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Astronomy is an excellent subject to learn how science works. Astronomy is old enough to illustrate how science matures and is self-correcting. Good, transferable scientific ideas and methods are learned in an astronomy course, almost painlessly.

Astronomy is the science that has been the most closely connected with human civilization since human history began. From the earliest times, the objects in the heavens have aroused our curiosity and stimulated our interest. The heavenly bodies and their motions have directly affected agriculture, time-keeping, navigation, and long-term climate change.

Maybe more than any other discipline, astronomy opens one's mind to think the unthinkable and experience the limits of nature.

Is the stability of our environment guaranteed, whatever we do, or can it go horribly wrong? The study of other planets is essential knowledge for answering this question.

These studies will provide opportunities for students to investigate topics of interest, to conduct experiments, to develop critical thinking and communication skills, and to get a feeling of being not only a student, but a scientist and teacher at the same time.