Students will explore physical properties and orbital behavior of planets, moons, asteroids and comets as revealed by telescopic observations and spacecraft missions. They will learn how the scientific method changed our understanding of orbital motions within the solar system. Recent astronomical techniques for studying exoplanets orbiting other star systems will be investigated. Techniques for operating telescopes and analyzing astronomical data will be examined with online access to computer-simulated laboratories.
This course may or may not align with the K-12 school calendar, and instead, it might adhere to its own post-secondary calendar. For specific information about start dates, please refer to the respective post-secondary institution's website.
Prerequisite
Math Foundations 20 or Pre-Calculus 20
Student must be accepted by the U of S
Delivered
Online Asynchronous
Credits
Elective 30 and Post-Secondary Credit
Post-Secondary Institution: University of Saskatchewan College of Arts and Science
Post-Secondary Credit: ASTR 104.3: Astronomy of Planets
High School Credit: Astronomy 30L
For a complete list of all University of Saskatchewan (U of S) academic deadlines like payment and refund information, start and end dates click here.
This course follows the U of S schedule, which is not aligned with the high school schedule.
There are extra fees (tuition for the U of S) associated with this course; there are NO fees charged by the Sask DLC. So, if you get an automatically generated Sask DLC invoice stating that you owe $500, please ignore it.
Also, this course may require exam supervision at a school.
Proctored Exams: Determined by the post secondary instructor
The Sask DLC teacher serve as a liaison between the student/parent and the post-secondary institution.
The U of S instructor will provide all instruction, clarify content, and conduct assessments.
1. If you intend on taking this course, it is important that you speak with your high school Career Guidance Counselor / Principal or Sask DLC Academic Advisor. They will assist you with the Sask DLC registration process to ensure your high school credit is properly awarded.
2. Upon receipt of the Sask DLC registration, you will be emailed an application form to fill out and send to the U of S. This form advises of a one-time U of S student application fee of approximately $90. This fee, along with all tuition costs, must be paid directly to the U of S. There may also be other fees associated with this course including textbook or other resource costs.
The application form and fee can be sent to or dropped off at:
Admissions and Transfer Credit
105 Administration Place
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, SK
S7N 5A2
If you have questions regarding the process, email [email protected] or call 306-966-6718.
3. Once your application is processed, the U of S will email notification to you and payment will be due immediately. Your admission letter will provide the credentials needed to access your U of S student account (PAWS) where you can learn about outstanding fees and payment options.
If you have questions regarding registration or course information, please reach out to Aaron Biberdorf at [email protected].
Here and now: human curiosity and the night sky
Origins of modern astronomy
Gravity: explaining solar system orbits from Newton to Einstein
Light and telescopes
Atoms, spectra and the Sun
Moon and Mercury
The habitable zone: Venus, Earth and Mars
Jupiter and Saturn
Uranus, Neptune and the Kuiper Belt
Asteroids, comets, and the origin of the solar system
This course requires a midterm and a final exam to be supervised by a proctor
Textbook: The Solar System Seeds, M., Backman, D., 8th Edition (e-text) Galileoscope and Camera Tripod
Can be purchased from the University Book Store or Amazon.ca
Saskatchewan Distance Learning Centre provides Kindergarten to Grade 12 courses to Saskatchewan students who choose to study online. We empower students and families to choose the learning environment that works best for them, while supporting their graduation plan.
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