1. https://goo.gl/forms/4RoqPOGNirJgneaX2
Physics Astronomy
Introduction
Am I in the Right Place?
Eric Carlson
“Eric”
“Professor Carlson”
Olin 306
Flexible Hours
(o)
(c)
Everyone Pick Up Syllabus
1/14

2. Website for This Class http://users.wfu.edu/ecarlson/astro/
Everything for this class is on the class website
Link to form if you need to add the class or change lab section
Links for all the programs/apps you will need
TopHat online voting system (must pay for it)
Stellarium program for lab
Links to Mastering Astronomy for online homework (must pay for it)
Schedule/Reading Assignments for the entire semester
Lab Schedule for the upcoming week
Information for upcoming tests
Old Tests
Lectures (after they are given)
A few lectures in advance

3. https://goo.gl/forms/4RoqPOGNirJgneaX2
Can I Add This Class?
The class is full – there aren’t seats for more students
I can’t add anyone until Friday-ish
Between now and Friday, simply add yourself to one of the wait lists for the class
There are currently 8 students on wait lists for all sections of this course
I am making my own list for use after Friday
To put yourself on this list, follow link from class website, or directly type in

4. Dr. Carlson’s Approximate Schedule
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
9:00
10:00
research
research
research
11:00
12:00
PHY 109
office hour
PHY 109
office hour
PHY 109
1:00
PHY 742
office hour
PHY 742
office hour
PHY 742
2:00
research
research
Lab Meeting
research
3:00
4:00
research
Collins Hall
Free food
colloquium
5:00
I will try to be in my office Tues. Thurs. 12–2
When in doubt, call/ first

5. https://app.tophat.com/login/756981
Materials
The Essential Cosmic Perspective, 8th edition
Pen or Pencil, Calculator
Laptop
Mastering Astronomy access code associated with text
TopHat interactive class-participation software, 4-month subscription
Stellarium planetarium software, free of charge
Labs for each lab class, printed for free from the web

6. Reading Assignments Date Read Today Secs. 1.1-1.3
There will be reading assignments for every lecture
Posted on the web page
This corresponds roughly to what I will lecture on that day
Once you have completed the reading assignment for the week, you can take the reading quizzes that are on your homework assignments
Pretty easy multiple choice questions
Date Read
Today Secs
Wednesday Sec
Friday Sec. 2.4,
Tuesday Homework A,
Intro to Mastering Astronomy

7. Mastering Astronomy
Everyone needs to sign up for Mastering Astronomy
Log onto website using your access code
Sign up for this class: carlson78119
Input your 8-digit student ID (Not the digit after the space)
This website is where you will do reading quizzes, other homework, and check your test scores, lab scores, and other information
Homework is due at 11:50 pm once per week, usually on Sunday
This week it is due on Tuesday, because of the holiday

8. Homework
Homework is due at 11:50 pm every Sunday (except this week on Tuesday)
You can complete the homework late, but you cannot get credit for it
If you think you have a good excuse, let me know and I can grant extensions
To get full credit, get it right the first time
On 4-way multiple choice, you lose 33% on each failure
On most problems, you lose 5% on each failure
Hints are also available
Tiny bonus if you don’t use hints
You may discuss homework with others, but do it yourself
Getting homework done for you is honors code violation

9. Class Attendance and Participation
I do not directly grade on attendance (except for today and Wednesday)
But I do grade on class participation
To participate, you will need the TopHat class participation app, which can be found at
Download to laptop or phone
You can use this app free for one week, and then you can get reimbursed for about two more weeks
Join code is
There will typically be multiple choice questions given about three times per class
Graded as: 4 points for right, 1 point for wrong, 0 points for no participation
Your lowest eight tophat scores will be dropped
This allows you to miss class due to illness, sports events, etc.
You don’t need permission, etc. to miss regular classes

10. https://stellarium.org/
Astronomy Labs
Olin 105
Once a week, 8-10 PM
Day depends on your lab section
Cannot go to a different section
Labs start this Sunday
Taylor Ordines
Calculator
Laptop
Stellarium software (free)
Lab Manual – from website
Or bring cash
Kevin Roebuck

11. Missing Labs What if I miss a lab? TA’s cannot excuse absences
me/call me/text me immediately ( )
If it is scheduled in advance, let me know
If you are too sick to call or , doctor’s note
To make up a lab:
Get a make-up sticker from me
Check online for when you can make it up
Attend the lab, and put the sticker on your lab
Inform your regular TA you have made it up
One lab grade is dropped
Two if you do the special Lunar Eclipse lab

12. Lunar Eclipse Lab/Party Sunday
There will be a total lunar eclipse this Sunday – Monday Jan
There will be a party/lab from Jan :15 pm – Jan :15 am
Held in Olin 101 (bad weather) or Olin roof (good weather)
Signs will be posted to tell you where to go at the time
Attendance is optional, but everyone is encouraged to attend
You will be doing a special lab that evening
Download and print it from the lab page in advance
This lab will be substituted for your lowest lab
Effectively, if you do this lab, your two lowest lab grades are dropped

13. Your final is Friday May 3
Exams
33 Multiple Choice questions
66 for final
Emphasize Concepts
All formulas provided
Exam Date Length
Test 1 February 6 33 Q
Test 2 March 6 33 Q
Test 3 April 5 33 Q
Final May 3 66 Q
Formulas in red boxes are on the test
Your final is Friday May 3
Plan Accordingly
Absences from Exams:
Call me/ me immediately ( )
If you are too sick to call, doctor note
Schedule make-up time with me
The normal penalty for cheating is an irreplaceable F in the course and one term suspension from WFU.

14. If you fail Lab, you fail the course!
Grading Scheme
Grading Breakdown
Exams: 1 314%
Final %
Homework 15%
Labs %
Class Part %
Grading Scale:
A 94% C 73%
A- 90% C- 70%
B+ 87% D+ 67%
B 83% D 63%
B- 80% D- 60%
C+ 77% F <60%
If you fail Lab, you fail the course!
Usually round grades, no other curving

15. Bad Weather / Pandemic Plans
If school is closed temporarily for any reason
will be sent telling you what we are doing
Lecture notes will still be provided on the website
Possibly videos will be provided
If there is an emergency shutdown of the school:
Check the website for instructions:
Check your
Call me at home:
Call my cell:

16. Units in Astronomy 1. Understanding Arc-Minutes and Arc-Seconds Time s
min = 60 s
hr = 60 min
day = 24 hr
yr = day
kyr = 103 yr
Myr = 106 yr
Gyr = 109 yr
Distance m
m = 10-6 m
km = 103 m
AU = 1.5108 km
ly = 0.9461013 km
kly = 103 ly
Mly = 106 ly
Gly = 109 ly
(pc = 3.26 ly)
Angles
degrees 1o
arc-minute 1' = o
arc-second 1" = '
1. Understanding Arc-Minutes and Arc-Seconds

17. The Calendar is Based on the Sky
The day
The Sun rises and sets every day
The year
The Sun’s altitude in the sky changes over the year
The month
Moon cycles through its phases roughly every 29.5 days
The week
Days of the week are named after celestial objects
Sunday Sun
Monday Moon
Tuesday Mars Mardi
Wednesday Mercury Mercredi
Thursday Jupiter Jeudi
Friday Venus Vendredi
Saturday Saturn