Astronomy Minor

Affiliation: School of Sciences & Mathematics

Astronomy is one of the oldest natural sciences that is devoted to the study of celestial objects such as moons, planets, stars, nebulae, and galaxies. The Astronomy Minor will help students learn the fundamentals of Astronomy and prepare them for Observational Astronomy. The remotely operable Truman Observatory consists of a 17-inch Planewave CDK-17 telescope, high quality SBIG CCD cameras with standard Johnson-BVRI filters, a fully automated observatory dome, a cloud sensor, and a weather station. In addition, the Observatory is equipped with several smaller telescopes and binoculars used for public outreach and the astronomy class’s laboratories. The introductory physics sequence is required to appreciate the physics of planets, stars and galaxies. Therefore, the Astronomy minor will require the year-long physics sequence, which can be either PHYS 185 and PHYS 186 or PHYS 195 and PHYS 196. The introductory physics sequence may also be PHYS 195 and PHYS 186. Students may be enrolled in Astronomy course PHYS 131 at the same time as the introductory physics courses. The physics sequence will be a pre-requisite for the second Astronomy course, PHYS 346, which will be regularly offered.

GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS:

1. A 2.00 GPA in minor requirements.
2. At least nine hours of the program requirements must be completed at Truman State University.