AST R101, Section #72514                             Fall 2008

Dr. Gary Goodman                                          M 7:00pm – 9:50pm LA-8

 

Syllabus

 

Date

Lecture Topic

Text

Aug. 18

Introduction to the Class

 

25

Discovering the Night Sky

Ch. 1

Sep. 1

Labor Day (No Class)

 

8

Gravitation and the Motion of the Planets

Ch. 2

15

Light and Telescopes

Ch. 3

22

Atomic Physics and Spectra

Ch. 4

29

Test #1, Ch. 1 – Ch. 4

 

Oct. 6

Formation of the Solar System and Other Planetary Systems

Ch. 5

13

Earth and Moon

Ch. 6

20

The Other Terrestrial Planets and The Outer Planets

Ch. 7 & 8

27

The Sun: Our Extraordinary Ordinary Star

Ch. 10

Nov. 3

Test #2, Ch. 5 – Ch. 10, excluding Ch. 9

 

10

Veterans Day (No Class)

 

17

Characterizing Stars

Ch. 11

24

The Lives of Stars from Birth Through Middle Age

Ch. 12

Dec. 1

The Deaths of Stars

Ch. 13

8

Black Holes: Matters of Gravity

Ch. 14

15

Final Exam: Covers entire semester but with emphasis on Ch. 11 – Ch. 14

 

The above schedule and procedures are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances.

 

 

Deadline Dates:

 

Aug.  31          Last day to drop class and get a refund

Sep.  12         Last day to drop without a “W” on transcript

???.   ?           Last day to request credit / no credit grading option

Nov.  21          Last day to drop classes with a “W”

 

 

 

 

NOTE: If you have a specific physical, psychological, or learning disability and require accommodations please let me know ASAP so your learning needs may be appropriately met.  You will also be asked to provide information to document your disability to the Educational Assistance Center (EAC) office.  The EAC is located in the Student Services Building across the street from the cafeteria.  If you feel you need an assessment to determine whether you have a learning disability, please stop by the EAC office or call 986-5830.
Course Requirements

 

This course is an introduction to astronomy for both science and non-science students.  The goal of this course is to familiarize the student with the basic “laws” of science, and their application in understanding the astronomical universe.  Topics covered include historical events and discoveries, personalities, tools, and solar system, stars, galaxies, and black holes.  The scientific method is defined and expounded.

 

INSTRUCTOR

Dr. Gary Goodman

Office Hours: Contact by email, phone, or by arrangement.

Email: garygoodman@vcccd.net

Telephone: (805) 271-9466 (evenings)

 

TEXTBOOK and MATERIALS

Required: Discovering the Universe, 8th Edition, by Neil Comins and William Kaufmann III, published by W. H. Freeman and Co.   Text includes: CD-ROM with Starry Night astronomy software.

Note: the 7th edition of the text may be used.  There are two copies of the 8th edition in the library on reserve for use in the library.  There is one copy of the 7th edition in the library that may be checked out for overnight usage

 

Recommended: Calculator - a scientific calculator is highly recommended.

 

Ancillary:  Discovering the Universe 8th edition CD-ROM.  This CD-ROM, included with the textbook, contains Starry Night Enthusiast.  This is one of the best planetarium programs available.  Run Setup_StarryNight.exe on the CD-ROM to install the program and manual.  After installation, the CD-ROM is not required to run Starry Night.  When starting for the first time, you will be prompted for a home location.  You can choose Oxnard.  An Internet connection will keep the comet, asteroid, and satellite files up to date.

 

Ancillary:  Discovering the Universe 8 Web Site.  The W. H. Freeman Company has a Companion Web site, http://www.whfreeman.com/dtu8e, for your text that provides additional learning material.  The web site provides:

Self Quizzes with instant feedback

More to Know expands on key topics in the text

Active Integrated Media Modules (AIMM)

Interactive Drag & Drop Exercises

Flashcard exercises offer help with vocabulary and definitions

Planetary Geology

Current Events in Astronomy

Animations & Videos,

Web Links

 

ATTENDANCE

Attendance will be taken.  Students who leave early miss important material and receive lower grades.  Those who skip class generally do not complete the course and fail.  If you do not attend regularly, you should drop the class to avoid getting an F on your transcript.

Makeup tests will not be given for unexcused absences.

If you must miss a test due to travel, illness, or family emergency, contact me prior to the class to arrange a makeup time.  Requests made on the following week will not be accepted.

 

HOMEWORK

Homework must be easily readable and must be received when due to receive full credit.  Assignments can be submitted by email or on paper.  If submitted by email, request a confirmation message.  The sample Exercise Scoring Guide, distributed at the first class, shows the grading criteria.

 

GRADES

Letter grades will be scaled on a curve based on the points earned in homework, tests, and final exam.

                        Homework / Quik-Quizzes      30%

                        Midterm Tests (2 @ 20%)      40%

                        Final Exam                              30%

 

WEB SITE

You can check your in-progress grade on the Oxnard College Astronomy Website at http://users.ez2.net/goodman/ast101

Text Box: ACADEMIC INTEGRITY Academic integrity means exercises and reports that you submit in your name are your own work. This includes measurements, observations, calculations, and conclusions. Material copied from other sources must be quoted and referenced. You are encouraged to discuss exercises and to compare answers with others, but the work you submit must be your own. If an exercise is designed to be collaborative, the procedure and reporting instructions will be given in class. Submitting someone else’s work as your own or knowingly letting someone copy your work to submit as his or her own is cheating. Cheating is cause for disciplinary action from the college.