Course Description

Naked eye astronomy is taught using the planetarium as a space simulator and teaching tool. Students have the opportunity to find and recognize northern hemisphere constellations and identify their brightest stars. The motion of the starry skies including celestial viewing of moon and planets is studied. Telescopes and methods of analyzing starlight are introduced. A brief history of astronomy from an earth centered to expanding universe view is presented. Planetarium astronomy makes use of our campus planetarium and, when practical, visit(s) to Bay Area planetarium(s).