SIERRA COLLEGE
ASTRONOMY DEPARTMENT

Course Description: General principles and fundamental facts of astronomy associated with planetary systems. Visual concepts emphasized through multimedia presentations and planetarium demonstrations. Peer-based exercises and computer interaction emphasized. Includes historical developments of planetary astronomy, basic principles of planetary system observations and analysis, and general concepts for interpreting the night sky with charts and almanacs. Particular detail given to the formation, evolution, and current condition of the Sun and Solar System, as well as current knowledge of other planetary systems. Possibilities for life in planetary environments discussed.  [Units: 3; Transfer: CSU/UC]

Course Advisory: Completion of English 50 strongly recommended.

Class Handouts
Useful Information

Exams
Extra Credit/Bonus

Homework Exercises
Homework Answer Keys

Third-Hour Exercises
Third-Hour Answer Keys

Lecture Presentations
Student Performance

Third-Hour
Sessions

Distance Learning
Orientation Materials

BlackBoard
Login

MasteringAstronomy
Student Information

MasteringAstronomy
Login Essentials

MasteringAstronomy
Homepage

Please Note: All links below are for Rocklin/NCC On-Campus Students.
Tahoe/Truckee on-campus students should contact their instructor for course details.
Online students should follow the "BlackBoard Login" link to gain access to their course materials.

Class Handouts

• *Guide to the First Two Weeks of Class* (Browser, Word, PDF)

• Syllabus (Browser, Word, PDF)
• *Syllabus Supplement* (Browser, Word, PDF)
• *General Schedule of Activities* (Browser, Word, PDF)
• Sierra College Honesty Policy (Browser, Word, PDF)
• Class Emergency Procedures (Browser, Word, PDF)
• MasteringAstronomy Registration Information (Browser, Word, PDF)
• *MasteringAstronomy Grading System* (Browser, Word, PDF)
• *Math Calculations in MasteringAstronomy* (Browser, Word, PDF)
• The 21 Stars To Know List (Browser, Word, PDF)
• The Celestial Sphere and the Star Charts (Browser, Word, PDF)
• Using the Skygazer's Almanac (Browser, Word, PDF)
• How to Use a Planisphere (Browser, Word, PDF)
• Starry Night Pro Software - An Introduction (Browser, Word, PDF)
• Cosmic Object List (Partial) (Browser, Word, PDF)

* = Item is updated or new relative to the required course Student Handbook

Useful Information

• Actions and Atitudes of Successful Students (Browser, Word, PDF)
• Student Success Workshops (Browser)

Exams

• Take-Home Midterm (Browser,Word, PDF)
• Take-Home Midterm Answer Form (Browser,Word, PDF)
• Take-Home Midterm Key (Browser)
• In-Class Midterm Key (Browser)
• In-Class Midterm/Final Review Questions (Browser,Word, PDF)
• Final Exam Outline
• Solar System Objects for Final

Extra Credit and Bonus Material

• Planisphere and Star Chart Bonus Exercise (Browser,Word, PDF)
• Extra Credit (Browser, Word, PDF)
• Video Reviews (Browser, Word, PDF)

Homework Exercises

• See the MasteringAstronomy Site for Homework Exercises

Homework Answer Keys

• See the MasteringAstronomy Site for Homework Exercise Answers

Third-Hour Exercises

• Third-Hour A (Browser, Word, PDF)
• Third-Hour B (Browser, Word, PDF)
• Third-Hour C (Browser, Word, PDF)
• Third-Hour D (Browser, Word, PDF)
• Third-Hour E (Browser, Word, PDF)
• Third-Hour F (Browser, Word, PDF)
• Third-Hour G (Browser, Word, PDF)
• Third-Hour H (Browser, Word, PDF)
• Third-Hour I (Browser, Word, PDF)
• Third-Hour J (Browser, Word, PDF)
• Third-Hour K (Browser, Word, PDF)
• Third-Hour L (Browser, Word, PDF)
• Third-Hour M (Browser, Word, PDF)

Third-Hour Answer Keys

• Third-Hour A Key
• Third-Hour B Key
• Third-Hour C Key
• Third-Hour D Key
• Third-Hour E Key
• Third-Hour F Key
• Third-Hour G Key
• Third-Hour H Key
• Third-Hour I Key
• Third-Hour J Key
• Third-Hour K Key
• Third-Hour L Key
• Third-Hour M Key

Lecture Presentations

• *Lecture 1, Topic 1*: Course Overview, Goals, and Objectives
• Lecture 1, Topic 2: Overview, Dimensions, and the Scientific Method
• Lecture 2 Discovering the Universe Yourself
• Lecture 3, Topic 1: Ancient Astronomy
• Lecture 3, Topic 2: Renaissance Astronomy
• Lecture 4 Understanding Motion, Energy, and Gravity
• Lecture 5 Light and Matter
• Lecture 6 Telescopes: Portals of Discovery
• Lecture 7 A Planetary Overview
• Lecture 8 Formation of the Solar System
• Lecture 9, Topic 1: Terrestrial Geology Basics
• Lecture 9, Topic 2: Geology of the Terrestrial Worlds
• Lecture 9, Topic 3: Atmospheres of the Terrestrial Planets
• *Lecture 10* The Jovian Planets
• *Lecture 11* Solar System debris
• *Lecture 12* Other Planetary Systems
• Lecture 13 The Sun - Our Star
• *Lecture 14* Life in the Universe

* = Item is updated or new relative to the required course Student Handbook

Student Performance - Spring Semester 2008

• Professor Dunn's Classes
  • Tue/Thu 8:00 AM Lecture
  
  
• Professor Houpis's Classes
  • Mon/Wed 9:30 AM Lecture
  • Mon/Wed 11:00 AM Lecture
  
  
• Professor Kenyon's Classes
  • Tue/Thu 12:30 AM Lecture