Astronomy Learning Projects (ASTR)

Certificate Programs

We have the following certificate programs under Astronomy:

Astronomy Practioner Certificate (ASPC)

Must already have an SAC.

ASTR 1 + ASTR 2 + ASTR 3 + ASTR 4 Mathematical Methods for Astronomy + ASTR 5 Computational Methods for Astronomy + 1 elective + 1 research project.

Suggested Electives: ATMS 1 Introduction to Atmospheric Science, CHEM 1 Chemistry, CS 1 Introduction to Computer Science, ECT 1 Introduction to Electronics, ESCI 1 Introduction to Engineering Science, GEO 1 Introduction to Geology, MATH 1 Mathematics, MATH 2 Basic Methods of Mathematics, PHYS 1 Physics

Astronomy Associate Certificate (ASAC)

Must already have an ASPC.

Any 6 Astronomical Learning Projects (ASTR 10 - 24) + 2 Electives + 2 Research Projects + Design a Learning Project for Others

Learning Projects

ASTR 1: Introduction to Astronomy

To complete this project you must do all required homework assignments, and you must develop and present either a 3-5 lesson learning project extending these lessons, or a paper applying these principles to a topic of interest.

Lesson 1: Celestial mechanics. Lesson 2: The Solar system. Lesson 3: The Sun. Lesson 4: Stellar radiation. Lesson 5: The nature of stars. Lesson 6: Interstellar space. Lesson 7: Galaxies. Lesson 8: Relativity. Lesson 9: Cosmology. Lesson 10: Large-scale structure.

ASTR 2: Data Analysis

To complete this project you must do all required homework assignments, and you must develop and present either a 3-5 lesson learning project extending these lessons, or a paper applying these principles to a topic of interest.

Lesson 1: Review of data analysis. Lesson 2: Error analysis. Lesson 3: Propagation of error. Lesson 4: Statistical analysis of error. Lesson 5: Review of probability. Lesson 6: The normal distribution. Lesson 7: Other probability distributions. Lesson 8: Parameter estimation. Lesson 9: Statistical plots. Lesson 10: Fitting data to a curve.

ASTR 3: Basic Methods of Astronomy

To complete this project you must do all required homework assignments, and you must conduct a research project, write up the results as a research paper, and prepare a presentation of your results.

Lesson 1: The observatory. Lesson 2: Telescope optics. Lesson 3: Telescope construction. Lesson 4: Astronomical instruments. Lesson 5: Photography and digital photography. Lesson 6: Astronomy beyond the visible. Lesson 7: Data acquisition. Lesson 8: The observatory. Lesson 9: Astronomical modeling. Lesson 10: Astronomical data on the Internet.

ASTR 4: Mathematical Methods for Astrophysics

To complete this project you must do all required homework assignments, and you must develop and present either a 3-5 lesson learning project extending these lessons, or a paper applying these principles to a topic of interest.

Lesson 1: Vector algebra. Lesson 2: Vector analysis. Lesson 3: Curvilinear coordinates. Lesson 4: Tensor analysis. Lesson 5: Infinite series. Lesson 6: Fourier analysis. Lesson 7: Complex analysis. Lesson 8: Differential equations. Lesson 9: Orthogonality. Lesson 10: Special functions.

ASTR 5: Computational Methods for Astrophysics (Requires ASTR 10)

To complete this project you must do all required homework assignments, and you must develop and present either a 3-5 lesson learning project extending these lessons, or a paper applying these principles to a topic of interest.

Lesson 1: Review of Mathematica. Lesson 2: Numbers in Mathematica. Lesson 3: Algebra in Mathematica. Lesson 4: Calculus in Mathematica. Lesson 5: Differential Equations. Lesson 6: Transform techniques. Lesson 7: List processing. Lesson 8: Graphical processing. Lesson 9: Statistics. Lesson 10: Mathematica programming techniques.

ASTR 10: Celestial Mechanics (Requires ASTR 11)

Lesson 1: Review of vectors and tensors. Lesson 2: Coordinate systems and transformations. Lesson 3: Classical mechanics. Lesson 4: Potential theory. Lesson 5: Central forces. Lesson 6: The two-body problem. Lesson 7: Orbit determination. Lesson 8: The three-body problem. Lesson 9: The n-body problem. Lesson 10: Perturbation theory.

ASTR 13: Astrophysics (Requires ASTR 12)

Lesson 1: Back-of-the envelope physics. Lesson 2: Advanced dynamics. Lesson 3: Electrodynamics and optics. Lesson 4: Electromagnetic radiation. Lesson 5: Thermal physics. Lesson 6: Radiative processes. Lesson 7: Quantum and atomic processes. Lesson 8: Fluid dynamics. Lesson 9: Plasmas. Lesson 10: Gravitation.

ASTR 14: The Solar System (Requires ASTR 13)

Lesson 1: Review of the solar system. Lesson 2: The Sun. Lesson 3: The solar nebula. Lesson 4: The major planets. Lesson 5: Dwarf planets. Lesson 6: Icy moons. Lesson 7: Comets and meteors. Lesson 8: Asteroids. Lesson 9: Rocky bodies. Lesson 10: Terrestrial planets.

ASTR 15: Astronomical Optics (Requires ASTR 13)

Lesson 1: Review of optics. Lesson 2: Paraxial optics. Lesson 3: Fermat's principle. Lesson 4: Reflecting telescopes. Lesson 5: Schmidt telescopes. Lesson 6: Schmidt-Cassegrain telescopes. Lesson 7: Auxuliary optics. Lesson 8: Aberrations. Lesson 9: Diffraction. Lesson 10: Adaptive optics.

ASTR 16: Making Astronomical Instruments (Requires ASTR 15 and ASTR 19)

Lesson 1: Electromagnetic radiation. Lesson 2: Optical and IR detectors. Lesson 3: Radio and microwave detectors. Lesson 4: X-ray and gamma-ray detectors. Lesson 5: Particle detectors. Lesson 6: Imaging. Lesson 7: Photometry. Lesson 8: Spectroscopy. Lesson 9: Astrometry. Lesson 10: Other methods.

ASTR 17: Stellar Astronomy (Requires ASTR 13)

Lesson 1: Properties of matter in stars. Lesson 2: Polytropes. Lesson 3: Stellar energy. Lesson 4: Heat transfer. Lesson 5: Stellar evolution. Lesson 6: Stellar structure. Lesson 7: Distorted structures. Lesson 8: Stellar pulsations. Lesson 9: Stellar atmospheres. Lesson 10: Radiative transfer.

ASTR 18: Interstellar Astronomy (Requires ASTR 17)

Lesson 1: Review of interstellar matter. Lesson 2: Interstellar dust. Lesson 3: Gaseous nebulae. Lesson 4: Fluid dynamics. Lesson 5:The virial theorem. Lesson 6: Plasmas. Lesson 7: Star formation. Lesson 8: Shock waves and fast flows. Lesson 9: Astrochemistry. Lesson 10: Diffuse supernova remnants.

ASTR 19: Data Acquisition

Lesson 1: Review of data acquisition. Lesson 2: Sensors. Lesson 3: Signals. Lesson 4: Digital aqcuisition equipment. Lesson 5: Analog electronics. Lesson 6: Digital electronics. Lesson 7: Digital acquisition software. Lesson 8: Performance characteristics. Lesson 9: Measurement error. Lesson 10: Calibration.

ASTR 20: Galactic Astronomy (Requires ASTR 18)

Lesson 1: Review of galaxies. Lesson 2: The Milky Way. Lesson 3: Stellar orbits. Lesson 4: The local group. Lesson 5: Spiral galaxies. Lesson 6: Elliptical galaxies. Lesson 7: Galaxy groups and clusters. Lesson 8: Large-scale distribution of galxies. Lesson 9: Active galactic nuclei. Lesson 10: Early history of galaxies.

ASTR 22: Relativity (Requires ASTR 13)

Lesson 1: Special relativity. Lesson 2: Manifolds and spaces. Lesson 3: Vector analysis on manifolds. Lesson 4: Tensor analysis on manifolds. Lesson 5: Special realtivity II. Lesson 6: Electrodynamics. Lesson 7: Spacetime curvature. Lesson 8: The field equations. Lesson 9: The Schwarzschild geometry. Lesson 10: Tests of relativity.

ASTR 23: Relativistic Astrophysics (Requires ASTR 22)

Lesson 1: Review of relativity. Lesson 2: Compact stars. Lesson 3: Schwarzschild lack holes. Lesson 4: Spherical symmetry. Lesson 5: Kerr geometry. Lesson 6: Gravitational collapse. Lesson 7: Linearized general relativity. Lesson 8: Gravitational waves. Lesson 9: The variational approach. Lesson 10: Fermi-Walker transport.

ASTR 24: Cosmology (Requires ASTR 23)

Lesson 1: Review of relativity. Lesson 2: Classical cosmology. Lesson 3: Quantum mechanics. Lesson 4: Quantum fields and particles. Lesson 5: The hot big bang. Lesson 6: Inflation. Lesson 7: Observational cosmology. Lesson 8: Structure formation. Lesson 9: Density fields. Lesson 10: Cosmic microwave background.

Click here to return to the educational programs page.

Click here to return to the home page.