Astronomy 1020-H Stellar Astronomy Spring_2016 Day-1

Snow-1, Education-0

ASTR_1020_Day-1 I’m posting these so y’all can look through them BEFORE we meet (probably on) Monday 1/25. If the snow does not make it in tonight, we’ll cover some of this tomorrow.

ASTR_1020_Day-1 Dr. Allyn Smith Office Hours: (B329-SSB): MWF & by app’t. Lecture-Tutorials & Text Book D2L – Will be used for grade tracking only. Do NOT send via D2L – it probably will not be read. Everything you need for this class can be found at: NOT using i-clickers in this class.

ASTR_1020_Day-1 Goals for the class: Understanding of the scientific process Concepts of the basic physics of astronomy How we obtain information about the stars Star & Galaxy formation Star & Galaxy evolution The Sun The Universe Life and other weird stuff

ASTR_1020_Day-1 Text Book: 21st Century Astronomy, 4th Edition By Kay, Palen, Smith, & Blumenthal ORDER FROM: Amazon.com or visit Study Master ISBN: (Full book) – if you plan to also take ASTR-1010: Intro. To Planetary Astronomy ISBN: (Stars & Galaxies) Also: Lecture-Tutorials for Introductory Astronomy By Prather, Slater, Adams, & Brissenden Bring this book to class EVERY day. It will be used a lot. It is a workbook to be written in! NOT using i-clickers in here.

How to Attack the course Read the text – preferably BEFORE class. Visualize the concept. Quiz yourself (and others) Try to teach the material to your study group. Focus - Concepts, Relationships, Connections. Don’t psych yourself out over the “math”. Stay current with assignments. If you have questions … Office Hours!!!

ASTR_1020_Day-1 If you’re in the Honors class, you should also take this one... It will help build character. This course gives the mathematical background that should be in this class at a grade-appropriate level. ASTR-2020: Problems in Stellar Astronomy Mondays, 4-5 pm E109 Dr. Buckner – if you are interested, let him know BY MONDAY – preferably earlier rather than later.

ASTR_1020_Day-1 Assignment: Look through these slides AND the on-line material; especially the syllabus, observing requirements, and the project. Read Chapter 1. Think about the process outlined in the Scientific Method and how it is used to investigate and explain observations. What is key to the process? Think of an example where the scientific method could be used.

ASTR_1020_Day-1 Observing: 1 st quarter moon nights – 3 of them this semester You MUST attend at least one. Will be held cold, rain, snow, or clear. 6 Dark Night observing sessions – you must attend 1: Weather dependent Notice posted on astronomy URL by 5pm. Report due by Mon. Apr. 18 by 5pm. Format is on the web site. Information to include is on the web site – Look at this BEFORE attending one of the sessions. Dates are on the web site.

ASTR_1020_Day-1 Exams: Four, ”1 hour” exams (~30 MC discussion/problem) The lowest grade will be dropped The last one will be given during the final exam time Final – You MUST take it. It will not be dropped. 5-6 discussion questions – comprehensive. BONUS POINTS: Wear Hawai’ian shirts on exam days; Attend a planetarium show (or two); attend a BSAS star party or meeting.

ASTR_1020_Day-1 SmartWorks setup: You will need: 1. A valid address (use your apsu one) 2. The enrollment key (ASTRO4E9590 – case sensitive) DO NOT SCRATCH Rub GENTLY 3. The registration code. This is the ”proof-of-purchase” code on the card inside the cover of the book – IF you bought the book new. It looks like a scratch-and-sniff, but DO NOT SCRATCH it... Rub GENTLY with a slightly damp cloth to reveal the code. If you did not buy the book new, you must purchase the code separately from W.W. Norton (see login page) or the bookstore. It is cheaper from the publisher.

ASTR_1020_Day-1 On-Line Homework System: We are using this link (of the 4-6 listed on the site): Austin Peay St Univ, ASTR-1020-H, Spring 2016, Prof. Smith More instructions and information may be found on: the Smartworks instruction sheet – posted on the class web site: (and follow the links). You MUST have a permanent account established BY Friday Jan. 29.

ASTR_1020_Day-1 Honors Class Extras: You will engage in a semester long ”research project” to determine the rotation rate of the Sun at various solar latitudes. This is 15% of your grade – don’t slack on it. Estimate of time to spend on it??? This is a 3 hour class, 1000 level. So assume you spend 3 hours outside of class for each hour in class (9 hours/week) 14 class weeks in the semester (9 x 14 = 126 hours) 15% of 126 hrs = 18.9 hr, call it 20 hours.

Solar Rotation Project What to do (on handout) Visit spaceweather.com 3-7 days per week. Download the solar image. Check the flare alert box. If a flare (especially a big one) is going off, visit the Solar Dynamics Observer site ( and look at (download) the other wavelength images which may show flare activity. Check handout for other details.

Course Announcements Smartworks Chapter 1: Start on – it will be due next week.