Republic of the Philippines

UNIVERSITY OF ANTIQUE
Sibalom, Antique
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Course Outline in Science 7

(Astronomy)
Revised August 2022

A. Course Information
Course Code : Science 7
Course Title : Astronomy
Course Description: This 3- unit course deals with the various motions observed in the
heavens and the fundamental physical laws that govern them. This
course also includes a discussion of the solar system and other
astronomical bodies.
Pre requisite :None
Co requisite :None
Credit : 3 units
Lecture : 3 hours/week

B. Instructor
Name: Van Helen S. Cuaderes
Contact Number: 09770879915
E-mail Address: vanhelen.cuaderes@antiquespride.edu.ph
Room: LHS Principal’s Office
Consultation Time/Day: TTh, 8:30-10:00 AM

C. Course Topics:

I. Preliminaries
a. University Mission, Vision, Quality Policy
b. Program Outcomes

II. Astronomy, an Observational Science

c. Galileo Galilei’s proof of the Copernican theory of the solar system
d. The celestial sphere and stellar magnitudes
e. The celestial coordinate system
f. Precession
g. Time
h. A second major observational triumph: the laws of planetary motion
i. Measuring the astronomical unit
j. Isaac Newton and his Universal Law of Gravity
k. Experimental measurements of G, the Universal constant of gravitation
l. Gravity today: Einstein’s special and general theories of relativity

III. Our Solar System 1 – The Sun

a. The formation of the solar system
b. The Sun
c. Nuclear fusion
d. The solar atmosphere
e. The solar wind
f. The sun’s magnetic fi eld and the sunspot cycle
g. Prominences, flares and the interaction of the solar wind with
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UNIVERSITY OF ANTIQUE
Sibalom, Antique
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h. the earth’s atmosphere

i. Solar eclipses

IV. Our Solar System 2 – The Planets

a. What is a planet?
b. Planetary orbits
c. Planetary properties
d. Planetary atmospheres
e. The planets of the solar system
f. Comets

V. Extrasolar Planets
a. The radial velocity (Doppler wobble) method of planetary detection
b. Planetary transits
c. Gravitational microlensing
d. Astrometry
e. Discovery space
f. Selection effects and the likelihood of finding solar systems like ours

VI. Observing the Universe

a. Thinking about optics in terms of waves rather than rays
b. The human eye
c. The use of a telescope or pair of binoculars to see fainter objects
d. The magnification of a telescope
e. Image contrast
f. The classic Newtonian telescope
g. The Cassegrain telescope
h. Catadioptric telescopes
i. Active and adaptive optics
j. Some significant optical telescopes
k. Radio telescopes
l. Observing in other wavebands
m. Observing the universe without using electromagnetic radiation

VII. The Properties of Stars

a. Stellar luminosity
b. Stellar distances
c. Proper motion
d. The absolute magnitude scale
e. Color and surface temperature
f. Stellar photometry
g. Stellar spectra
h. Spectroscopic parallax
i. The Hertzsprung–Russell Diagram
j. The size of stars
k. The masses and densities of stars
l. The stellar mass–luminosity relationship
m. Stellar lifetimes
 Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF ANTIQUE
Sibalom, Antique
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VIII. Stellar Evolution – The Life and Death of Stars

a. Low mass stars: 0.05–0.5 solar masses
b. Mid mass stars: 0.5–∼8 solar masses
c. Variable stars
d. Planetary nebula
e. White dwarfs
f. The evolution of a sun-like star
g. Evolution in close binary systems – the Algol paradox
h. High mass stars in the range >8 solar masses
i. Type II supernova
j. Neutron stars and black holes
k. The discovery of pulsars
l. Pulsars as tests for general relativity
m. Black holes

IX. Galaxies and the Large Scale Structure of the Universe

a. The Milky Way
b. Other galaxies
c. The universe

X. Cosmology – the Origin and Evolution of the Universe

a. Einstein’s blunder?
b. Big Bang models of the universe
c. The blueshifts and redshifts observed in the spectra of galaxies
d. The expansion of the universe
e. The steady state model of the universe
f. Big Bang or Steady State?
g. The cosmic microwave background
h. Inflation
i. The Big Bang and the formation of the primeval elements
j. The ‘ripples’ in the Cosmic Microwave Background
k. How dark matter affects the cosmic microwave background
l. The hidden universe: dark matter and dark energy
m. The makeup of the universe
n. A universe fit for intelligent life
o. Intelligent life in the universe
p. The future of the universe

D. Class Activities
a. Reporting/Demo Teaching
b. Astronomy News/Update
c. Video Presentations
d. Performance Tasks
e. Projects

Optional Activities:
a. Skywatching/Astronomy Camp
 Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF ANTIQUE
Sibalom, Antique
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E. Grading System

Part 1
Recitation/Participation/Astronomy Update 15%
Course Outputs (Written, Performed Projects, Oral Presentation/Report) 20%
Part 2
Quizzes 15%
Long Tests 15%
Midterm/Final Examination 35%
Total 100%

Grade Computation
Midterm Grade---------------------------------- Part 1 + Part 2
Tentative Final Grade ------------------------- Part 1 + Part 3
Final Grade --------------------------------------(Midterm Grade + Tentative Final )/2

F. References

Printed Materials/E-books
a. Student Handbook
b. Faculty Manual
c. University Code
d. Scheider, S. & T. Arny.(2018). Pathways to astronomy. 5th Edition. McGraw-Hill Education.
New York.
e. Maran, S. (2017) Astronomy for dummies. 4th Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New Jersey.
f. Morison, I. (2013). Introduction to astronomy and cosmology. John Wiley & Sons.

Video Series:
Cosmos: A SpaceTime Odyssey (Season 1)
1. Standing Up in the Milky Way 7. The Clean Room
2. Some of the Things That Molecules 8. Sisters of the Sun
Do 9. The Lost Worlds of Planet Earth
3. When Knowledge Conquered Fear 10. The Electric Boy
4. A Sky Full of Ghosts 11. The Immortals
5. Hiding in the Light 12. The World Set Free
6. Deeper, Deeper, Deeper Still 13. Unafraid of the Dark

Prepared by:

VAN HELEN S. CUADERES

Course Facilitator