PLANET EARTH
The Education Centre For Astronomy

&

MOBILE STARS
Planetarium

Advanced Astronomy Course

The Advanced Astronomy course builds upon knowledge gained at GCSE or O level and will greatly enhance your understanding and interest in astronomy.  On completion of this course you will own a valuable folder of your work, demonstrating your ability to discipline yourself to study in this way.

Several of our students have entered Higher Education courses on the strength of having achieved this Advanced Astronomy certificate.

The mathematics required will generally be of 'O' level standard and where it is felt that an additional maths skill may be needed, this will be included in the lesson.

The syllabus is composed of twelve lessons, divided into four sections.
Each section comprises of three lessons.

Section 1.   Solar System                   Lesson 1   Earth and Moon
                                                                     2   The Planets
                                                                     3   The Sun

Section 2.   Telescopes & Starlight     Lesson 4   Optical Aids
                                                                     5   Atoms and Spectra
                                                                     6   Luminosity of Stars

Section 3.   Stars                               Lesson 7   Energy of Stars
                                                                     8   Death of Stars
                                                                     9   Variable Stars

Section 4.   Galaxies & Distance        Lesson 10  Galaxies
                                                                     11  Celestial Sphere
                                                                     12  End Test

With each of the lessons 1 to 11 is an assignment containing questions, both descriptive and numerical, on the topics covered in that lesson.  you complete and return each assignment to your tutor for assessment, in your own time.

You are also required to submit a detailed account of three projects undertaken during the course, selected from a choice of eleven titles.  This coursework allow you to develop a topic, in an area of your interest, and to make an extended study.

The assignments and the End Test are not intended to be done as 'exams'.  You may research from notes, books and other sources to complete the questions.

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