Description
This course covers the astronomy of the stars and galaxies. The course is designed for the non-science major and incorporates laboratory exercises and field trips to observatories. Topics include radiation and spectra, astronomical instruments, analysis and classification of stars, birth and death of stars, relativity theory, black holes, galaxies, quasars, interstellar matter and the big bang theory. Laboratory exercises may involve spectra analysis, construction of optical instruments, star classification, star chart analysis and radio astronomy. No mathematical background is assumed.