae, quasars, pulsars, black holes and the Universal Gravitational Constant, electr omagnetism, basic wave theory, the Doppler Effect and the Red Shift, the Hubble Law, Special relativity, General Relativity and gravitational lensing, Inflation Theory and the Big Bang, Dark Matter and Dark Energy, KOBE and WMAP discoveries, historical figures in astronomy. The course format emphasizes guided exploration, quantitative assessment, and critical thinking with particular emphasis of the Scientific Method; students are required to demonstrate an understanding of the material through independent research, written reports, and written examinations. Prerequisite(s): ENGL-080 or ENGL-101 and MATH-040 or appropriate placement Corequisite(s): none Automotive Courses (AUTO)