TX Science Standards (Astronomy)

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📌 Science concepts 53 standards

Astro.5A

Evaluate and communicate how ancient civilizations developed models

Evaluate and communicate how ancient civilizations developed models of the universe using astronomical structures, instruments, and tools such as the astrolabe, gnomons, and charts and how those models influenced society, time keeping, and navigation.

Astro.5B

Research and evaluate the contributions of scientists, including

Research and evaluate the contributions of scientists, including Ptolemy, Copernicus, Tycho Brahe, Kepler, Galileo, and Newton, as astronomy progressed from a geocentric model to a heliocentric model.

Astro.5C

Describe and explain the historical origins of the

Describe and explain the historical origins of the perceived patterns of constellations and the role of constellations in ancient and modern navigation.

Astro.6A

Observe, record, and analyze the apparent movement of

Observe, record, and analyze the apparent movement of the Sun, Moon, and stars and predict sunrise and sunset.

Astro.6B

Observe the movement of planets throughout the year

Observe the movement of planets throughout the year and measure how their positions change relative to the constellations.

Astro.6C

Identify constellations such as Ursa Major, Ursa Minor

Identify constellations such as Ursa Major, Ursa Minor, Orion, Cassiopeia, and constellations along the ecliptic and describe their importance.

Astro.6D

Understand the difference between astronomy and astrology, the

Understand the difference between astronomy and astrology, the reasons for their historical conflation, and their eventual separation.

Astro.7A

Demonstrate the use of units of measurement in

Demonstrate the use of units of measurement in astronomy, including astronomical units and light years, minutes, and seconds.

Astro.7B

Model the scale, size, and distances of the

Model the scale, size, and distances of the Sun, Earth, and Moon system and identify the limitations of physical models.

Astro.7C

Model the scale, sizes, and distances of the

Model the scale, sizes, and distances of the Sun and the planets in our solar system and identify the limitations of physical models.

Astro.8A

Model how the orbit and relative position of

Model how the orbit and relative position of the Moon cause lunar phases and predict the timing of moonrise and moonset during each phase.

Astro.8B

Model how the orbit and relative position of

Model how the orbit and relative position of the Moon cause lunar and solar eclipses.

Astro.8C

Examine and investigate the dynamics of tides using

Examine and investigate the dynamics of tides using the Sun, Earth, and Moon model.

Astro.9A

Examine the relationship of a planet's axial tilt

Examine the relationship of a planet's axial tilt to its potential seasons.

Astro.9B

Predict how changing latitudinal position affects the length

Predict how changing latitudinal position affects the length of day and night throughout a planet's orbital year.

Astro.9C

Investigate the relationship between a planet's axial tilt

Investigate the relationship between a planet's axial tilt, angle of incidence of sunlight, and concentration of solar energy.

Astro.9D

Explain the significance of Earth's solstices and equinoxes

Explain the significance of Earth's solstices and equinoxes.

Astro.10A

Investigate the use of black body radiation curves

Investigate the use of black body radiation curves and emission, absorption, and continuous spectra in the identification and classification of celestial objects.

Astro.10B

Calculate the relative light-gathering power of different-sized telescopes

Calculate the relative light-gathering power of different-sized telescopes to compare telescopes for different applications.

Astro.10C

Analyze the importance and limitations of optical, infrared

Analyze the importance and limitations of optical, infrared, and radio telescopes, gravitational wave detectors, and other ground-based technology.

Astro.10D

Analyze the importance and limitations of space telescopes

Analyze the importance and limitations of space telescopes in the collection of astronomical data across the electromagnetic spectrum.

Astro.11A

Relate Newton's law of universal gravitation and Kepler's

Relate Newton's law of universal gravitation and Kepler's laws of planetary motion to the formation and motion of the planets and their satellites.

Astro.11B

Explore and communicate the origins and significance of

Explore and communicate the origins and significance of planets, planetary rings, satellites, asteroids, comets, Oort cloud, and Kuiper belt objects.

Astro.11C

Compare the planets in terms of orbit, size

Compare the planets in terms of orbit, size, composition, rotation, atmosphere, natural satellites, magnetic fields, and geological activity.

Astro.11D

Compare the factors essential to life on Earth

Compare the factors essential to life on Earth such as temperature, water, gases, and gravitational and magnetic fields to conditions on other planets and their satellites.

Astro.12A

Identify the approximate mass, size, motion, temperature, structure

Identify the approximate mass, size, motion, temperature, structure, and composition of the Sun.

Astro.12B

Distinguish between nuclear fusion and nuclear fission and

Distinguish between nuclear fusion and nuclear fission and identify the source of energy within the Sun as nuclear fusion of hydrogen to helium.

Astro.12C

Describe the eleven-year solar cycle and the significance

Describe the eleven-year solar cycle and the significance of sunspots.

Astro.12D

Analyze the origins and effects of space weather

Analyze the origins and effects of space weather, including the solar wind, coronal mass ejections, prominences, flares, and sunspots.

Astro.13A

Identify the characteristics of main sequence stars, including

Identify the characteristics of main sequence stars, including surface temperature, age, relative size, and composition.

Astro.13B

Describe and communicate star formation from nebulae to

Describe and communicate star formation from nebulae to protostars to the development of main sequence stars.

Astro.13C

Evaluate the relationship between mass and fusion on

Evaluate the relationship between mass and fusion on stellar evolution.

Astro.13D

Compare how the mass of a main sequence

Compare how the mass of a main sequence star will determine its end state as a white dwarf, neutron star, or black hole.

Astro.13E

Describe the use of spectroscopy in obtaining physical

Describe the use of spectroscopy in obtaining physical data on celestial objects such as temperature, chemical composition, and relative motion.

Astro.13F

Use the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram to classify stars and

Use the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram to classify stars and plot and examine the life cycle of stars from birth to death.

Astro.13G

Illustrate how astronomers use geometric parallax to determine

Illustrate how astronomers use geometric parallax to determine stellar distances and intrinsic luminosities.

Astro.13H

Describe how stellar distances are determined by comparing

Describe how stellar distances are determined by comparing apparent brightness and intrinsic luminosity when using spectroscopic parallax and the Leavitt relation for variable stars.

Astro.14A

Illustrate the structure and components of our Milky

Illustrate the structure and components of our Milky Way galaxy and model the size, location, and movement of our solar system within it.

Astro.14B

Compare spiral, elliptical, irregular, dwarf, and active galaxies

Compare spiral, elliptical, irregular, dwarf, and active galaxies.

Astro.14C

Develop and use models to explain how galactic

Develop and use models to explain how galactic evolution occurs through mergers and collisions.

Astro.14D

Describe the Local Group and its relation to

Describe the Local Group and its relation to larger-scale structures in the universe.

Astro.14E

Evaluate the indirect evidence for the existence of

Evaluate the indirect evidence for the existence of dark matter.

Astro.15A

Describe and evaluate the historical development of evidence

Describe and evaluate the historical development of evidence supporting the Big Bang Theory.

Astro.15B

Evaluate the limits of observational astronomy methods used

Evaluate the limits of observational astronomy methods used to formulate the distance ladder.

Astro.15C

Evaluate the indirect evidence for the existence of

Evaluate the indirect evidence for the existence of dark energy.

Astro.15D

Describe the current scientific understanding of the evolution

Describe the current scientific understanding of the evolution of the universe, including estimates for the age of the universe.

Astro.15E

Describe current scientific hypotheses about the fate of

Describe current scientific hypotheses about the fate of the universe, including open and closed universes.

Astro.16A

Describe and communicate the historical development of human

Describe and communicate the historical development of human space flight and its challenges.

Astro.16B

Describe and communicate the uses and challenges of

Describe and communicate the uses and challenges of robotic space flight.

Astro.16C

Evaluate the evidence of the existence of habitable

Evaluate the evidence of the existence of habitable zones and potentially habitable planetary bodies in extrasolar planetary systems.

Astro.16D

Evaluate the impact on astronomy from light pollution

Evaluate the impact on astronomy from light pollution, radio interference, and space debris.

Astro.16E

Examine and describe current developments and discoveries in

Examine and describe current developments and discoveries in astronomy.

Astro.16F

Explore and explain careers that involve astronomy, space

Explore and explain careers that involve astronomy, space exploration, and the technologies developed through them.

📌 Scientific and engineering practices 18 standards

Astro.1A

Ask questions and define problems based on observations

Ask questions and define problems based on observations or information from text, phenomena, models, or investigations.

Astro.1B

Apply scientific practices to plan and conduct descriptive

Apply scientific practices to plan and conduct descriptive, comparative, and experimental investigations and use engineering practices to design solutions to problems.

Astro.1C

Use appropriate safety equipment and practices during laboratory

Use appropriate safety equipment and practices during laboratory, classroom, and field investigations as outlined in Texas Education Agency-approved safety standards.

Astro.1D

Use appropriate tools such as gnomons; sundials; Planisphere

Use appropriate tools such as gnomons; sundials; Planisphere; star charts; globe of the Earth; diffraction gratings; spectroscopes; color filters; lenses of multiple focal lengths; concave, plane, and convex mirrors; binoculars; telescopes; celestial sphere; online astronomical databases; and online access to observatories.

Astro.1E

Collect quantitative data using the International System of

Collect quantitative data using the International System of Units (SI) and qualitative data as evidence.

Astro.1F

Organize quantitative and qualitative data using graphs, charts

Organize quantitative and qualitative data using graphs, charts, spreadsheets, and computer software.

Astro.1G

Develop and use models to represent phenomena, systems

Develop and use models to represent phenomena, systems, processes, or solutions to engineering problems.

Astro.1H

Distinguish between scientific hypotheses, theories, and laws

Distinguish between scientific hypotheses, theories, and laws.

Astro.2A

Identify advantages and limitations of models such as

Identify advantages and limitations of models such as their size, scale, properties, and materials.

Astro.2B

Analyze data by identifying significant statistical features, patterns

Analyze data by identifying significant statistical features, patterns, sources of error, and limitations.

Astro.2C

Use mathematical calculations to assess quantitative relationships in

Use mathematical calculations to assess quantitative relationships in data.

Astro.2D

Evaluate experimental and engineering designs

Evaluate experimental and engineering designs.

Astro.3A

Develop explanations and propose solutions supported by data

Develop explanations and propose solutions supported by data and models consistent with scientific ideas, principles, and theories.

Astro.3B

Communicate explanations and solutions individually and collaboratively in

Communicate explanations and solutions individually and collaboratively in a variety of settings and formats.

Astro.3C

Engage respectfully in scientific argumentation using applied scientific

Engage respectfully in scientific argumentation using applied scientific explanations and empirical evidence.

Astro.4A

Analyze, evaluate, and critique scientific explanations and solutions

Analyze, evaluate, and critique scientific explanations and solutions by using empirical evidence, logical reasoning, and experimental and observational testing, so as to encourage critical thinking by the student.

Astro.4B

Relate the impact of past and current research

Relate the impact of past and current research on scientific thought and society, including research methodology, cost-benefit analysis, and contributions of diverse scientists as related to the content.

Astro.4C

Research and explore resources such as museums, planetariums

Research and explore resources such as museums, planetariums, observatories, libraries, professional organizations, private companies, online platforms, and mentors employed in a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) field in order to investigate STEM careers.