14
In-person sessions scheduled
24
Online activities, semester-wide
3/6
Unit Problems with a full session
1
Still needs a calendar slot
ProjectProblemProblem DefenseReview
Unit 1 — Observing the Sky
Week 1Unit 1 · Observing the Sky
🌐 Online This Week
A1.1.1Learn constellations — circumpolar vs. seasonal
A1.1.2Plot celestial coordinates (alt-az, RA/Dec)
🔬 In-Person Session (65 min)
65 / 65 min
65m
P1.1.3Star Chart & Sky JournalProject
Needs: Completed A1.1.1 & A1.1.2 · Star chart template · Stellarium or planisphere access
Week 2Unit 1 · Observing the Sky
🌐 Online This Week
A1.2.1Model Earth's axial tilt and the seasons
A1.2.2Track and predict Moon phases
🔬 In-Person Session (65 min)
65 / 65 min
65m
P1.2.3Eclipse ExplainerProject
Needs: Completed A1.2.1 & A1.2.2 · Infographic/video tool access
Problem 1.3.1 (Sky Report) has no dedicated week — assigned as async take-home at the end of this week, defended in Week 3.
Unit 2 — History & Tools of Astronomy
Week 3Unit 2 · History & Tools of Astronomy
🌐 Online This Week
A2.1.1Geocentric vs. heliocentric — primary sources
A2.1.2Kepler's laws — modeling real orbits
🔬 In-Person Session (65 min)
65 / 65 min
15m
Problem 1.3.1 — Sky ReportProblem Defense
Needs: Finished Sky Report, ready to present
50m
P2.1.3The Long ArgumentProject
Needs: Completed A2.1.1 & A2.1.2 · Timeline/presentation tool
Week 4Unit 2 · History & Tools of Astronomy
🌐 Online This Week
A2.2.1Telescope optics — lenses, mirrors, light-gathering
A2.2.2Reading a spectrum — identifying elements
🔬 In-Person Session (65 min)
65 / 65 min
65m
P2.2.3Pitch the ObservatoryProject
Needs: Completed A2.2.1 & A2.2.2 · Design sketch materials
Week 5Unit 2 · History & Tools of Astronomy
No new online activities this week — unit review.
🔬 In-Person Session (65 min)
65 / 65 min
65m
2.3.1Right Tool for the JobProblem
Needs: All Unit 2 activities & projects complete · Instrument challenge prompt
Unit 3 — The Solar System
Week 6Unit 3 · The Solar System
🌐 Online This Week
A3.1.1Compare terrestrial planets
A3.1.2Read surface features — craters, volcanoes
🔬 In-Person Session (65 min)
65 / 65 min
65m
P3.1.3Habitability ReportProject
Needs: Completed A3.1.1 & A3.1.2 · Planetary data tables
Week 7Unit 3 · The Solar System
🌐 Online This Week
A3.2.1Gas giant systems — rings, moons, mission data
A3.2.2Classify asteroids and comets
🔬 In-Person Session (65 min)
65 / 65 min
65m
P3.2.3Scale Model Solar SystemProject
Needs: Completed A3.2.1 & A3.2.2 · Scale-model materials (physical or digital)
Week 8Unit 3 · The Solar System
No new online activities this week — unit review.
🔬 In-Person Session (65 min)
65 / 65 min
65m
3.3.1Where Do We Send It?Problem
Needs: All Unit 3 activities & projects complete · Mission proposal prompt
Unit 4 — Stars
Week 9Unit 4 · Stars
🌐 Online This Week
A4.1.1Read a spectrum — temperature and composition
A4.1.2Plot the H-R diagram
🔬 In-Person Session (65 min)
65 / 65 min
65m
P4.1.3Stellar ID CardsProject
Needs: Completed A4.1.1 & A4.1.2 · Real star datasets
Week 10Unit 4 · Stars
🌐 Online This Week
A4.2.1Sequence stellar evolution by mass
A4.2.2Model white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes
🔬 In-Person Session (65 min)
65 / 65 min
65m
P4.2.3Life of a StarProject
Needs: Completed A4.2.1 & A4.2.2 · Storyboard template or camera
Problem 4.3.1 (What Happens to This One?) has no dedicated week — assigned as async take-home at the end of this week, defended in Week 11.
Unit 5 — Galaxies & Cosmology
Week 11Unit 5 · Galaxies & Cosmology
🌐 Online This Week
A5.1.1Map Milky Way structure
A5.1.2Classify galaxies — Hubble tuning fork
🔬 In-Person Session (65 min)
65 / 65 min
15m
Problem 4.3.1 — What Happens to This One?Problem Defense
Needs: Finished stellar fate report, ready to present
50m
P5.1.3Galaxy Field GuideProject
Needs: Completed A5.1.1 & A5.1.2 · Real galaxy image sets
Week 12Unit 5 · Galaxies & Cosmology
🌐 Online This Week
A5.2.1Redshift and Hubble's Law
A5.2.2Evidence for dark matter and dark energy
🔬 In-Person Session (65 min)
65 / 65 min
65m
P5.2.3Timeline of EverythingProject
Needs: Completed A5.2.1 & A5.2.2 · Timeline/infographic tool
Problem 5.3.1 (The Galaxy That Doesn't Add Up) has no dedicated week — assigned as async take-home at the end of this week, defended in Week 13.
Unit 6 — Life in the Universe & Exploration
Week 13Unit 6 · Life in the Universe & Exploration
🌐 Online This Week
A6.1.1Transit and radial-velocity detection
A6.1.2Evaluate the habitable zone
🔬 In-Person Session (65 min)
65 / 65 min
15m
Problem 5.3.1 — The Galaxy That Doesn't Add UpProblem Defense
Needs: Finished redshift/rotation-curve analysis, ready to present
50m
P6.1.3Design a WorldProject
Needs: Completed A6.1.1 & A6.1.2 · Exoplanet design template
Week 14Unit 6 · Life in the Universe & Exploration
🌐 Online This Week
A6.2.1Extremophiles — Earth's toughest life
A6.2.2Compare space missions past and present
🔬 In-Person Session (65 min)
65 / 65 min
65m
P6.2.3Propose the Next MissionProject
Needs: Completed A6.2.1 & A6.2.2 · Group mission proposal materials
UnscheduledUnit 6 · Life in the Universe & Exploration
Needs a slotNo new online activities this week — unit review.
🔬 In-Person Session (65 min)
65 / 65 min
65m
6.3.1The Biosignature Case (Course Capstone)Problem
Needs: Entire semester's work · Real exoplanet atmospheric spectrum
Not yet on the calendar. This is the course capstone — it needs its own dedicated extended session (e.g. a finals-style block or an added Week 15), not a borrowed 15 minutes.