Lesson 1- Introduction and Solar System Basics

Astronomy: Universe- celestial objects (planets, stars, moons, nebulae, galaxies)

                                     phenomena (supernova explosions, gamma ray bursts, cosmic radiation)

Milky Way galaxy contains 8 planets, including Earth, that orbit the Sun on an elliptical rotation counter-clockwise each paced individually. The Sun has it's own orbit around the galactic center

Billions of stars

Solar System: Inner- Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars

                       Asteroid Belt- 7,000 asteroids, also orbits the Sun. 

                      Outer- Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.

Stars- hydrogen and helium mass containing nuclear fusion, causing illumination.  

          Used for navigation and in religions. (North Star) 

          Constellations- 1929 International Astronomical Union recognized 88

The Big Dipper is not an officially recognized constellation, because it is contained within Ursa Major. The Big Dipper is an Asterism. 

12 Zodiac Constellations- Aries, Aquarius, Cancer, Capricorn, Gemini, Leo, Libra, Pisces, Sagittarius, Scorpio/us, Taurus, Virgo. 

For a list of the recognized constellations, see Appendix. 

           Asrology/astromancy are the study of constellations for fortune telling. 

Lesson 2- Mercury

Lesson 3- Venus and Earth

Lesson 4- Mars: the Red Planet and Mid-terms

Lesson 5- Jupiter the Gas Giant

Lesson 6- Saturn and its Rings

Lesson 7- Uranus

Lesson 8- Neptune and Pluto

Lesson 9- Final Review and Exams