Astronomy

This astronomy course is an exciting high school class designed to help students sense the mystery of our Creator within scientific discoveries, revealing the beauty of God's amazing creation. Exploring Creation with High School Astronomy takes a conversational tone, permitting students to enjoy the wonder of exploring our universe. Knowledge of the universe, how we currently understand it, and the questions of the unknown are all things that every human should endeavor to contemplate and comprehend. The topics covered in this class include: the mysteries of the universe, the history of astronomy, basics of astronomy, our solar system, the inner planets, the outer planets, the night sky, celestial navigation, and more. This course will whet the appetite and provide a foundation for future astronomy courses and for understanding the relationships between science, faith, and philosophy. Students will be assigned weekly readings and comprehension questions, and will attend live recitations as an active participant. Additional assignments and assessments are still to be determined.

Course Objectives:

1. To look at astronomy from a classical, Christian viewpoint.
2. To appreciate the wonder and beauty of the Universe and how it works.
3. To build fluency in the terms and concepts of astronomy.
4. To understand the relationships among history, philosophy, theology, and science and see how they are all intertwined in the study of astronomy.
5. To become comfortable and proficient with some of the basic equations used in modern astronomy.
6. To observe the night sky and have a basic understanding of the major constellations and other features visible to the naked eye.

Texts:

• Exploring Creation with High School Astronomy (Apologia ISBN: 9781946506719)