192-220 Apps
192-220 Apps
192-220 Apps
Voyager SkyGazer, College Edition, combines exceptional planetarium software with informative tutorials. Here are just a few of the exciting things your students can do with this powerful tool: Use the planetarium features to learn the constellations. Use the built-in animations to explore astronomical phenomena such as meteor showers, eclipses, and more. Identify nebulae and galaxies that can be observed through a small telescope from your campus. Study and map how the sky varies with time of day, time of year, and latitude. Observe the Earth/Moon system from another planet within our solar system. Appendix 3 lists particular resources within SkyGazer that you may wish to integrate with various topics in the book. To use these features, note that: To access Basic Files, start from the main menu, choose File, Open Settings and then select the desired file. To access Demo Files, start from the main menu, choose File, Open Settings and then select the desired file. To access Explore files, start from the main menu and choose Explore. In addition, remember that you can find numerous assignable activities for SkyGazer in two places: 1. The Astronomy Place website has a set of worksheets containing approximately 75 SkyGazer activities. 2. Additional SkyGazer activities can be found in the Astronomy Media Workbook supplement (ISBN 0-8053-8755-2) .
192
Instructors Guide
193
194
Instructors Guide
195
197
198
Astronomy Place Online TUTORIAL Voyager: SkyGazer CD-ROM, v. 3.4
From the Big Bang to Galaxies Scale of the Universe Lesson 1 Distances scales: the solar system Explore Menu Solar Neighborhood Paths of the Planets
Opening The Cosmos Spaceship Universe Spaceship Galaxy Spaceship Stars Spaceship Solar System Planet Earth Cosmic Calendar
Lesson 2
Powers of 10
relative_dist_earth_moon sun_relative_moon_orbit size_of_mars_orbit size_of_jupiter_orbit size_of_pluto_orbit accurate_model_of_solar_sys relative_dist_nearest_star relation_dist_speed_time size_of_the_milky_way dist_to_andromeda_galaxy galaxy_clusters_and_struct zooming_26_orders_of_mag
2.
File: Basic Folder A Celestial Family; Animal Houses; Chart Display Buttons; Constellation Patterns; Full Sky; Milky Way; The Trapezium; Wide Field Milky Way File: Demo Folder Celestial Poles; Water Constellations File: Basic Folder Animal Houses; Changing the Location; Day and Night; Follow a Star; Full Sky; Grid Lines; Night Sky in Nairobi; North Pole; North Pole 2; The Little Bear; Winter Sky File: Demo Folder Russian Midnight Sun
temperature_vs_distance directness_of_light ashlight_beams ux_of_light_vs_latitude why_does_ux_sunlight_vary cause_of_seasons dist_to_sun_and_earth_tilt sun_over_equator_and_tropic sun_over_equator_at_equinox arctic_circle_sunrise_set sun_altitude_vs_lat_season
2.5 The Moon, Our Constant Companion Lesson 1 The causes of lunar phases
Lesson 2 Lesson 3 Eclipses Lesson 1 Why and when do eclipses occur? When the moon rises and sets
Explore Menu Precession of the Earth Wobble of the Earth File: Basic Folder Christmas Eclipse 2000; Eclipse 1991-2 Views; Europe Eclipse 1999; Lunar Eclipse; Moon Along the Ecliptic; Moon Orbit; Phase of the Moon; Shadow over America; South Carolina Eclipse; Totality File: Demo Folder African Eclipse June 2001; American Eclipse 2017-2 views; Drunken Moon; Earth Orbiting the Moon; Earth-Moon from Mars; Orbit of the Moon 2; South Carolina Eclipse-2017 Explore Menu Shadows on the Earth Phases of the Planets
Lesson 2
Lesson 3
Lunar eclipses
earth_and_lunar_orbits cause_of_eclipses_anim cause_of_eclipses_tool eclipses_twice_a_month ecliptic_plane_anim moon_orbit_tilt_vs_ecliptic moon_orbit_with_nodes eclipse_seasons precession_of_moon_orbit angular_size_of_moon annular_vs_total_solar partial_vs_total_solar evolution_of_total_solar evolution_of_partial_solar lunar_eclipses evolution_of_total_lunar
File: Basic Folder Planet Paths File: Demo Folder Mars in Retrograde Explore Menu The Solar System
199
200
Astronomy Place Online TUTORIAL
7-2 7-3 7-4
File: Demo Folder Ptolemy on Mars File: Basic Folder Precession of the Equinoxes; Ptolemy on Venus Orbits and Keplers Laws Lesson 2 Keplers rst law
Alexandrian Library Ages of Science Alexandrian Library Hypatia Ptolemy/Copernicus Kepler Kepler and Tycho Brahe Keplers Laws The Somnium
File: Basic Folder Follow a Planet; Phase of Mercury; Planet Orrery; Planet Panel; Planet Paths; Plutos Orbit; Saturn; Saturns Phases; Tracking Venus File: Demo Folder Earth and Venus; Hale-Bopp Path; Hyakutake at Perihelion; Hyakutake nears Earth; Plutos Orbit; Trailing Saturn; Triple Conjunction of 7 BC; Venus-Earth-Moon File: Explore Menu The Solar System Paths of the Planets File: Spacecraft Folder Galileo to Jupiter; Giotto encounters Halley; Missions to Jupiter; Ulysses below the Sun; Voyager I and Voyager II
3-2 3-3
File: Demo Folder Venus Transit of 1769 File: Basic Folder Analemma; Challenging the Time; Chart Clock; Rubber Horizon Seasons Lesson 2 The solstices and equinoxes
sun_over_equator_at_equinox arctic_circle_sunrise_set
File: Basic Folder Grid Lines; Precession of the Equinoxes File: Demo Folder Celestial Poles
File: Basic Folder Changing the Time; Chart Clock; Day and Night; Dening the Horizon; Dragging the Sky; Night Sky in Nairobi; Rubber Horizon; Startup; Sunset in Winnipeg; Three Cities; Winter Milky Way; Winter Sky File: Demo Folder Russian Midnight Sun File: Basic Folder Changing the Location 9-2 9-3 9-4 9-5 7-5 7-6 7-7 7-8 7-9 Apple Pie The Very Large Atoms Chemical Elements Ancient Greek Scientists Science Blossoms Democritus Pythagorus Plato and Others
4.
5.
5.1 Describing Motion: Examples from Everyday Life 5.2 Newtons Laws of Motion 5.3 The Force of Gravity Orbits and Keplers Laws Lesson 1 Gravity and orbits
Lesson 2
orbit_trajectory_cannonball cannonball_mass_vs_orbit acceleration_due_to_gravity feather_and_hammer_on_moon drawing_ellipse_with_string what_is_a_circle orbital_rad_and_orbital_pos eccentrcty_and_semimjr_axis kepler_2_velocty_vs_orbit_r kepler_2_area_and_time_int orbit_vs_init_velocty_and_r kepler_3_orbit_period_vs_r
5.4 Tides
201
202
Astronomy Place Online TUTORIAL
File: Basic Folder Follow a Planet; Phase of Mercury; Planet Orrery; Planet Panel; Planet Paths; Plutos Orbit; Saturn; Saturns Phases; Tracking Venus File: Demo Folder Earth and Venus; Hale-Bopp Path; Hyakutake at Perihelion; Hyakutake nears Earth; Plutos Orbit; Trailing Saturn; Triple Conjunction of 7 BC; Venus-Earth-Moon File: Explore Menu The Solar System Paths of the Planets File: Spacecraft Folder Galileo to Jupiter; Giotto encounters Halley; Missions to Jupiter; Ulysses below the Sun; Voyager I and Voyager II
5.6 The Acceleration of Gravity Light and Spectroscopy Lesson 1 Radiation, light and waves
surface_waves_in_pond anatomy_of_a_wave visible_light_waves electromag_spectrum
6.
6.2 Properties of Light 6.3 The Many Forms of Light Light and Spectroscopy Lesson 2 Spectroscopy Lesson 3 Atomic spectra emission and absorption lines
Thermal radiation
intro_to_spectroscopy de-excitation_and_emission production_of_emission_line energy-level_diagrams composition_mystery_gas photo-excitation_of_atom production_of_absorp_line spectrum_of_low-dens_cloud thermal_radiation wiens_law
Lesson 2
examples_of_motion hearing_the_doppler_effect cause_of_doppler_effect doppler_shift_vs_velocity position_observer_vs_source doppler_effect_for_light doppler_shift_emission_line determine_velocity_gas doppler_shift_absorp_line determine_velocity_cold_gas
7.
7.2 Telescopes: Giant Eyes 7.3 Uses of Telescopes 7.4 Atmospheric Effects on Observations Light and Spectroscopy Lesson 1 Radiation, light and waves
surface_waves_in_pond anatomy_of_a_wave visible_light_waves electromag_spectrum
Light and Spectroscopy Lesson 2 Spectroscopy Lesson 3 Atomic spectra emission and absorption lines
10-11 VLA
Lesson 4
Thermal radiation
intro_to_spectroscopy de-excitation_and_emission production_of_emission_line energy-level_diagrams composition_mystery_gas photo-excitation_of_atom production_of_absorp_line spectrum_of_low-dens_cloud thermal_radiation wiens_law
8.
Formation of the Solar System Lesson 1 Comparative Planetology
PlanetInfo1 PlanetInfo2
8.1 Comparative Planetology Orbits and Keplers Laws Lesson 2 Keplers rst law
8.3 A Brief Tour of the Solar System 8.4 Exploring the Solar System
Special: A Tour of the Solar System Scale of the Universe Lesson 1 Distances of scale: our solar system
File: Basic Folder Follow a Planet; Phase of Mercury; Planet Orrery; Planet Panel; Planet Paths; Plutos Orbit; Saturn; Saturns Phases; Tracking Venus File: Demo Folder Earth and Venus; Hale-Bopp Path; Hyakutake at Perihelion; Hyakutake nears Earth; Plutos Orbit; Trailing Saturn; Triple Conjunction of 7 BC; Venus-Earth-Moon File: Explore Menu The Solar System Paths of the Planets 6-2 File: Spacecraft Folder Galileo to Jupiter; Giotto encounters Halley; Missions to Jupiter; Ulysses below the Sun; Voyager I and Voyager II
Voyager, JPL
9.
Formation of the Solar System Lesson 1 Comparative planetology
203
204
Astronomy Place Online TUTORIAL
Formation of the Solar System Lesson 2 Formation of the protoplanetary disk collapse_of_solar_nebula Orbits in the Solar System
formation_protoplanet_disk why_does_disk_atten formation_circlular_orbits temp_distribution_of_disk condensate_regions_in_disk
Formation of the Solar System Lesson 3 Formation of Planets History of the Solar System
9.4 Explaining Leftovers and Exceptions to the Rules 9.5 How Old is the Solar System? 9.6 Other Planetary Systems History of the Solar System Extrasolar Planetary Detection Lesson 1 Taking a picture of a planet Lesson 2 Stars wobbles and properties of planets
luminosity_of_planet angular_sep_vs_distance angular_sep_jupiter_sun stellar_motion_and_planets oscillation_of_absorp_line determine_star_velocty_vs_t star_orbit_vs_planet_mass determine_planet_mass_orbit planetary_transits
Planetary transits
10.2 Inside the Terrestrial Worlds 10.3 Shaping Planetary Surfaces: The Four Basic Geological Processes Shaping Planetary Surfaces Lesson 1 The four geological processes
Lesson 2
Lesson 3
production_of_a_crater volcanic_eruption_and_lava tectonics_convect_of_mantle plate_tectonics_on_earth water_erosion history_of_cratering tectonics_and_heat_transfer history_volcanism_tectonics history_of_erosion evolution_of_planet_surface
5-2 5-3 5-4 5-5 5-6 5-7 4-7 4-8 4-9 4-10 4-11 Shaping Planetary Surfaces Lesson 2 What do geological processes depend on? Lesson 3 Planet surface evolution
history_of_cratering tectonics_and_heat_transfer history_volcanism_tectonics history_of_erosion evolution_of_planet_surface
Martians Lowell Edgar Rice Burroughs Goddard Inhabited Planets Mars Venus Descent to Venus Change Death of Worlds Conclusion
11.1 Atmospheric Basics 11.2 The Greenhouse Effect and Planetary Temperature
11.3 Atmospheric Structure 11.4 Weather and Climate 11.5 Sources and Losses of Atmospheric Gas 11.6 The Climate Histories of Mars, Venus and Earth Formation of the Solar System Lesson 1 Comparative Planetology
PlanetInfo1 PlanetInfo2
12.1 The Jovian Worlds: A Different Kind of Planet 12.2 Jovian Planet Interiors 12.3 Jovian Planet Atmospheres 12.4 Jovian Planet Magnetospheres
205
206
Astronomy Place Online TUTORIAL Cosmic Lecture Launcher CD-ROM APPLETS Astronomy Place Online MOVIE Voyager: SkyGazer CD-ROM, v. 3.4 Carl Sagans COSMOS Segment VHS or DVD
6-9 Europa and Io 6-10 Voyager Ships Log 6-11 Saturn and Titan File: Basic Folder Tracking Jupiter and Io File: Demo Folder Backside of Jupiter; Locked on Dione; Three Moons on Jupiter File: Basic Folder Saturn History of the Solar System Orbits in the Solar System Formation of the Solar System Lesson 3 Formation of Planets
summary_condensates_in_disk accretion_and_planets nebular_capture_and_jovians the_solar_wind
File: Basic Folder Orbit of Hale-Bopp File: Demo Folder Hale-Bopp Path; Hyakutake at Perihelion; Hyakutake nears Earth File: Spacecraft Folder Giotto encounters Halley File: Basic Folder Plutos Orbit File: Demo Folder Plutos Orbit 4-3 4-4 4-5 Tunguska Event Comets Collisions with Earth
Lesson 2
Lesson 3
production_of_a_crater volcanic_eruption_and_lava tectonics_convect_of_mantle plate_tectonics_on_earth water_erosion history_of_cratering tectonics_and_heat_transfer history_volcanism_tectonics history_of_erosion evolution_of_planet_surface
14.4 Climate Regulation and the Carbon Dioxide Cycle 14.5 Life on Earth Search for Extraterrestrial Life
14.6 Our Future: Survival Lessons from Other Worlds 8-2 8-3 8-4 Constellations Time and Space Relativity
S2.1 Einsteins Revolution S2.2 Relative Motion S2.3 The Reality of Space and Time
S2.4 Is it True? S2.5 Toward a New Common Sense S2.6 Ticket to the Stars
S3.1 S3.2 S3.3 S3.4 Black Holes Lesson 1 What are black holes?
Einsteins Second Revolution The Equivalence Principle Understanding Spacetime A New View of Gravity
Lesson 2
escape_velocity_earth orbital_trajectory_and_r escape_velocity_and_r orbital_r_vs_planet_r g_vs_dist_black_hole determine_event_horizon schwarzschild_r formation_xray_bin rotation_galactic_center orbital_velocity_mass_and_r evidence_of_black_hole
S3.5 Is it True?
207
208
Astronomy Place Online TUTORIAL Cosmic Lecture Launcher CD-ROM APPLETS Astronomy Place Online MOVIE Voyager: SkyGazer CD-ROM, v. 3.4 Carl Sagans COSMOS Segment VHS or DVD
The Sun The Sun The Sun The Sun The Sun 9-6 9-7 Nuclear Forces The Stars and Our Sun Measuring Cosmic Distances Lesson 2 Stellar parallax
intro_to_parallax parallax_of_nearby_star parallax_angle_vs_distance measuring_parallax_angle generate_hr_diagr temp_and_luminosity determine_stellar_sizes stellar_mass_and_hr_diagr hydrostatic_equilibrium
S3.6 Hyperspace, Wormholes, and Warp Drive S3.7 The Last Word
The Quantum Revolution Fundamental Particles and Forces The Uncertainty Principle The Exclusion Principle Key Quantum Effects in Astronomy
15.1 Why Does the Sun Shine? 15.2 Plunging to the Center of the Sun: An Imaginary Journey 15.3 The Cosmic Crucible
File: Basic Folder Large Stars; More Stars; Star Color and Size; Tracking Altair; Tracking Proxima Centauri File: Demo Folder Barnards Star File: Basic Folder Large Stars; More Stars; Star Color and Size File: Basic Folder Large Stars; More Stars; Star Color and Size
The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram Lesson 1 The Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) Diagram Lesson 2 Determining stellar radii The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram Lesson 3 The main sequence
16.5 The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram 16.6 Star Clusters Stellar Evolution Lesson 1 Main-sequence lifetimes Lesson 4 Cluster Dating
File: Demo Folder Circling the Hyades; Flying around Pleiades; The Tail of Scorpius
17.2 Star Birth 17.3 Life as a Low-Mass Star File: Demo Folder Crab from Finland
9-8 9-9
Stellar Evolution Lesson 3 Late stages of a high-mass star Stellar Evolution Lesson 1 Main-sequence lifetimes Lesson 2 Evolution of a low mass star Lesson 3 Lesson 4 Late stages of a high-mass star Cluster Dating
Stellar Evolution Lesson 1 Main-sequence lifetimes Stellar Evolution Lesson 2 Evolution of a low mass star Stellar Evolution Lesson 3 Late stages of a high-mass star Black Holes Lesson 1 What are black holes?
Lesson 2
escape_velocity_earth orbital_trajectory_and_r escape_velocity_and_r orbital_r_vs_planet_r g_vs_dist_black_hole determine_event_horizon schwarzschild_r formation_xray_bin rotation_galactic_center orbital_velocity_mass_and_r evidence_of_black_hole
18.5 The Mystery of Gamma-Ray Bursts The Milky Way Galaxy File: Basic Folder Milky Way; Wide Field Milky Way; Winter Milky Way The Milky Way Galaxy File: Basic Folder Lagoon Nebulae Explore Menu Solar Neighborhood The Milky Way Galaxy
209
210
Astronomy Place Online TUTORIAL
Detecting Dark Matter in a Spiral Galaxy Lesson 1 Introduction to rotation curves The Milky Way Galaxy
Lesson 2
motion_merrygoround rotation_merrygoround rotation_of_solar_system adjust_mass_of_sun rotation_of_spiral_galaxy edge_and_face_spiral_gal meas_doppler_shifts_for_gal orbital_velocity_mass_and_r mass_vs_dist_solar_system mass_vs_dist_galaxy
20.1 Islands of Stars 20.2 Galaxy Types File: Basic Folder Galaxies in Coma File: Basic Folder Galaxies in Coma
Big Bang Galaxies Astronomical Anomalies Doppler Effect Humeson Dimensions The Universe
Lesson 3
Standard candles: main sequence stars and Cepheid variables Standard candles: white dwarf supernovae and spiral galaxies
Lesson 4
radar_pulses intro_to_parallax parallax_of_nearby_star parallax_angle_vs_distance measuring_parallax_angle ux_of_star_vs_distance bright_stars_near_or_lum main_seq_as_standard_candle cepheid_as_standard_candle suprnova_as_standard_candle tully_sher_relationship galaxy_as_standard_candle summary_of_distance_methods discover_hubble_law measure_hubble_constant
Hubbles Laws Lesson 1 Hubbles Law Hubbles Laws Lesson 2 The expansion of the universe
Lesson 3
From the Big Bang to Galaxies From the Big Bang to Galaxies From the Big Bang to Galaxies
Lesson 2
escape_velocity_earth orbital_trajectory_and_r escape_velocity_and_r orbital_r_vs_planet_r g_vs_dist_black_hole determine_event_horizon schwarzschild_r formation_xray_bin rotation_galactic_center orbital_velocity_mass_and_r evidence_of_black_hole
21.6 Shedding Light on Protogalactic Clouds Orbits and Keplers Laws Lesson 1 Gravity and orbits
Lesson 2
Lesson 3 Lesson 4
motion_merrygoround rotation_merrygoround
orbit_trajectory_cannonball cannonball_mass_vs_orbit acceleration_due_to_gravity feather_and_hammer_on_moon drawing_ellipse_with_string what_is_a_circle orbital_rad_and_orbital_pos eccentrcty_and_semimjr_axis kepler_2_velocty_vs_orbit_r kepler_2_area_and_time_int orbit_vs_init_velocty_and_r kepler_3_orbit_period_vs_r
Dark Matter in Galaxies Detecting Dark Matter in a Spiral Galaxy Lesson 1 Introduction to rotation curves Dark Matter in Clusters Dark Matter: Ordinary or Extraordinary? Structure Formation
Lesson 2 Lesson 3 Fate of the Universe Lesson 1 The role of gravity Where is the dark matter?
rotation_of_solar_system adjust_mass_of_sun rotation_of_spiral_galaxy edge_and_face_spiral_gal meas_doppler_shifts_for_gal orbital_velocity_mass_and_r mass_vs_dist_solar_system mass_vs_dist_galaxy stellar_mass_vs_dist_galaxy evidence_of_dark_matter determine_distrib_dark_mat fate_of_launched_cannonball escape_velocity_vs_mass determine_velocty_cannonbll universe_and_mass_density universe_and_dark_energy universe_history_and_fate
Lesson 2 Lesson 3
211
212
Astronomy Place Online TUTORIAL
Hubbles Laws Lesson 1 Hubbles Law Lesson 2 The expansion of the universe
13-7 Big Bang and the Stuff of Life 13-8 Evolution of Life 13-9 Star Stuff
23.3 Evidence for the Big Bang 23.4 Ination 23.5 Did the Big Bang Really Happen?
13-10 What Humans Have Done 13-11 We Speak for Earth Search for Extraterrestrial Life
24. Life Beyond Earth: Prospects for Microbes, Civilizations, and Interstellar Travel
24.2 Life in the Solar System Extrasolar Planetary Detection Lesson 1 Taking a picture of a planet Lesson 2 Stars wobbles and properties of planets
luminosity_of_planet angular_sep_vs_distance angular_sep_jupiter_sun stellar_motion_and_planets oscillation_of_absorp_line determine_star_velocty_vs_t star_orbit_vs_planet_mass determine_planet_mass_orbit planetary_transits
Lesson 3
Planetary transits
12-8 SETI 12-9 Arecibo 12-10 Drake Equation and Contact 12-2 Close Encounters 12-3 Refutations 12-4 UFOs 12-11 Encyclopedia Galactica
213
opportunities, such as meteor showers or eclipses. Weve sometimes had students meet in the early morning, well outside town, to observe meteor showers or bright planets. Such events can be a lot of fun for both you and the students. We did not include any major project in our requirements, but some teachers like to have a project component to final grades. You can easily make a project from some of our endof-chapter Web Projects or from observing projects. Another project that we have sometimes used and that students seem to enjoy is a Book Review. For this project, students select a nonfiction book that is relevant to the course (e.g., topic areas might include the history of astronomy, recent discoveries in astronomy, or books about the space program or space policy) and then write a 35 page critical book review. (Many students have never written a critical book review, so we suggest they look at book reviews in the Sunday New York Times. Also, you may wish to have students get your OK on their book selections before they begin, so that you can make sure theyve chosen a real science book rather than something quacky.) Regarding the common courtesy guidelines: It would be nice if we could assume that all students would treat each other and you with proper respectbut we all know that this does not occur automatically these days. We therefore include these explicit guidelines and weve found far fewer problems in class since we started including them. Perhaps the root of most classroom behavior problems is simply that students have gotten away with so much in high school that they have no idea what constitutes normal classroom behavior until you spell it out for them. The section entitled Can I Get the Grade I Really Want? should get students attention. It is all part of our ongoing emphasis on the fact that the key to student success is hard work. The schedule is designed to fit on one page so students can pin it to a wall and keep track easily. This particular schedule follows the basic plan of Sample Outline 2 on page 8. It is meant to serve as a template that you can adapt if you wish, since it is already sized properly to fit on one page. If you have a MWF class rather than a T/Th class, you can instead use the following cells as your basic template:
Mondays Mar 4 Reading: Chapter 8 On-line quiz: Chapter 8 basic Mar 6 Wednesdays Viewing (optional): Cosmos ep. 4 Mar 8 Fridays Homework 4 due
Note: on the first day of class, you may also wish to hand out the Assignment 1 that we describe on page 39; this can be a good way to get a sense of where your students are coming from, as well as to get students excited about what theyll be learning in the class. Note: If you choose to make use of the Cosmos videos, as we do on this schedule, you can do so in a variety of ways. For example, you can have the videos on reserve at the library for students to watch on their own time. You might also arrange evening showings at a time that works for most of your students (and others can watch them on their own). If you really want the students to come to the viewings, provide cookies or other refreshments that will encourage mingling after the video.
214
Instructors Guide
General Information
Astronomy 1 is one of two general courses in introductory astronomy. In this class we concentrate on the development of human understanding of the universe and survey current understanding of our planetary system. The other semester (Astronomy 2) explores our understanding of the structure and evolution of stars and galaxies, and current scientific theories concerning the history of the Universe. No scientific or mathematical background is assumed, beyond the entrance requirements to the University. Astronomy is a science, however, so you will be expected to develop your critical thinking skills in order to understand and apply the scientific method. In terms of mathematics, we will use only arithmetic and a bit of simple algebra. Although I have taught this course many times previously, there is always room for improvement. Please feel free to make comments, criticisms, or suggestions at any time. I will make any adjustments that are necessary to ensure that you find the course both challenging and rewarding.
Required Textbooks/Media
The textbook for this course is The Cosmic Perspective, Third Edition, by Bennett, Donahue, Schneider, and Voit. You will also need a personal access kit for the Astronomy Place website and the SkyGazer CD, both of which should have come with your book if you purchased a new copy. (Note: If you purchased a used copy of the book, you can buy access to the website on-line at www.astronomyplace.com.)
215
Class Participation: During classes, we will engage in discussions and occasional activities, some of which may involve completing worksheets. Participation in these activities will form part of your final grade. Observing Sessions: We will have several nights where the campus observatory is reserved for our class. You are required to attend at least one of these observing sessions and complete the observing worksheet that will be given to you when you arrive. Exams: We will have two in-class midterms and one final exam.
A final score of 99100% will be an A+; 9298 is an A; 9091 is an A; the pattern continues for each lower grade.
Dont procrastinate. The homework assignments will take you several hours, so if you leave them to the last minute youll be in troubleand it will be too late for you to ask for help. Both quizzes and homework need to be completed on time if you want to avoid late penalties. Dont miss class, and make sure you come to class prepared, having completed the assignments due by that date. Dont be a stranger to your instructorcome see me in office hours, even if you dont have any specific questions. If you find yourself confused or falling behind for any reason at any time, let me know immediately! No matter what is causing your difficulty, I are quite willing to work with you to find a way for you to succeedbut I cant help if we dont know theres a problem.
A Closing Promise
All the hard work described above might sound a bit intimidating, but I can make you this promise: Few topics have inspired humans throughout the ages as much as the mysteries of the heavens. This class offers you the opportunity to explore these mysteries in depth, learning both about our tremendous modern understanding of the universe and about the mysteries that remain. If you work hard and learn the material well, this class will be one of the most rewarding classes of your college career.
217
Schedule
The indicated assignments should be completed before class on the listed date. Listen in class and check your e-mail for updates to the schedule or syllabus.
Aug 24 Aug 31 Sep 7 Sep 14 Sep 21 Sep 28 Oct 5 Oct 12 Oct 19 Oct 26 Nov 2 Nov 9 Nov 16 Nov 23 Nov 30 Dec 7 Reading: Chapter 24 On-line Quiz: Ch. 24 Basic Final Exam: Monday, Dec. 14, 3:30 ..6:30 .. Tuesdays First day of class On-line Quiz: Ch. 1 Basic Viewing (optional): Cosmos ep. 2 Reading: Chapter 3 Viewing (required): Cosmos ep. 3 On-line Quiz: Ch. 3 Basic Reading: Chapter S1 On-line quiz: Ch. S1 Basic Reading: Chapter 5 On-line Quiz: Ch. 5 Basic Reading: Chapters 6 On-line Quiz: Ch. 6 Basic FIRST MIDTERM (IN CLASS) Reading: Chapter 9 On-line Quiz: Ch. 9 Basic Reading: Chapter 10 On-line Quiz: Ch. 10 Basic Reading: Chapter 11 On-line Quiz: Ch. 11 Basic Viewing (optional): Cosmos ep. 5 Reading: Chapter 12 On-line Quiz: Ch. 12 Basic Reading: Chapter 13 On-line Quiz: Ch. 13 Basic Reading: Chapter 14 On-line Quiz: Ch. 14 Basic Aug 26 Sep 2 Sep 9 Sep 16 Sep 23 Sep 30 Oct 7 Oct 14 Oct 21 Oct 28 Nov 4 Nov 11 Nov 18 Nov 25 Dec 2 HOMEWORK 4 DUE SECOND MIDTERM (IN CLASS) HOMEWORK 5 DUE Viewing (optional): Cosmos ep. 6 Thanksgiving Holiday No class! HOMEWORK 6 DUE Thursdays Reading: Chapter 1 Viewing (optional): Cosmos ep. 1 Reading: Chapter 2 On-line Quiz: Ch. 2 Basic HOMEWORK 1 DUE
Reading: Chapter 4 On-line Quiz: Ch. 4 Basic HOMEWORK 2 DUE Reading: Chapter 7 On-line Quiz: Ch. 7 Basic Reading: Chapter 8 On-line Quiz: Ch. 8 Basic HOMEWORK 3 DUE Viewing (optional): Cosmos ep. 4
* Observatory nights (weather dependent): Aug. 30, Sep 22, Oct 6, Nov 4, Dec 1.
218
Instructors Guide
219
220
Instructors Guide