High Astronomy Solar/Galactic

Segment One

• Origin of astronomy
• Distinguish between science and pseudoscience
• Laws and theories in astronomy
• Measuring astronomical distances
• Telescopes and other astronomical tools
• Astronomers and their contributions to astronomy
• Locating planets and constellations
• Discoveries in space history
• Formation of the solar system
• Gravitational influence on the position of the planets
• Planetary motion and properties
• Surface features of terrestrial planets and gas planets
• The habitable zone
• Atmospheric conditions and magnetic fields
• Cyclic changes in the Earth and moon
• Rotation and revolution of the planets, Sun, and moon
• Earth, Moon, Sun system
• Application of planetary laws
• Moons of the planets in the solar system
• Colonizing space

Segment Two 

• Stellar properties and classifications
• Features of waves
• Electromagnetic spectrum
• Blackbody radiation
• Characteristics of the Sun
• Measuring stellar distances
• Life cycle of a star
• Doppler effect
• The Milky Way
• Classification of galaxies
• Properties of galaxies
• Black holes
• Galactic origins
• Dark matter
• Relativity
• Cosmology
• The Big Bang Theory
• Hubble Law
• The early universe
• Fundamental forces of the universe

You will need the following items to complete this course:

• printer (optional)
• word editing software
• one deflated balloon
• markers
• approximately 30 cm (12 inches) of string or yarn
• ruler or tape measure
• scientific calculator

Besides engaging students in challenging curriculum, the course guides students to reflect on their learning and evaluate their progress through a variety of assessments. Assessments can be in the form of practice lessons, multiple choice questions, writing assignments, projects, research papers, oral assessments, and discussions. This course will use the state-approved grading scale. Each course contains a mandatory final exam or culminating project that will be weighted at 20% of the student’s overall grade.***

***Proctored exams can be requested by FLVS at any time and for any reason in an effort to ensure academic integrity. When taking the exam to assess a student’s integrity, the exam must be passed with at least a 59.5% in order to earn credit for the course.  

To achieve success, students are expected to submit work in each course weekly. Students can learn at their own pace; however, “any pace” still means that students must make progress in the course every week. To measure learning, students complete self-checks, practice lessons, multiple choice questions, projects, discussion-based assessments, and discussions. Students are expected to maintain regular contact with teachers; the minimum requirement is monthly. When teachers, students, and parents work together, students are successful.