Astronomy 1001 Section 1

Syllabus Astronomy 1001: Exploring the Universe Section 1, Fall semester 2014 Prof. Roberta M. Humphreys, 358 Physics, tel Lectures: 9:45 – 11:00 am on Tues., Thurs. in room 166 Physics. Office hours: 11:00 – noon TTh -- The hour before class is usually a bad time except for very brief matters. -- I will usually be in class at least 5 minutes before lecture and can stay afterwards for several minutes. These are good times to take care of most questions. For routine questions about course material, please ask a TA first (see below). Warning: Don’t rely on for important or urgent questions. The inflow rate has become far too large.

TA office hours, in 451 Physics (for routine questions): Hours will be posted on the doors outside rooms 244 and B49. Textbook: Recommended Book – Discovering the Essential Universe by Neil Comins. Any recently published introductory astronomy text however will be satisfactory. I recommend used and paperback copies for the best price. Note that exams are based on my lectures. So attend class and take notes. The textbook is useful for studying and review. Web page for Ast

Book for the lab exercises: Astronomy 1001/1011H Laboratory Manual , a local production available in the university bookstore. Concerning the lab part of this course: 1. Labs are quite separate from the lectures. 2. Get a copy of the Astronomy 100/1011H1 Laboratory Manual 2014 – 2015, at the university bookstore. Since this book is a local production, most other stores won’t have it. 3. Important: Part of the lab course is an “observational project” concerning the Moon. Read about it and start observing the Moon as soon as possible! If you fall behind in this project, there honestly is no way to catch up. ( Note that the Moon is full on Sept 9 will be visible all night. It will be 3rd quarter on Sept 16. Look for it after midnight.) 4. A schedule for lab activities is appended to this syllabus.

Grading: Officially we use the following recipe for final scores and grades. First mid-semester exam … 160 pts.16% Second exam … % Final exam … % 12 labs … % Observational project … % However, in effect the exams are even more important than these score-numbers indicate, for a statistical reason that will be mentioned in class. Grading will be based on a “modified curve”. Anyone earning 90% or better will earn an A- or higher. 50% is required to pass (D or better) and 60% for a C- or better. If you’re taking the course S/N, then a grade of ‘S’ will mean “C- or better (60%). Note: Furthermore, to get a passing grade you must earn 50% of the lab points (120/240) and 50% of the Obs. project points (70/140) and take all 3 exams. Exam dates: Dates for the two mid-semester exams have not been finalized yet but they will most likely be Oct 9 but could be the week after, when I have finished the solar system and the week of Nov 11, when I have finished lecturing on stars. The correct dates will be announced in class at least a week in advance. In each case the rooms used for the exam will be announced in class. The final will be given ; Thurs Dec 18, 8:00 am– 10:00 am, room TBD

Academic standards: The CLA and CSE scholastic conduct and classroom procedures will be followed. You are responsible for knowing these, see the university website. Students are welcome to work together, exchange ideas, etc. But for the Observational Project you must do your own measurements and calculations. Exam procedures: Room assignments for the exams will be announced beforehand in class, Bring two pencils and a photo ID to each exam! Exams may include multiple-choice, short- answer, and essay questions. If you miss an exam, see the professor. All makeups are given on study day, Thursday Dec 11. Time and place to be determined. Exam scores will be posted by your course and ID# on the web. If you feel there’s a mistake on the multiple-choice part of an exam, please see the secretary in the astronomy department office, 356 Physics. Questions about essay questions should be directed to the professor. Environmental theme: This course satisfies the “environmental theme” specified on the university website. It introduces students to a wide range of topics, including physical principles and not just astronomy. One goal is to show the Earth in a broad context with a unique perspective on our home planet and its environment in the universe. In this course we’ll see how science views and interprets the physical world around us.

Ast 1001 Section 1 Professor Humphreys Outline of Lectures powerpoints will be posted at Week Dates Topic(s) Text 1 Sept 2,4 Introduction Ch 1 Historical Perspective Ch. 2 2 Sept 9,11 Appearance of the Night Sky, Motions of Ch.1, 2 the Earth and Moon 3 Sept 16,18 Light, optics and telescopes Ch. 3 pg Formation of Solar System, Extrasolar planets Ch.4 4 Sept 23,25 Terrestrial planets Ch. 5 5 Sept30, Oct 2 Jovian Planets and their satellites Ch. 6 Minor and dwarf planets, comets, meteors Ch. 7 Oct 3 5 pm Moon Obs. Due (3 obs.) 6 Oct 7,9 Role of Impacts. Ch. 7 First Exam Oct 9, 14??

Week Dates Topic(s) Text 7 Oct 14, 16 The atom and spectroscopy Ch. 3, pg The Sun as a Star Ch. 8 8 Oct 21, 23 Properties of the stars Ch. 9 9 Oct 28, 30 Star formation, Stellar Evolution Ch. 10 Oct 31 5pm Moon Obs. Due (6 new, 9 total) 10 Nov 4, 6 Star Death - white dwarfs, supernovae, Ch. 11 neutron stars, black holes Second exam week of Nov Nov 11, 13 Second Exam ?, Milky Way Ch Nov 18, 20 Normal Galaxies Ch Nov 25 Galaxies and the distance - redshift relation Ch Dec 2, 4 Origin, evolution, and fate of the Universe Ch. 13 Dec 5 Moon Project Final Report due 5 pm 15 Dec 9 Life in the Universe, (catch - up) Ch. 14 FINAL EXAM Sect 1 Thurs Dec 18, 8:00 – 10:00 am, room TBD

Schedule for Labs Fall 2014 Ast 1001 Week 1 – Sept 1No Lab Week 2 – Sept 8Lab DObserving the Moon Week 3 – Sept 15Lab AAstronomical Distances Week 4 – Sept 22Lab BKepler's Laws Week 5 – Sept 29Lab ETelescopes (Oct 3 Moon Project Part 1 Due) Week 6 – Oct 6Lab LImpacts from Space Week 7 – Oct 13Lab MExtraterrestrial Life Week 8 – Oct 20Lab IEnergy Flows Week 9 – Oct 27Lab FAtomic Spectroscopy (Oct 31 Moon Project Part 2 Due) Week 10 – Nov 3Lab HHR-Diagram Week 11 – Nov 10Lab KHistory of Matter Week 12 – Nov 17Lab JThe Expansion of the Universe Week 13– Nov 24No LabsThanksgiving Week 14 – Dec 1Lab GDark Matter (Dec 5 Final Moon Project Due) Week 15 – Dec 8No Labs Week 1 – Sept 1No Lab Week 2 – Sept 8Lab DObserving the Moon Week 3 – Sept 15Lab AAstronomical Distances Week 4 – Sept 22Lab BKepler's Laws Week 5 – Sept 29Lab ETelescopes (Oct 3 Moon Project Part 1 Due) Week 6 – Oct 6Lab LImpacts from Space Week 7 – Oct 13Lab MExtraterrestrial Life Week 8 – Oct 20Lab IEnergy Flows Week 9 – Oct 27Lab FAtomic Spectroscopy (Oct 31 Moon Project Part 2 Due) Week 10 – Nov 3Lab HHR-Diagram Week 11 – Nov 10Lab KHistory of Matter Week 12 – Nov 17Lab JThe Expansion of the Universe Week 13– Nov 24No LabsThanksgiving Week 14 – Dec 1Lab GDark Matter (Dec 5 Final Moon Project Due) Week 15 – Dec 8No Labs

Astronomy -- the study of the stars The Sun and solar system

The Stars -- their birth and death

Galaxies and the Universe

In Astronomy we are concerned with origins and endings --- Your concepts of space and time will be altered. Time = Ages Earth, Sun and Solar System x 10 9 yrs Solar Lifetime x 10 9 yrs Age of Galaxy (oldest stars) --- ~ 12 x 10 9 yrs Age of Universe (expansion age) --- ~ 13 x 10 9 yrs Space = Distances Earth – Moon ,400 km ( 240,000 mi) Earth – Sun x 10 6 km ( 93 million miles) Solar System (to Pluto) x 10 9 km (3.7 billion miles) Nearest Star light years ( ~ 41 x km ) Center of Galaxy ,000 light years ( 256 x km) Andromeda Galaxy x 10 6 light yrs ( 22 x km )