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

ModifiedMasteringAstronomy
Registration Information

ModifiedMasteringAstronomy
Login Essentials

ModifiedMasteringAstronomy
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 "Canvas 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)
• ModifiedMasteringAstronomy Registration Information (Browser, Word, PDF)
• *ModifiedMasteringAstronomy Grading System* (Browser, Word, PDF)
• Math Calculations in MasteringAstronomy (Browser, Word, PDF)
• The 21 Stars To Know List (Word, PDF)
• The Celestial Sphere and the Star Charts (Browser, Word, PDF)
• Using the Skygazer's Almanac (Word, PDF)
• How to Use a Planisphere (Word, PDF)
• Starry Night Pro Software - An Introduction (Word, PDF)
• Cosmic Object List (Partial) (Word, PDF)

Useful Information

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

Exams

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

Extra Credit and Bonus Material

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

Homework Exercises

• See the ModifiedMasteringAstronomy Site for Homework Exercises

Homework Answer Keys

• See the ModifiedMasteringAstronomy Site for Homework Exercise Answers

Third-Hour Exercises

• Found in the current edition of the Astronomy 2 Student Handbook

Third-Hour Answer Keys

• Third-Hour A Key
• Third-Hour B Key
• Third-Hour C Key
• Third-Hour D Key
• Third-Hour E Key

Lecture Presentations

• Found in the current edition of the Astronomy 2 Student Handbook

Student Performance - Spring Semester 2020