AST R101L, Section #31952                          Spring 2010

Dr. Gary Goodman                                           W 7:00pm – 9:50pm LS-1

 

 

Syllabus

 

Date Moon	Lecture / Lab Work 7:00 – 8:30	Observing / Lab Work 8:30 – 9:50
Jan. 13 New Moon	Preparation.  Introduction.  Syllabus, Materials, Field Trip release forms.  Critical Thinking Exercise. Bring Warm Clothes for Next Week.
20 Waxing Crescent	Observing.  Orientation at the “Observatory”.  Handling telescopes and equipment.  Learning constellations.	Observing.  Introductory Observing Activity: Winter Skies.
27 Waxing Gibbous	Math Skills Review. Fractions, percent, scientific notation.  Using a calculator, elementary algebra, units, area & volume.
Feb. 3 Waning Gibbous	Star Atlas: Celestial Coordinates.  The celestial sphere, celestial coordinates, magnitude system, using a star atlas.  Deep sky objects.  Star Atlas Activity.
10 New	The Seasons.  Tilt of Earth’s axis relative to ecliptic is the cause of the seasons.  The Seasons Activity.
17 Waxing Crescent	Sky Motion.  Using a Planisphere.  Diurnal and seasonal motion, ecliptic, North Star, Planisphere Activity (Indoors)	Observing.  Planisphere Activity (Outdoors).  Learning constellations.
24 Waxing Gibbous	Optics and Telescopes.  Optics: Refraction and Reflection Lenses / Making a Telescope Activity. Preparation for Griffith Observatory Field Trip
Mar. 3 Waning Gibbous	Griffith Observatory Field Trip Griffith Park, Los Angeles
10 Waning Crescent	Telescopes, Mountings, and Accessories.  All about telescopes.  Telescopes, Mountings, and Accessories Activity.	Using a Telescope.  Collimation of Newtonian reflectors, aligning the finder, determining direction through a telescope.
17 New DST	Using a Telescope - continued.  Telescope parameters and formulas.  Keeping an Observing Log.	Observing.  Observing with a Telescope Activity – Spring.  Observe position of Mars.
24 1st Qtr	Using a Telescope - continued.  Using Orion’s telescope computer.  Measure diameter of Mars.	Preparation for Field Trip.  Logistics: location, time, & responsibilities.
31	Spring Break (No Class)
Apr. 7 3rd Qtr	Observing.  Dark-Sky Field Trip (19:00 – 23:00) Observe, record, describe, and sketch deep sky objects on Telescope Observing Log. Observe position of Mars.
14 New	Solar System.  Angle, Size, and Distance.  Parallax and Introduction to Statistics Activity.  Determine distance from Earth to Moon model.  Elementary statistics: mean, standard deviation, estimation of errors.
	Rain date for Dark-Sky Field Trip
21 1st Qtr	Kepler’s Laws and the Scale of the Solar System.  The Scale of the Solar System and the Distance to the Planets Activity.
28 Full	Diameter of a Planet Activity.	Solar Rotation Activity
May 5 3rd Qtr	Thermal Radiation and the Classification of Stars.  The Classification of Stars Activity.  Plot Stars on H – R diagram.  Determine stellar sizes. Turn in Observing Logs
12 Who Cares	FINAL EXAM (Star Atlas, Planisphere, and 4² ´ 6² card allowed).	We go to Channel Islands Toppers for pizza!

 

SCHEDULE IS TENTATIVE

Based on Weather and Observing Conditions

 

 

 

Course Requirements

 

This laboratory course reinforces some of the principles studied in the Astronomy 101 lecture course and emphasizes scientific methodology.  Students will obtain hands-on experience with telescopes, star charts, and spectroscopes.  Observations are made on the moon, planets, stars and deep-sky objects.  Students will use mathematics through the level of elementary algebra and geometry to draw conclusions from their observations.

 

INSTRUCTOR

Dr. Gary Goodman

Office Hours: Contact by email or phone

Email: goodman@ez2.net

Telephone: (805) 271-9466 (evenings)

 

TEXT and MATERIALS

Bring ALL of your books, materials and observing equipment to EVERY class, as they will ALWAYS be used. The required materials are:

·         Astronomy Laboratory Workbook 8^th edition

·         Edmund MAG 5 Star Atlas

·         Night Sky Planisphere

·         Scientific Calculator (Cell phone and other basic calculators will not suffice.)

·         Red Flashlight

·         Clipboard – recommend a plastic sheet protector for dew protection

·         #1B Drawing Pencil and Soft Eraser and a Highlighter

 

WEB SITE

You can check your in-progress grade on web at http://users.ez2.net/goodman/ast101

 

ATTENDANCE

Regular attendance and participation are required to pass this course.  You will be credited for class participation in addition to homework.

 

FIELD TRIPS

Field trips are an integral part of this course, and you are expected to attend.  Attendance at field trips counts towards your grade.  If you cannot attend, you may substitute special assignments, such writing a report on a topic approved in advance.  The due date will be determined by the nature of the assignment.

 

OBSERVING LOG

You will keep a Telescope Observing Log of your observations.  Your log sheets will be graded on readability, completeness, accuracy, and detail.

 

GRADES will be based on the following.

Participation & Exercises 60%

Griffith Obs. Field Trip     5%

Observing Log                 15%

Final Exam.                      20%

 

EXTRA CREDIT

Extra credit to the amount of 5% can be earned by attending astronomy meetings or star parties.  See Extra Credit handout.

 

GRADE SCALE       80 – 100% = A;  70 – 80% = B;  60 –  70% = C;  50 – 60% = D

 

MATHEMATICS

Graphs and formulas will be utilized to record and interpret data.  Proportions, units, and basic algebra will be taught and used in this class.  Students should bring a scientific calculator or be proficient at doing math in their head.

 

WEATHER

When the weather is clear, the class will often spend half the time outdoors observing.  The temperature will be cold and there may be some wind.  It is up to you to prepare for this by bringing warm clothing to every class meeting.  Suggestions include sweater, heavy jacket, gloves and wool cap or hat (much of the body heat loss will be from your head!).