GS 351 - Descriptive Astronomy

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The grades updated 09 May
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Bradley Matson
Professor of Physics

Hokaar Project www.hokaar.org
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Text: Kaufmann & Comins (W.H. Freeman)

Grading:

1. There will be a total of 450 total points. A summary of the distribution of point is given below. However, please read the additional notes below!
2. This is a web intensive course. You are responsible for being able to navigate the web on your own. In particular you need to be able to follow links and tpye in URLs. I will provide an out-of-class brush up for those who need it. Many computers are available on campus in the library, ITC, and even across the hall from my office in NS 216. You may use this room, and I encourage you to do so, as long as a class is not using it.

   Assessment	Possible Points	Percentage
   Homework (H) Assignments	130	29%
   2 Mid-Term Quizzes @ 60 each	120	26.6%
   "Lab" Portion	120	26.6%
   Final Exam	80	17.7%

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   Grading:

   1. Six laboratory reports worth 20 points each (120 points total or 26.6% of the total grade). There are additional labs scheduled as make-up labs for those who miss a week.

   2. Some of you have taken the GS106 course either fall 1999 or winter 2000. If you are one of these people, some of the OEs or Labs may be redundant for you. I'll try to find alternative assignments for you folks. Please come foreward now!

   3. During the semester there will be 2 quizzes, each worth 60 points (each 13.3% for a total of 120 points or 26.6% of the final grade).

   4. Homework in the form of Problem Sets (PS) and Observational Exercises (OE) will be worth a total of 130 points (29% of the total grade). Each problem set (PS) is worth 5 points, each OE is worth 5 points.

   5. Note that many of the assignments have web links on the schedule.

   6. Due to the large volume of grading, I cannot grade every problem in each PS and OE assignment. Instead, I will randomly select one or two problems to establish each assignment grade. I will also verify that you've done every problem. If you didn't complete every problem in the entire set, I'll modify the assignment grade accordingly.

   7. The comprehensive final exam will constitute 80 points (17.7% of the total grade).

   8. Grading will be based on 100-90 = A, 89-80 = B, 79-70 = C, 69-60 = D. This includes exams and the final grade. There may be some slight curving of scores at my discretion.

   9. The final exam is mandatory. You will not be allowed to make up the exam unless prior arrangements have been made.

   10. There are no extra credit possibilities. However, if you have a particular interest, you should see me for alternative assessments opportunities.

       LI> Grades will be posted on the web available from this page. You will be assigned an astronomer's name as an alias.

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   Policies:

   1. Homework will be turned in at the BEGINNING of each lecture. There will be a penalty for late work: 10% of the points will be subtracted if late and an additional 10% per week late. Closely watch the schedule for assignment due dates, quiz dates, and other important information.

   2. Homework: You will turn in homework with the assignment number and the date turned in clearly marked at the top of the page. Don't forget you name! Homework includes Labs, Problem Sets (PS), and Observational Exercises (OE).

   3. About scientific reporting: Always use past tense, passive third person when writing reports. Be objective, not subjective. Always reference your sources! This includes web sites!

   4. Lab reports need to have an abstract (statement of purpose), a body (describing what you did, the data you obtained, and any analysis you did), and a conclusions section (that sum up your activities and observations). If you can convince me you understood and appreciated your observations, I will grade you well.

   5. Observational Exercises (OE) should be turned in the form of a short paper. Use your writing skills to their fullest! Be certain to indicate your sources of information. I WILL mark off points for un-referenced material!

   6. No 'cheat sheets', and no calculators will be allowed at the quizzes or exams. (You won't need them!) You will be required to memorize key concepts.

   7. The final exam will be comprehensive and will be given at the time indicated by the University Calendar. No other time will be allowed.

   8. There will be no make up exams or quizzes unless prior arrangements have been made. Make up exams or quizzes will (probably) be oral exams conducted as soon as possible to the actual exam/quiz date.

   9. If you cannot attend class (either lecture or lab) for medical, family, or some other emergency, please contact Debra Diehm at the office of the dean of students at 838-8423. The dean's office will make the instructors of all your classes aware of the situation.

   10. Group participation and sharing information is encouraged in this class. However, quiz and exam times are individual assessments. No credit will be given for quizzes, exams, or individual projects if dishonesty, plagiarism, or cheating is practiced.

   11. Those with special educational needs need to consult me immediately to arrange suitable solutions.

   12. Attendance, turning in the minimum number of assignments, and class participation will be considered and be used if your grade is borderline between letter grades.

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   Content: Chapters 1-12 of the text are covered. Major topics include:
   1. Identifying what we see in the sky
   2. How to find object in the sky
   3. The Earth and how its motion relates to what we observe
   4. The motion of the moon and planets
   5. The laws of gravitation
   6. Light and how astronomers use it
   7. Telescopes
   8. The Earth and Moon as a Planetary Unit
   9. The Inner Planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
   10. The Outer Planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto
   11. The moons of the Outer Planets
   12. Sol
   13. The stars
   14. Life and death of stars

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   GENERAL SCIENCE 351 Spring 98

   Date (week)	Topics	Reading for Next Lecture	Problem Set (PS) Assignment	What is Due	Lab Exercise	Observational (OE) Exercise
   30 March (1)	Lecture 1: Identifying Objects in the Sky, Common Language, Our Earth-bound Perspective, Phases of the Moon, and Our Seasons	PART I -- Foundations (p. 1-9), Chapter 1, Chapter 2	PS 1	-	-	OE 1: Observing the Night Sky I (Individual Stars, Southern, Northern Sky) -- On a clear night(s) use the star charts and identify at least 5 constellations. Turn in your own star chart made while observing. Checking out Starry Night before you venture out might help too.
   30 March (1)	Lecture 2: Whoop-de-dos of Astronomical Discovery, Loop-de-loop planets, and Kepler, Newton, and Astronomers that go bump in the night	Chapter 3	PS 2	Email me with your email address, your name, and your astronomer's name. To find your astronomer's name...	Lab 1 : Moon and Earth Motions	OE 2: Observing the Night Sky II (Moon observations): Every (clear) day or night for two weeks observe and record the phase of the moon, clear skies withstanding. In the packet, I provided an example of three moon sketch fill-outs. You should reproduce more on your own separate page for a total of 8 or more. On the last three nights, do "Final Observations"
   06 April (2) A good week for viewing!	Lecture 3: Tools of the trade I: Light	Chapter 4	PS 3	PS 1, PS 2, Lab 1	-	OE 3: Use my web links to view the moon, one planet (your favourite), and one other object that is not a planet or the sun. Write a one page summary of this activity.
   06 April (2)	Lecture 4: Tools of the trade II: Telescopes	-	-	-	Lab 2: Taking Directions from Space-Farers	OE 4a: Building a Vertical Sun Dial or an Equatorial Sun Dial. Follow the instructions on this website! See how well it works! If you can, please turn it in during my office hours or just before class starts. We'll test it! (Ref. http://home.netcom.com/~abraxas2) OE4b: Archaeoastronomy
   13 April (3)	Lecture 5: Light as a Serious Tool	Foundations II (pages 99-109)	PS 4	PS 3, Lab 2, OE 3	-	OE 5: Use the web links to find information on one NON-optical telescope. Write a one page summary. Include its statistics (like angular resolution), what wavelength(s) it is sensitive to, and describe one object that has been investigated by it.
   13 April (3)	Lecture 6: Anatomy and Origins of The Solar System	Chapter 5	Memorize the order of the planets! It will be on the quiz! (You don't hand this in.)	-	Lab 3 : How Astronomers Use Light	OE6: Black Body Radiation;
   20 April (4)	Guest Lecturers on Planetary Exploration	-	-	-	-	-
   27 April (5)	Lecture 7: QUIZ I (Chapters 1-4, Foundations I and II)	Quizes are multiple choice with a few short essays.	-	PS 4, Lab 3, OE 5, OE6	-	OE 7: Find information on the web and write a one page summary regarding one of the following Earth related topics: plate tectonics, thickness of the Earth's atmosphere, Earth's magnetic field, Aurora Borealis, the purpose of Earth's ozone layer (not ozone depletion), the cycles and origins of tides.
   27 April (5)	Lecture 8: The Earth & Moon	Chapter 6 (pages 133-144	PS 5	-	Lab 4 : Planets!	OE 8: Find a map of the moon. Sketch your own map including the major features: mares, mountains (highlands), and crater 'fields'. Identify the source of your map. If weather permits, look for some of these features as you observe the moon.
   04 May (6) Scheduled Star Party -- More info to come! Weather Permitting, we observe what we can. Be prepared for a late, cool night. Good viewing this week!	Lecture 9: Catch up on the Moon, The Inner Planets, Part I: Mercury & Venus	Chapter 6 (the rest)	PS 6	PS 5, Lab 4, OE 4, OE 6, OE 7	-	OE 9: Consult the planet observational data (check my web page) or use Starry Night to identify what planets are observable in the sky right before sunset, midnight, and just before sunrise. Which planets are not observable during the night? If possible, try observing one or more of these planets. Write one paragraph detailing this activity.
   04 May (6)	Lecture 10: The Inner Planets II: Mars	Chapter 7	-	-	Lab 5 : Take Your Date To High Tide And Look For Planets	OE 10: Explore the Pathfinder mission web site. Write a paragraph naming two things the pathfinder discovered that we didn't talk about in class. (Check out the really cool pictures!)
   11 May (7)	Lecture 11: The Inner Planets III: Resent Discoveries About Our Neighbours	-	-	PS 6, Lab 5, OE 8, OE 10	-	OE 11: Explore one of the other spacecraft's web sites (other than Pathfinder). Write one page paper describing the craft's mission, its path and destination(s), and name two things that were discovered by the spacecraft. Suggested missions include Voyager, Viking, Lunar Prospector, Mariner, or one of the Apollo missions.
   11 May (7)	Lecture 12: The Outer Planets I: Jupiter & its Moons, Saturn & its Moons	Chapter 8	-	-	Lab 6 : Making Craters	OE 12: Accomplishments of your Astronomer: Find your accomplishment(s) of your astronomer. In a short couple of paragraphs, write about the accomplishments and speculate about how they are important to our overall understanding of astronomy.
   18 May (8)	Lecture 13: The Outer Planets II: Uranus & Miranda, Neptune & Triton, Pluto & Charon	-	PS 7	Lab 6, OE 1, OE 2, OE 9, OE 11	-	OE 13: Investigate the data received from the Galileo Spacecraft (from its web site) concerning one of the outer planet's moons. Write one (short!) page about your findings.
   18 May (8)	Lecture 14: Asteroids, Meteoroids, Comets	Chapter 9	PS 8 Memorize which moons go with which planets! Know the distinguishing characteristics of each moon.	-	Lab 7 : Making Comets	OE 14: Explore the comets web pages. Pick one comet and discuss how and what we know about it.
   25 May (9)	QUIZ II (Chapters 5-8) Lecture 15: Our Star Sol	Foundations III (pages 225-232), Chapter 10, Chapter 11	PS 9	PS 7, PS 8, Lab 7, OE 12, OE 13, OE 14	-	OE 15: Check out the Barringer Crater National Park web site. Write a paragraph about its formation.
   25 May (9)	Lecture 16: Stars	Chapter 11 & 12	PS 10	-	Lab8: The Sun : TBA using H-R Diagrams	OE 16: Observing Stars
   01 June (10) Good viewing this week!	Lecture 17: Star Life	-	PS 11 (not collected)	PS 9, PS 10, Lab 8, OE 15, OE 16	-	-
   01 June (10)	Lecture 18: Star Death, not Death Star	-	PS 12 (not collected)	-	(Make-up, due in class) Lab 9: Ages of Star Clusters	OE 91: Take a well-deserved break.
   08 JUNE	FINAL	Thursday, 18:00	(Due to Savuot - a religious holiday -- I encourage everyone to start somewhat earlier than 18:00.)	-	-	-

   ideas: astarry night: Find colstillations visible throughout year, now con. & planets, find m objests too list of terms from scales to identify & find picture on web find red giants, white dwarfs, galatic center, clusters, nebulae May star party -- lesson plans and stellar mentor for classmates planet paper -- list spacecraft visitend & describe findings, star paper?, messier paper?, astronomer list. extra solar planet info probe mission statement UV, x-ray, radio, infrared, microwave telescope gs106er's: find astro ed program info, mission plan to establish a colony on a planet or moon (include a purpose - research, living, exploration, resource gathering, etc. in all cases be specific)