We are leaving the solar system– after a brief overview of planetology– to see what else is out there. From elemental gasses to stars to massive galaxies to all-consuming black holes, the universe is homogeneous and isotropic. Find out why!

How to get the most out of Astronomy for High School with MacBeth Derham.:

• First, read the course materials below before the first class meeting.

• Then have a notebook ready and available for class notes each live session.

• Read assignments before class meetings

• Watch that week’s recording if you need to revisit information from our live session.

• Do the assignments, quizzes, and any extra work assigned for that week.

• Once the course is completed to the parent's and professor’s satisfaction, there is a Certificate of Completion at the end to be filled in for your records.

Total Classes: 13

Class Dates: Tuesdays, January 7 to April 8, 2025. (No class Mar. 4)

Starting Time: 4:00 PM Eastern (3:00 Central, 2:00 Mountain, 1:00 Pacific)

Duration: 55-60 minutes

Prerequisite: Algebra (optional—math is occasionally demonstrated for its beauty in describing the universe)

Suggested Grade Level: 9th to 12th grade

Suggested Credit: One full semester of Science or Astronomy. For a full year credit, register for Mission: Mars! From Myth to Mariner to (Maybe) Manned or another science course in the fall.

Instructor: MacBeth Derham

Course Description: We are leaving the solar system to see what else is out there! Textbook and lectures will be supplemented by up-to-date information from ongoing research.

Course Outline:

Week 1: History of Astronomy
Week 2: Radiation, Spectroscopy, Telescopes
Week 3: Planetology and Geology
Week 4: Mercury, the Moon, and Venus
Week 5: Mars, Jupiter, Saturn
Week 6: Uranus, Neptune and Beyond; Formation of planets
Week 7: The Sun, Stars, and the Main Sequence
Week 8: Interstellar Medium and Star Formation
Week 9: Stellar Evolution and Stellar Explosions
Week 10: Neutron Stars, Black Holes, Weird Stuff
Week 11: Milky Way and other Galaxies
Week 12: Quasars and Cosmology
Week 13: The Early Universe and…Are We Alone?

Course Materials: Astronomy Today 4/e Volume 2 Stars and Galaxies, ISBN-13: 978-0130935717 (https://amzn.to/3kTMQnp), or 5/e, 6/e, 7/e, 8/e... The later editions are pricey.
*If you buy used, please check with the seller—the second volume is the text for this course. Also, binoculars or small telescope, and a dark sky are helpful!

Homework: Weekly reading and quizzes; occasional outdoor activities. Expect to spend about two to three hours per week outside of the classroom on homework.

Fee: For all 13 classes: $197 if you register on or before November 15, $217 if you register after Nov. 15. (Registration closes one week before the first day of class. After that date, registration is not guaranteed. There is a $20 surcharge for late enrollments after the course is closed.)