Astronomy 110: Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology - Spring 2004

Professor: Mike Weinstein
Office: 308 Olin Science Center
Office hours: Mondays 12-1:30 PM, Wednesdays 11 AM-12:30 PM, Thursdays 11 AM-12:30 PM, or by appointment
Phone: x2347
e-mail: mawei@conncoll.edu

Text: Universe, 6th ed. by Freedman and Kaufmann
or Universe: Stars and Galaxies, 6th ed. by F and K
(but NOT Universe: The Solar System by F and K)
See the course syllabus for lecture topics and text assignments.

Class Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 2:30-3:45 PM in Olin Auditorium (Olin 014).
You must also be free on Monday evenings, 7-9 PM, in order to do the Observing Project (see below).

Course description and goals

Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology is an introductory extra-solar-system astronomy course, primarily intended as a general survey course for the non-major. In this course we will cover a wide range of material in astronomy (from stars to the universe) with enough depth so that you should come away from the course able to read and understand articles in popular astronomy magazines and newspapers. You will learn about fundamental problems confronting modern astronomy and how scientists go about searching for answers to those problems. You will also learn about the spring-time evening sky, and be able to find out on your own what is happening in the sky at any time using the planetarium software Starry Night. Astronomy 110 does use mathematics, although at an elementary algebra and trig level. Many concepts in astronomy are best handled in terms of equations, and by the end of this class you should be able to look at a simple mathematical expression, know how to calculate a value for some quantity, and be able to translate the mathematical expression into words and ideas.

Course Grading

Course Requirements

• Universe text book (6th edition), and the accompanying CD. You should have either Universe or Universe: Stars and Galaxies, but NOT Universe: The Solar System.

• Some computer somewhere on which to install the Universe CD. Requires Windows 95 and up for PCs, Mac OS 7.0 or higher for Apple systems. The Universe CD installs on both kinds of computers. It requires about 6 MB of your hard disk.

• A calculator, capable of scientific notation. Bring this to class every time. Each person must have his or her own calculator. Borrowing calculators during quizzes or exams is forbidden.

• Web access. Announcements, assignments, and other essential information will be posted to this website. Please check back here regularly.

Course Expectations and Policies

• Read the text assignments before the lecture. It will help you to be exposed to the material more than once, especially if you are having trouble understanding the subject. You are setting yourself up for a poor grade if you don't keep up with the reading and the chapter questions, and you wait until right before an exam or quiz to ask questions and get help. Don't do it!

• You are expected to attend class. There are many quizzes given in this class, some announced and others not announced. Class is where you can discuss the ideas presented in the text and ask questions. Class is where new assignments are handed out and discussed, and where the organizational details of the class are presented.
  

• Quizzes: Announced quizzes are those given at the end of most chapters. The questions for these quizzes are taken directly from the assigned problems for each chapter (see below). If you do the assigned problems and get help before the quiz you will be assured of success. For additional help and practice, the Universe CD contains a section on each chapter, with associated questions and answers. These questions are interactive. You need to understand why they give certain answers. Memorization of the answers without understanding, and without the ability to apply astronomy concepts to new situations, is a recipe for failure. If you have trouble understanding how or why the book gives the answers it does, come and see me right away.
  
  Unannounced quizzes (quick questions and answers) are given in class at random times. These will be based on topics we have been discussing in that lecture. These help me know if, and how well, you are understanding the material. Some of these may be graded, while some may be anonymous.

• Quiz and Exam Policy: I will drop your two lowest quiz grades, so you can miss up to two quizzes without penalty. Missed quizzes will receive a zero.
  
  To get a make-up quiz you must have an excused absence. This means a note from the College Infirmary or your class Dean. (If the Infirmary will not give you a note, then you must authorize them to release information about your condition to me over the phone.)
  
  If you know in advance that you will miss a quiz, you can get permission from me to miss it if you call me before the quiz and explain why you can't attend. You will not be allowed to make-up quizzes if you call with excuses after the fact, unless of course you come equipped with Infirmary or Dean's clearances. Make-ups for such absences are given before the regularly scheduled quiz date, NOT after.
  
  You must be present for the midterm and final exams unless you have an excused absence. There will be no make-up exams given for unexcused absences.
  

• Assigned problems: There are problems assigned at the end of every chapter (see the course website for a list). Doing these questions prepares you for the quizzes and for the exams. These questions are not to be handed in. They are for your instruction. However, the chapter quiz questions are taken directly from the assigned problems at the end of each chapter. Do the questions! If you can't do these questions, then you need to reread the chapter, or come see me, or both!!
  
  I encourage you to work with others to solve these questions, and to talk through and write out the exercises. Writing out the answers helps you retain the ideas and vocabulary.
  

• Other Homework Assignments: There are two additional assignments, which will be graded. One uses the planetarium software called Starry Night that is provided with your textbook; the other requires you to observe the night sky from the roof of Olin on one Monday evening of the semester. The homework descriptions and due dates will be handed out in class and posted on this website. I expect this work to be completed on time and turned in when due. Assignments turned in after the due-date will be docked 5% a day for each day that the work is late.
  

• Accommodations for Students with Disabilities: If you have a physical or mental disability, either hidden or visible, which may require classroom, test-taking, or other reasonable modifications, please see me as soon as possible. If you have not already done so, please be sure to register with Susan L. Duques, Ph.D., in the Office of Student Disability Services, at Extension x5428.

It is recommended that you look at the following magazines for general articles on astronomy and observing tips: Sky and Telescope, Astronomy, and Science News, as well as the science section of your local paper (the Monday Boston Globe and the Tuesday New York Times both have large sections devoted to scientific and medical topics). These publications will give you a broader perspective on the subject of astronomy, and will point out contemporary issues of interest and debate. You should also explore some of the really amazing web sites related to astronomy. Many great pages have links on the Astronomy Web Sites page. Check it out!

Please come see me immediately if you find that you are having difficulty with the course. The material is cumulative; new topics build on previous subjects covered, so don't delay your questions! I am always happy to see you, either just to talk about astronomy, or to discuss specific problems you may have with the material. Please feel free either to stop by the office during my office hours, or to make an appointment. I look forward to meeting each of you, and I hope that you will take the time to visit and talk about the stars.

Last edited 01 Feb 2004 by M. A. Weinstein.