PHYS 104 - Introduction to Astronomy

Credits: 4
Lecture Contact Hours: 3
Lab Contact Hours: 2
Description: PHYS 104 is a one-semester introduction to astronomy that utilizes laboratories and basic mathematics to assist in, and expand upon, the exploration of the course topics. Earth-sky relationships, the solar system, stellar astronomy, cosmology and astrobiology will be covered. Several space exploration missions will also be featured. This course is not intended for science majors.

Prerequisites: MATH 053, or overall high school GPA of 2.8 or higher, or a minimum score of 19 ACT-Math, 25 SAT-Math, 78 CPT-Elementary Algebra or 250 NGA-Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra and Statistics or one year of high school algebra.
Corequisites: None.
Recommended: None.

Course Category: Liberal Arts | Science with Lab
This course counts toward Schoolcraft’s General Education Requirements.
This course counts toward a Michigan Transfer Agreement General Education Requirement.

This Course is Typically Offered: Winter, Spring, Fall
Check Course Availability

Course Competencies

Apply the equatorial and horizontal coordinate systems, in conjunction with the celestial sphere, for location and navigation.
Apply the distance ladder methods to determine the distance of celestial objects.
Examine the electromagnetic spectrum using photon and wave models.
Apply radiation laws such as Wien’s law, Kirchhoff’s laws, Stefan-Boltzmann law and Planck’s law.
Explore the goals and operation of several well-known terrestrial and non-terrestrial telescopes working in visible and non-visible frequency bands.
Examine celestial motions, cycles and configurations.
Examine lunar phases, lunar cycles, lunar eclipses and solar eclipses.
Examine the formation and current state of the solar system.
Differentiate terrestrial and Jovian planets.
Differentiate meteoroids, asteroids, comets, moons and dwarf planets.
Diagram the composition and key characteristics of the sun.
Relate stellar luminosity, surface temperature, brightness, composition, size and mass.
Classify stellar types and life cycles. Identify key features of the Milky Way Galaxy.
Classify galaxies in terms of formation, type and evolution.
Explore Einstein’s special and general theories of relativity.
Apply Kepler’s and Newton’s laws.
Explore how black holes form, their effect on space-time and their role in the structure of galaxies.
Explore the Big Bang, dark matter, dark energy and the evolution of the Universe.
Explain criteria used to search for extra-terrestrial life.