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Astronomy Course Summary
Department: Science
Semester 1
Learning Objective #1
Students understand the basic motions of the solar system and their effects on the earth.
Target(s) to Meet Learning Objective #1
 Explain the concept of the celestial sphere and the conventions of angular measurement that
enable us to locate objects in the sky.
 Describe how the Sun, Moon, and the stars appear to change their positions from night to night
and month to month and from different positions on Earth.
 Explain the cause of the phases of the moon.
 Show how the relative motions of the Earth, Moon, and the Sun lead to eclipses.
 Describe the apparent path and location of the Sun across the sky on the seasonal dates.
 Identify the causes of seasons on Earth.
 Demonstrate a working knowledge of a star and planet finder and moon clock.
Timeline
4- 6 weeks
Learning Objective #2
Students understand how the science of astronomy has developed over the ages.
Target(s) to Meet Learning Objective #2
 Describe the significant contributions made by ancient Greek scientists.
 Define and understand the basic terms used in astronomy.
 Detail the growth and development of modern astronomic theory.
 Discuss the major contributions of Kepler as applied to the solar system.
 Explain how the universal law of gravitation accounts for Kepler's laws.
 Demonstrate a working knowledge of ellipses.
Timeline
3- 5 weeks
© Liberty High School 2011
Learning Objective #3
Students understand the basic concepts in rocketry and the history of the “space race.”
Target(s) to Meet Learning Objective #3
 Discuss the basics of flight and the forces affecting flight.
 Explain Newton’s three Laws of Motion and the Law of Gravity and describe how they apply to
rocketry.
 Discuss key events in the history of space flight.
 Discuss the importance of the space industry in today’s world.
Timeline
3- 4 weeks
Learning Objective #4
Students understand the nature of light and its use in astronomy.
Target(s) to Meet Learning Objective #4
 Discuss the nature of electromagnetic radiation.
 List the major regions of the electromagnetic spectrum and explain how the properties of Earth's
atmosphere affect our ability to make astronomical observations at different wavelengths.
 Tell how we can determine the temperature of an object by observing the radiation that it emits.
 Show how the relative motion of a source of radiation and its observer can change the perceived
wavelength of the radiation, and explain the importance of this phenomenon to astronomy.
 Describe the characteristics of continuous, emission, and absorption spectra and the conditions under
which each is produced.
 Specify the basic components of the atom and describe our modern conception of its structure.
 List and explain the kinds of information that can be obtained by analyzing the spectra of astronomical
objects.
Timeline
3- 4 weeks
© Liberty High School 2011
Semester 2
Learning Objective #1
Students understand the types of telescopes and how each are used in astronomy.
Target(s) to Meet Learning Objective #1
 Sketch and diagram the basic designs of the major types of optical telescopes.
 Explain why very large telescopes are needed for most astronomical study, and specify the
particular type of advantages of reflecting telescopes for astronomical use.
 Describe how the Earth’s atmosphere affects astronomical observations, and discuss some of the
current efforts to improve ground-based astronomy.
 Discuss the specific advantages and disadvantages of radio astronomy.
 Explain how interferometry can be used to enhance the usefulness of radio observatories.
 Explain why it is important to make astronomical observations in different regions of the
electromagnetic spectrum and discuss some of the telescopes in use today.
 Understand the basic principles of light, the electromagnetic spectrum, and how they relate to
telescopes.
Timeline
3- 4 weeks
Learning Objective #2
Students understand the structure of the earth and moon.
Target(s) to Meet Learning Objective #2
 Explain basic atomic structure, ions, isotopes, atomic half-lives, and their importance to astronomy.
 Outline our current model of Earth’s interior structure.
 Summarize the evidence for plate tectonics and discuss the physical processes that drive it.
 Demonstrate an understanding of the rock cycle and name some rocks associated with the
different types of rocks.
 Describe the sources and movement of Earth’s water, weather, and the structure of the
atmosphere.
 Explain the pattern of Earth’s tides and the source for them.
 Discuss the nature and origin of Earth’s Magnetosphere and its importance to life on earth.
 Summarize the general characteristics of the Moon and compare them with those of Earth.
 Summarize the various theories for the formation of the Moon, and indicate which is presently
considered the most likely.
Timeline
4- 6 weeks
© Liberty High School 2011
Learning Objective #3
Students understand the properties of the planets.
Target(s) to Meet Learning Objective #3
 Describe the methods for grouping planets and give examples of planets in each group
 Describe the orbital properties and physical features of various solar system objects
 Contrast the Jovian planets and the terrestrial planets and describe the common properties of each
group
 Name and describe the major moons of various planets
 Describe the appearance, orbit, behavior, and composition of comets and asteroids
 Know the location and characteristics of the Kuiper belt, Oort cloud, and asteroid belt
 Describe some of the major findings of the missions to various solar system objects
 Discuss the reasons why scientists reclassified Pluto into the minor planet category
Timeline
5- 6 weeks
Learning Objective #4
Students understand the composition of the sun and the lifecycle of stars.
Target(s) to Meet Learning Objective #4
 Summarize the overall properties of the Sun.
 Discuss the nature of the Sun's magnetic field and its relationship to the various types of solar
activity.
 Outline the process by which energy is produced in the Sun's interior.
 Explain how stars are often classified according to their colors, surface temperatures, and spectral
characteristics, and tell why such a classification is useful.
 State how an H-R diagram is constructed, and summarize the properties of the different types of
stars that such a diagram helps us to identify.
 Summarize the sequence of events leading to the formation and life cycle of stars of various sizes.
 Explain the characteristics of galaxies, pulsars, neutron stars, quasars, and black holes and how
they differ from one another.
Timeline
3- 4 weeks
© Liberty High School 2011
Learning Objective #5
Students understand the structure and makeup of our Universe and the basic structure and composition of
galaxies.
Target(s) to Meet Learning Objective #5
 Describe the size, shape, and color of the Milky Way galaxy and our position in the galaxy.
 Describe what a galaxy consists of, where it is found, and how galaxies change over time.
 Identify the different types of galaxies and distinguish between, galaxies, local groups, super
clusters, dwarf galaxies, merging galaxies, starburst galaxies, and active nucleus galaxies.
 Explain how galaxies are found to rotate due to the Doppler Effect.
 Identify regions where there is recent star formation.
 Discuss the scientific method and the evidence that supports the Big Bang Theory.
Timeline
2- 3 weeks
© Liberty High School 2011