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Course Description

This is a general interest introductory course on the history of astronomy and the solar system, and is intended for non-science majors. Topics Include: Telescopes and observing the night sky, ancient astronomy, space exploration, the Earth/Moon system, formation and evolution of the solar system, the planets, minor members of the solar system and the Sun.

Learning outcomes

  • Describe and explain the birth of astronomy.
  • Explain orbits and gravity, the seasons, and eclipses.
  • Describe the phases of the moon.
  • Explain radiation and spectra and their effects.
  • Identify astronomical instruments.
  • Describe the formation of the solar system.
  • Identify and describe the properties of the planets, planetary rings, comets, asteroids, meteorites, and the sun.

Course topics

  • Unit 1: Beginning the Cosmic Journey
  • Unit 2: The Nature of Gravity and Light
  • Unit 3: Our Solar System and the Search for Exoplanets
  • Unit 4: The Terrestrial Planets
  • Unit 5: The Jovian Planets, Asteroids, & Comets

Required text and materials

Students are responsible for purchasing the required materials on their own:

  • Jayawardhana, R. (2013). Strange New Worlds: The Search for Alien Planets and Life Beyond Our Solar System. Princeton University Press. 
    Type: E-Textbook. ISBN: 9781400846542 / 978-0-691-15807-5

Note: This item can be purchased directly from the following link.

  • Seeds, M., & Backman, D. (2017). The Solar System (10th ed.). Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning. 

Type: E-Textbook: ISBN: 9798214354750 / 978-1-337-39993-7

Note: This item can be purchased directly from the following link.

 

Assessments

Please be aware that should your course have a final exam, you are responsible for the fee to the online proctoring service, ProctorU, or to the in-person approved Testing Centre. Please contact exams@tru.ca with any questions about this.

To successfully complete this course, students must achieve a passing grade of 50% or higher on the overall course and 50% or higher on the mandatory Final Exam.

Assignment 1a: APOD 1 (NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day)

 4%

Assignment 2a: Space News 1

 4%

Test 1 (Units 1 & 2)

 5%

Assignment 1b: APOD 2 (NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day)    

 4%

Assignment 3: Citizen Science Project

 10%

Assignment 2b: Space News 2

 4%

Assignment 4: Book Report and Assignment 4 Quiz

 10%

Test 2 (Units 3 & 4)

 5%

Assignment 1c: APOD 3 (NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day)

 4%

Assignment 5: Observing the Night Sky

 10%

Mandatory Final Exam 

 40%

Total

100%

Exclusions

ASTR 1140

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Enrol now - select a section to enrol in

Section Title
Introductory Astronomy: The Solar System
Section Schedule
Any Time (30 weeks duration)
Delivery
Online, self-paced  
Course Fee(s)
Canadian in BC/YT non-credit $837.62 Click here to get more information
Canadian outside BC/YT non-credit $946.70 Click here to get more information
International Student non-credit $1,661.15 Click here to get more information
Available for Credit
3 credits

Open Learning faculty member information

An Open Learning faculty member is available to assist students. Students will receive the necessary contact information at the start of the course.

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