Welcome Astronomy 311 Professor Lee Carkner Lecture 1

Astronomy 311: The Solar System  Professor: Dr. Lee Carkner  Office Hours: M, W, F, 1-2 pm, Science 208  Classroom: Science 102  Some classes we will meet in the planetarium (like next Monday)  We will have evening observing sessions in the observatory  Class stuff:  “Astronomy Today” by Chaisson/McMillan (Fifth Edition)  Star and Planet Locator  Scientific calculator  WebAssign card

How Does the Class Work?  Read the book material before class  Do the online homework  Come to class  Do the in-class activities  Go out and make the assigned observations and turn them in by the due date  Come to the observing sessions when announced  Three quizzes and a final

Web Page  html  Outline gives readings and lecture topics  Lectures posted online before class  Download and print out before class  Print out in “Pure Black and White” and “handout”  Fill in blank areas during class  Outline will be updated and modified as the class goes on  Web page will also list observing sessions

WebAssign  Homework is due every class day  Go to webassign.net/student.html  Click on student login  Username: firstnamelastname  e.g. johnsmith  Institution: augustana  Password: Your Augustana ID number  You can change the password after you login  You will have to register using a WebAssign card purchased at the bookstore  You have until September 21 to register  If you are not on class roster, see me!

WebAssign Homework  Once logged in you will see a list of assignments  Click on the current assignment  For Friday it is “2history”  Be sure you have done the reading first  Answer all questions and click “submit”  You only get one submission so be sure you are ready to answer all questions before you start

Grading  Three Quizzes -- 45% (15% each)  Observing -- 10%  In Class Activities -- 15%  Homework – 10%  Final -- 20%

Guidelines for Work Handed In  Written answers must be in complete sentences  Numbers must have units  Answers must reasonable  If not reasonable, explain why  All work must be neat and easily readable  Explain all work!

APSE  Augustana Planetary Science Exam  Write name and fill in ID number on Scantron form  If ID number is less than 6 digits long, add zeros in front to make it 6 digits long  Please answer all questions on the APSE to the best of your ability  The survey is optional  All results will be kept anonymous  Information will be used to help improve the course  Your input is appreciated

Understanding the Universe  Science is an attempt to understand the universe by developing theories or models that explain how the various parts of it work  Problems:  The Universe is not simple  Humans tend to delude themselves  How do we know whether our models are correct?  Use experiments, mathematics, logic, proof, etc  The Scientific Method  How is astronomy different from all other sciences?  Astronomy is mostly observational  Whether using the naked-eye, telescopes or spacecraft  You don’t really know anything about the Universe you live in unless you observe it carefully

Observing  How does the Observing Project work?  Make several copies of the blank observing forms  Go outside on a clear night and sketch and label the required objects  Answer the questions on a separate sheet  Come to the observing sessions and sketch the objects through the telescope  This class requires you to do work at night both on your own and in groups at the times announced in class!!

How to Observe  Face a cardinal point (N, S, E, W)  The semi-circle represents the half of the celestial dome in front of you  Draw each star as a dot  Size proportional to brightness  Draw to scale  Label and include comments!  For telescope views, draw what is in the eyepiece

Observing Tips  Take advantage of clear nights  Use resources to help find things  Star and Planet Locator  Sky maps in back of book  Planetarium software  Make many copies of observing form and do a first “practice” sketch  Draw only what you can see  Do not cheat!

Next Time  Read Chapter  Do WebAssign homework  Question of the Day:  How have our ideas about planets changed and why?  Observe if clear!