The Hidden Life of the Stars

Stars have a rich history in the development of our understanding of nature. Stellar life cycles will be used to illustrate concepts in modern astronomy. The history of understanding the stars will lead from Copernicus and Galileo to modern ideas in particle physics and relativity. Basic concepts from astronomy will be developed in an algebraic framework and applied to understanding the life cycle of a star, including birth, main cycle, and death. There may be evening observation field trips. Meets Core credit for natural sciences.