1. Welcome to Astro 1102/1102 Sections 11 and 12! Section 11: 1:25pm Thursdays Section 12: 2:30pm Thursdays TA: Shoshe Cole Office hours: Wednesday 12:30-2:30 425 SSB shoshe@astro.cornell.edu

2. What we need to cover today Administrative stuff Policies Getting to know each other Significant figures Units Algebra Trig The Celestial Sphere

3. Administrative stuff The course website is http://astrosun2.astro.cornell.edu/academics/courses/ astro1102/ http://astrosun2.astro.cornell.edu/academics/courses/ astro1102/ No laptops No phones/txting (it will affect your section grade) Reviews 1 week before exams Please read homework before coming to section Get a section notebook (you will be taking notes) Please email me ahead of time if you’re going to miss section

4. Assessment 3 prelims –We’ll probably drop your lowest score Section grade every week (10 points/week) –6 homeworks –Worksheets, quizzes, attendance, participation, etc. –We drop your 3 lowest grades –No makeups –Don’t just skip the first 3 homeworks! If you do, you might have problems later on in case of illness, exams in other classes, sports, etc. Final exam is Wed, May 12, 7-9 pm

5. Section Grade We’re going to learn: –About the solar system –How science works –Critical thinking If you think that there’s a chance that you’ll need to hand your homework in late, let me know ASAP –at least by 7pm the night before it’s due –Otherwise, you’ll lose 1 point per day Cite facts/numbers that are from resources other than the lectures and textbook –Wikipedia cannot be used as a scholarly reference –it can be inaccurate and incomplete

6. My policies You are all smart people! –You might not be used to thinking like a scientist, but you are all capable of it! Discussion section is for discussion –Please ask questions! I’m here to help you learn. –If you have a question and are embarrassed to ask it in section, email me and I’ll discuss it during section (I won’t say who asked the question) –If you don’t understand an answer in the homework you just got back, please ask! Many other people have the same question. –If you have a serious grading question, please come to my office hours (Wednesday 12:30-2:30). Discussion section is not a time to try to get additional points on your homework. No laptops, and turn phones off

7. Recommendations Starry Night (or the planetarium software that comes with your textbook) Google Earth (Sky, Mars) Fuertes Observatory –Friday night lectures/stargazing –Mars at opposition! –http://www.astro.cornell.edu/research/projects/CAS/http://www.astro.cornell.edu/research/projects/CAS/ –(607) 255-3557

8. Getting to know each other Me You

9. Sig figs, units, algebra, trig… Calculating the area of a laptop computer Mars Climate Orbiter My house is 5.0 miles from Wegmans. How many m is this? Bode’s Law and Kepler’s 3 rd Law (homework) SOH-CAH-TOA

10. The Celestial Sphere