Mathematics – Logic
Scientific paper
Dec 1992
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1992aas...181.3104c&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, 181st AAS Meeting, #31.04; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 24, p.1168
Mathematics
Logic
Scientific paper
Distance Education is the presentation of an educational curriculum through self-study materials supplemented by regular contact with an instructor. As such it is suitable for offering educational opportunities to students in widely dispersed locations typical of Canada. Since 1989 Athabasca University has offered Science 280, Introduction to Astronomy and Astrophysics, as a broad introduction to Astronomy at a pre-calculus level. The course includes a computer-based laboratory (observing simulation) set done in students' homes. The laboratory allows simulation of naked eye astronomical observations, starting with the motions of the sun and moon. The logical jump to motions not apparently centered on Earth (planetary retrograde motion and periods) seems to present difficulty to students. Stellar proper motions are made observable by the use of long observing intervals of up to 30000 years. The distribution of nearby stars in space is studied through use of stellar color and the assumption that all stars are on the Main Sequence. The erroneous results which this engenders are not recognized as such by most students, who happily submit reports with red stars at .02 parsec distance. Star counts enable rough determination of Galactic structure. Widespread availability of PC-compatible computers has enabled distance education to bring astronomical education, including an 'observational' component, to Canadians who otherwise would not have access to it.
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