In this course we will be studying the historical development of modern astronomy, starting with our discovery of the nature of our Solar System. Astronomy is a Science, in many ways the oldest of the sciences. Science is not so much about what we know, but about how we have learned to confront what we do not know. In general, Science provides us with a framework in which to ask questions about the world around us.
Science relies on observations of the natural world.
These observations take the form of verifiable data ranging from detailed descriptions to quantitative measurements . Science is a practice of critical examination of the validity of the interpretations drawn from our data. We will be seeing illustrations of all of these aspects of science in our study of astronomy.