Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to: analyze contributions and major theories related to the study of astronomy in ancient and modern times; evaluate the basic features and motions of the night sky; assess and describe the theories related to the beginning, evolution and fate of the universe; explain how galaxies, including the Milky Way, are formed and distributed; distinguish types of galaxies and their properties; describe the formation and evolution of the solar system and its planets and bodies; identify and describe the major characteristics of the sun, planets, moons, and small bodies in the solar system, including meteoroids, asteroids, and comets; examine the formation, evolution, and death cycle of a variety of different star types; outline theories related to the origin of life and describe predictors of life on other planets; and analyze the physics of light and the electromagnetic spectrum and explain how telescopes can be used to detect and study both.