# Astronomy (ASTR) courses

MiraCosta College · 2026-2027 Catalog · 4 courses

Source: https://catalog.miracosta.edu/disciplines/astronomy/

"Offered" lists sections in this catalog year's class schedules: Fall 2026.

### ASTR C1001 — Introduction to Astronomy

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** Lecture 3 hours
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 3 sections (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/astr.md)
- Enrollment Limitation: Not open to students with prior credit in: ASTR 101.
- Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer

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. The course surveys the entire universe while emphasizing the nature and process of physical science. Additional topics include Newton's laws and gravitation, historical astronomy, electromagnetic radiation, optics and telescopes, cosmology, and astrobiology. Formerly ASTR 101.

### ASTR C1001L — Introduction to Astronomy Lab

- **Units:** 1
- **Hours:** Laboratory 3 hours
- **Corequisite:** ASTR C1001
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/astr.md)
- Enrollment Limitation: Completion of or concurrent enrollment in ASTR C1001 or other locally approved astronomy lecture course. Not Open to students with prior credit in ASTR 101L.
- Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring

This laboratory course reinforces fundamental principles and concepts of astronomy by applying the scientific method through experiments, observations, and/or simulations. This is a hands-on introduction to the methods and techniques of observational astronomy and data/error analysis. It emphasizes the collection, presentation, and interpretation of astronomical observations. Students learn to use a planisphere, read star charts, and operate small telescopes. Through indoor activities, computer simulations, and by making naked-eye, binocular, and telescopic observations, students explore such topics as seasons, lunar phases, rotation of the Earth, optics, light and spectroscopy, planets, stars, galaxies, and cosmology. Formerly ASTR 101L.

### ASTR 120 — Life in the Universe

- **Units:** 3
- **Hours:** Lecture 3 hours
- **Transfers to:** CSU, UC
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/astr.md)
- Course Typically Offered: Fall

This introductory course surveys the study for life in the universe from the Big Bang to implications of contact with an extraterrestrial civilization while emphasizing the nature and process of physical science. Topics include the formation and evolution of the universe; origin, evolution, and nature of life on Earth; the definitions of "life" and "habitability"; potential in our solar system and beyond; methods of interstellar communication and travel; implications of contact; science vs. pseudoscience; and the status of the search to-date.

### ASTR 292 — Internship Studies

- **Units:** 0.5-14
- **Corequisite:** Complete 54 hours of work per unit, paid or unpaid
- **Transfers to:** CSU
- **Offered:** Fall 2026, 1 section (/c/miracosta-college/schedule/fall-2026/astr.md)
- Enrollment Limitation: Instructor, dept chair, and Career Center approval. Fourteen unit maximum in any combination of work experience education and/or internship studies per semester.
- Course Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, and Summer

This course provides students the opportunity to apply the theories and techniques of their discipline in an internship position in a professional setting under the instruction of a faculty-mentor and site supervisor. It introduces students to aspects of the roles and responsibilities of professionals employed in the field of study. Topics include goal-setting, employability skills development, and examination of the world of work as it relates to the student's career plans. Students must develop new learning objectives and/or work/intern at a new site upon each enrollment.