Astronomy
Overview
The Folsom Lake College astronomy program offers an array of transferable courses that fulfill both major and general education requirements. The astronomy courses are offered as part of the general education program at FLC and consists of the ASTR 300 lecture class and the ASTR 400 lab class. These classes are meant to give the student a comprehensive breath of the field of astronomy and the laboratory class gives a hands-on learning experience. Both courses are an excellent way for liberal arts students to gain an appreciation of scientific knowledge and methods.
- Division Dean Dr. Lorena Navarro
- Department Chair Daniel Hale
- Meta-Major Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
- Phone (916) 608-6615
- Email navarrl@flc.losrios.edu
Astronomy (ASTR) Courses
ASTR C1001 Introduction to Astronomy
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:Successful completion of Algebra I/Integrated Math 1 or Beginning Algebra
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:Local GE L5 (effective Fall 2026); Cal-GETC Area 5A
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course was formerly known as ASTR 300 Introduction to Astronomy.
This course introduces fundamental concepts of astronomy, including the Solar System, stars,
supernovae, galaxies, black holes, and the expanding universe. Students learn how to study the
cosmos and what the latest discoveries reveal about the origins and fate of the universe. This course covers topics in modern planetary and stellar astronomy, such as dwarf, jovian, terrestrial, and extrasolar planets and the life cycle of stars, black holes, and supernovae. It also includes topics on cosmology and galactic astronomy, such as dark matter, dark energy, the Big Bang, and the expansion of the Universe. This course was formerly known as ASTR 300 and is not open to students who have successfully completed ASTR 300.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- apply fundamental theoretical principles and evidence-based reasoning to explain how observations and data inform our current understanding of the universe and everyday phenomena.
- distinguish and compare the size, scale, and structure of astronomical objects.
- describe the diverse perspectives and contributions that have shaped humanity's understanding of the universe through the field of astronomy.
- apply fundamental theoretical principles and evidence-based reasoning to explain how observations and data inform our current understanding of the universe and everyday phenomena.
- distinguish and compare the size, scale, and structure of astronomical objects.
- describe the diverse perspectives and contributions that have shaped humanity's understanding of the universe through the field of astronomy.
- evaluate early models of the solar system using the scientific method and outline the historical events that led to our current model.
- apply theories and models from classical physics and modern physics to explain astronomical observations, such as the motion of objects in the sky, the formation of planets, and the life cycle of stars.
- classify the planets as terrestrial or jovian and list the characteristics of each category.
- explain how astronomers collect light from distant stars and discuss what can be learned from analyzing that light.
- classify different types of stars and galaxies, and discuss the stellar life cycle in the context of stellar evolution.
- describe the scientific evidence and models regarding the nature and origin of the Universe, including its evolution from the Big Bang up to today.
ASTR 310 The Solar System
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:Successful completion of Algebra I/Integrated Math 1 or Beginning Algebra; AND eligibility for ENGL C1000/C1000H (formerly ENGWR 300/480) or ESLW 340
- Transferable:CSU (effective Fall 2026); UC (effective Fall 2026)
- General Education:Local GE L5 (effective Fall 2026)
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course explores the nature and evolution of the solar system. Topics include the night-time sky, the history of astronomy, the tools of astronomy, and the origins and characteristics of planets, their satellites, and other components of the solar system. It emphasizes how astronomers gain and refine their knowledge of the Universe and interpret the latest results of planetary exploration. Motions and charting of the night sky is examined using star charts and almanacs.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- describe and explain the apparent motion of stars and planets in the night-time sky over the course of a day, a season, and a year.
- evaluate early models of the solar system using the scientific method, and outline the historical events that led to our current model.
- apply current scientific theories and models from classical and modern physics to explain astronomical observations, such as the motion of objects in the solar system and the formation and evolution of planets and the Sun.
- classify the planets as terrestrial or jovian and list the characteristics of each category.
- describe the role plate tectonics, volcanism, and magnetic fields play in shaping the surfaces, habitability, and other properties of different planetary bodies.
- identify the larger moons in the solar system and describe what makes them unique.
- identify other elements of the solar system, such as comets and asteroids; describe their characteristics and what can be learned from them.
- discuss the discovery of new Kuiper belt objects and how their existence changed our definition of what a planet is.
- describe how extrasolar planets are detected and discuss their properties.
- describe the structure of the Sun and its source of energy.
ASTR 320 Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology
- Units:3
- Hours:54 hours LEC
- Prerequisite:None.
- Advisory:Successful completion of Algebra I/Integrated Math 1 or Beginning Algebra; AND eligibility for ENGL C1000/C1000H (formerly ENGWR 300/480) or ESLW 340
- Transferable:CSU (effective Fall 2026); UC (effective Fall 2026)
- General Education:Local GE L5 (effective Fall 2026)
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course explores the nature and evolution of stars, galaxies, and the Universe. Topics include the history of astronomy, the tools of astronomy, star classification, stellar evolution, neutron stars, black holes, and the Big Bang. It emphasizes how astronomers gain and refine their knowledge of the Universe and interpret the latest results of space exploration.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- evaluate early models of the Universe using the scientific method and outline the historical events that led to our current model.
- explain how astronomers collect light from distant stars and discuss what can be learned from analyzing that light.
- apply theories and models from classical physics and modern physics to explain astronomical observations, such as the formation of black holes, the red-shift of light coming from distant galaxies, and the life cycle of the Sun.
- classify different star types and discuss their life cycles in the context of stellar evolution.
- classify galaxies and describe how they formed and evolved.
- describe the astronomical evidence for dark matter and dark energy, and discuss their implications.
- discuss the scientific evidence and models regarding the nature and origin of the Universe, including its evolution from the Big Bang up to today.
ASTR C1001L Introduction to Astronomy Lab
- Units:1
- Hours:54 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Corequisite:Completion of or concurrent enrollment in ASTR C1001 or other locally approved astronomy lecture course
- Transferable:CSU; UC
- General Education:Cal-GETC Area 5C
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This course was formerly known as ASTR 400 Astronomy Laboratory.
This laboratory course reinforces fundamental principles and concepts of astronomy by applying
the scientific method through experiments, observations, and/or simulations. It provides access to telescopes, covering their practical use for visual observation of astronomical objects and the analysis of astronomical data. Topics may include constellation identification, stellar spectroscopy, solar and lunar observations, radio-physics and radio-
astronomy, image analysis, measuring the properties of stars, and determining the age of the Universe. Night-time on-campus field trips may be required. This course was formerly known as ASTR 400 and is not open to students who have successfully completed ASTR 400. Students may satisfy the corequisite for the course using ASTR C1001, ASTR 310 or ASTR 320.
Student Learning Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- collect, analyze, and interpret astronomical data to draw and communicate valid scientific conclusions.
- set up and align a telescope.
- locate constellations and deep sky objects in the night sky with the aid of a telescope and a star chart.
- explain the apparent motions of the planets, Sun, and stars.
- explain eclipses and the phases of the Moon.
- analyze astronomical data.
- list different types of spectra used by astronomers and explain what they reveal about the composition and the temperature of stars.
- estimate the age of the Universe based on Hubble’s Law and the Hubble time.
ASTR 495 Independent Studies in Astronomy
- Units:1 - 3
- Hours:54 - 162 hours LAB
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
ASTR 499 Experimental Offering in Astronomy
- Units:0.5 - 4
- Prerequisite:None.
- Transferable:CSU
- Catalog Date:August 1, 2026
This is the experimental courses description.
Faculty
This program is part of the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics Meta-Major.