ASTRONOMY 11

COURSE SYLLABUS

(Read Carefully)

Course Description:   Observational Astronomy (1 unit)

                                    This course will satisfy the Sierra College lab science requirement.

Instructors:                 David Dunn, Alvaro Demarzi, Ron Olson, Barry Rice, and Dave Kenyon

Offices:                       Instructors may be found in the offices in ST-2 prior to class.  At other times, they may also be found in room S201 & S204 next to the Planetarium. Barry Rice’s office is in V-322B.

Office Hours:              To be announced on first day of class

Campus Extensions:   Dunn (ex. 7912; 916-660-7912),

                                    Demarzi (ex. 7910; 916-660-7910; cell: 916-834-2474),

                                    Rice (ex. 7942; 916-660-7942); Olson (ex. 7910; 916-660-7910)     

 

Laboratory Codes, Times, and Instructors 

 

                                    80312       Monday, Wednesday                     11 AM – 12:20 PM     Dunn

                                    83052       Monday, Wednesday                     2 PM- 3:20 PM           Olson

                                    80308       Monday                                         7:00 – 10:05 PM          Demarzi

                                    83053       Tuesday                                         7:00 – 10:05 PM          Rice    

      Note:  Ending times may be later when we meet off campus for an observing session.  You will know at least one week in advance when this may occur.

Meeting Place:  Always meet in Room ST-2 at 7:00 P.M. SHARP for in-class activities or (if school transportation is available) depart from there for an observing site (see page 3).  It is important that you be on time since you may be left behind if we leave campus. If school transportation is not available, you will need to transport yourselves to the observing site.

Observing Sessions:  Only students in Astronomy 11 may attend observing sessions.  Always dress warmly for outdoor activities and bring a red flashlight.  Check with your instructor for the status of scheduled observing sessions. You will be informed of the status of transportation in advance (see page 3).

Break Period:   There is no formal break period during class.  When taking a break from class activities, students are expected to use common sense on when to take a break and to inform their team members when doing so.

Textbook and Materials:

      Text:     Celestial Object Observer's Log (unused 2008 or 2009 Edition), A-11 Lab package and NightWatch (Dickenson, 3rd or 4th Ed.)                              

      Maps:   Star/Constellation Maps SC-001 and SC-002 (Buy Text/Maps at Campus Book Store)

      Notebook and pencils

      Warm clothes for observing sessions

      Small flashlight for observing sessions (we will provide 2 per group).

      Other materials will be made available in class during the semester

 

VERY IMPORTANT

It is the responsibility of the student (not the instructor) to add or drop a class.  Instructors may drop a student for excessive absences and, then again, they might not.

 

CHECK YOUR SCHEDULE OF CLASSES FOR THE DEADLINE DROP DATE ....

   …. Hopefully, you WON'T drop the class ...

ALSO - If you SWITCH Astronomy 11 sections, you must complete a Change-of-Program Form and submit it to the Admission and Records Office with the proper instructor signatures.

 

Grading and Attendance

1.   The final grade in this class is based on total "assigned" points (roughly 260 points):

                  A = 90% or more of total points assigned

                  B = 80% or more, but less than 90%, of total points assigned

                  C = 70% or more, but less than 80%, of total points assigned

                  D = 60% or more, but less than 70%, of total points assigned

2.   Two 10-point quizzes and a 20-point Midterm Exam will be given; your instructor will announce the times.  A 20-point Sundial Project is due either the week before or on the day of the Final Exam (check with instructor).  A 40-point Final Exam will be given on the last day of class.  Any exceptions to the exam schedules will be noted in class.  All exams are open book and open notes, quizzes MAY be solo or open book/notes.  The Sundial Project is limited to two people.

Laboratory Exercises are worth 10 points each (about 14).  These 10 points are determined from two activities:

 1) Completing the exercise and the corresponding exercise sheet.

 2) Completing an “Observer’s Summary of Activity” in the Celestial Object Observer’s Log.

4.   The Celestial Object Observer’s Log (the Bluebook) is to be maintained throughout the semester.  The log will be checked (for organization and content) during the Midterm Exam and again during the Final Exam.  A properly maintained log is worth 20 points accumulated over the semester.

5.   Laboratory Exercises and exams/quizzes cannot be made up.  If a problem exists, notify the instructor before the exercise/exam date.  One extra credit lab exercise is allowed.

6.   Exercise and Exam scores are periodically posted in the ST-2 lab.  Please check the results for accuracy.  Once you begin taking the Final Exam, previous scores can no longer be contested.

 

General Instructor Expectations of Students:  We expect each student to give his or her best effort in participating in class activities and accomplishing assigned tasks.  We expect students to adhere to their behavior responsibilities as detailed in the Sierra College Student Handbook.  Cheating, plagiarism, or any other forms of dishonesty are considered grounds for an immediate course grade of F and possible dismissal from Sierra College. Furthermore, drug usage and alcohol consumption during class is prohibited and may result in suspension from class and/or dismissal from Sierra College.

Student Expectations of Instructor:  You can expect our best effort in teaching the principles of Astronomy.  We hope to impart in our students a sense of excitement in observing and studying nature’s show in the cosmos.  We are very open to suggestions for topics that students wish to discuss or improvements in the course content and/or presentation.

Student Safety:  All students should be aware of the proper procedures under emergency conditions in the classroom or building.  This awareness includes how and where to meet during an evacuation, and location and use of the building first aid kit, fire extinguishers, and phones.

 

COMPLETE THE BLUE INFORMATION CARD

Give this card to the instructor before leaving class on the first day.  The small square in the upper right hand corner of the card is used for your group letter.  Your instructor will assign this letter to you.

Thank you for electing to take Astronomy 11.  We hope you will learn much and enjoy the subject as much as we do.

 David Dunn, Barry Rice, Alvaro Demarzi, and Ron Olson

 

More on Observing sessions: Potential observing sessions occur on the dates indicated if the weather conditions permit. If school transportation is available, We will meet in ST-2 at 7PM SHARP to go to the observing site. The busses/vans will leave at 7:10PM. If school transportation is not available, we will meet at the designated observing site at the time stated by the instructor (usually from 7 to 8 PM). Students will have to transport themselves to the designated location. Students will be reminded of observing sessions a week in advance. The instructor may further inform students about the status of a  particular evening’s observing session in a manner specified by the instructor (email, phone etc…) by no later than 4:30 pm on the day of the lab. If it is too cloudy to go observing we will instead meet in ST-2 to do an in-class lab at 7PM.

 

Potential Observational Field Trips (Night Classes)

These dates are dependent on weather conditions!

Week #3

9/14-9/15

Mon, Tues

Week #4

9/21-9/22

Mon, Tues

Week #7

10/12-10/13

Mon, Tues

Week #8

10/19-10/20

Mon, Tues

Week #11

11/9-11/10

Mon, Tues

Week #12

11/16-11/17

Mon, Tues

Week #15?

12/7-12/8

Mon, Tues

 

 

 

 

 

Be at the designated classroom site at the time stated by the instructor!

 

Course Content Outline:

Familiarization with Day and Night Sky
Use of Planetarium as an Alternate Observing Environment
Use of Simple Measuring Devices, Significant Figures, Error, and Scientific Notation
Use of Small Telescopes and Binoculars
Optical Bench and Optical Parameters
Atlases and Star Maps
Use of a Computer to Make Star Maps and Collect Data
Study of the Moon
Study of the Planets
Study of the Sun and Solar Rotation
Study of Deep Sky Objects
Astrophotography
Measurement of the Speed of Light
Spectrometers and Stellar Chemistry

Computer Links with Remotely Operated Telescopes
Utilizing Telescopes with Digital Coordinate Systems
Statistical Study of Star Distributions
Planning an Observing Session
Study of Binary Stars
Sundial Project or other Special Project
*Only 2/3s of the course content listed is presented in any given semester due to sky and weather conditions.

Student Performance Outcomes:

Through assigned tasks, hands-on activities, computer-simulated exercise, classroom/online discussions, and quizzes/exams, students will*:

Identify from 18 constellations;

Identify and describe the properties of 24 stars;

Locate and describe 20 "deep sky objects" including star clusters, galaxies, nebula, multiple star systems;

Locate planets in the night sky utilizing digital computer software;

Make computations making proper use of significant figures;

Make computations utilizing scientific notation;

Make computations utilizing calculators and digital computers;

Determine the phase of the moon and predict its location on a star map via a computer;

Explain why there are seasons;

Properly set up a small telescope for observations of the night sky;

Compute the magnification power of a telescope;

Compute the light gathering of a variety of telescopes;

Compute the resolving power of a variety of telescopes;

Prepare an observing scenario using a small telescope, binoculars, or unaided eye;

Take pictures of celestial objects using a 35mm camera or Charged Coupled Device in conjunction with a digital computer;

Identify and sketch lunar surface features using a small telescope;

Identify and sketch planetary features using a small telescope;

Observe and sketch the moons of Jupiter;

Use a computer to predict the orientation of the Jovian satellites;

Calculate the orbit/pathway for a spacecraft voyage to another planet using Kepler's laws;

Use a reticle magnifier to measure features on astronomical photographs;

Read a vernier scale;

Use a spectrometer to measure and interpret emission lines and identify chemical elements;

Use a telescopic spectrometer to identify absorption lines;

Classify stellar spectra by observation of absorption lines;

Locate and observe binary star systems utilizing a filar micrometer;

Make an observation of a star's light using a photoelectric photometer;

Plot a light curve and explain the nature an eclipsing binary system;

Properly set up a telescope to safely observe the sun;

Find celestial objects utilizing a celestial atlas;       

Demonstrate proper use of SC-001 (Equatorial Region) and SC-002 (North Circumpolar Region) star maps;

Describe how to utilize a digital computer to generate a star map of selected regions of the sky;

Explain how to utilize a computer to link with remote telescopes to collect astronomical data;

Use an optical bench to determine optical parameters for mirrors and lenses;

Use an oscilloscope and laser to determine the speed of light; and

Construct and explain the operation of a sundial.

*Only 1/3 of the listed outcomes are presented in any given semester due to sky and weather conditions.

 

 

Astro 11 Laboratory Schedule

 

8/01/09 DED

 

 

 

Fall

 

 

 

 

 

 

2009

Read

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nightwatch

 

 

 

 

Week #

Date (week of)

Chapter

Lab #

Title

Moon

Backup Lab

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

1

8/31/2009

Pref.,1,2

I-A

Sizing Up the Sky

Wax. Gib.

None

2

9/7/2009*

3

I-B

Naked Eye to Eyepiece

Wan. Gib.

None (Observing?)

3

9/14/2009

4

O-1

Observing

Wan. Cres.

I-C Celestial Road.

4

9/21/2009

5

O-2

Observing

Wax. Cres.

I-D Windows of Opp.

5

9/28/2009

6

I-C

Celestial Roadmaps

Wax. Gib.

II-C Astroimaging

6

10/5/2009

7

I-D

Windows of Opp.

Wan. Gib.

II-D Telescope Making

7

10/12/2009

8

O-3

Observing

Wan. Cres.

III-C Moon

8

10/19/2009

9

O-4

Observing

Wax. Cres.

III-D Sun

9

10/26/2009

 

M-1

Mid-Term

Wax. Gib.

None

10

11/2/2009

10

VI-A

Sundial Prep/Extra Credit

Full

III-H Comets

11

11/9/2009**

11

O-5

Observing

3rd Q

III-G Jupiter's Moons

12

11/16/2009

12

O-6

Observing

New

IV-F Pleiades

13

11/23/2009***

 

Ex-1

Make-up/Extra Credit (M & T)

1st Q

None

14

11/30/2009

 

IV-F

Pleiades

Full

Hubble's Law (Handout)

15

12/7/2009

 

 

Final Prep and Sundials Due

3rd Q

None (Observing?)

16

12/14/2009

 

F-1

Final Exam

New

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note: Quizzes may be given at the instructor's discretion

 

 

*Monday of Week 2 is a Holiday

 

 

 

 

**Friday of Week 11 is a Holiday

 

 

 

 

***Thursday and Friday of Week 13 are Holidays