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AST 1118 Lab for Stars, Galaxies & the Universe

Lab and field activities to supplement Stars, Galaxies & the Universe. Three lab hours per week.

Division: Science, Mathematics and Engineering
Department: Astronomy
Repeatable Credit: No
Offered Online: Yes

Prereqs: None  

Outcomes

  • Identify the major features of nebulae on photographs.
  • Determine and locate objects using celestial and local coordinates.
  • Classify main sequence stars by spectral type using spectroscopy.
  • Locate and draw conclusions about sizes, structures, and distances of galaxies using features on photographs. Classify galaxies using Hubble classification scheme.
  • Determine the rate of expansion of the universe and the age of the universe using the Hubble Law.
  • Synthesize the properties of lens and mirror, to explain the basic structure of telescopes.
  • Determine the rotational rate of the Sun using sunspot images.
  • Determine the temperatures of stars using the relationship between color and temperature for blackbodies.
  • Apply angular measurements of local objects to determine their properties and motions.
  • Plot an H-R diagram using given stellar values of brightness and spectral class, and use the diagram to determine other properties of stars, such as mass, temperature, and radius. Determine the ages of star clusters using their turnoff points on an H-R diagram.
  • Determine the distance to a star cluster using photoelectric photometry.

Credit Hours: 1

Lab Hours: 3