Astronomy
129L06
Syllabus
NOTE:
Modifications to the syllabus and current assignments will be
posted on my web page:
https://dukesr.people.cofc.edu/ Check it frequently.
Instructor: Robert
J. Dukes, Jr.
B. S. University
of Arizona (Astronomy)
M.S. University
of Texas, El Paso (Physics)
Ph.D. University
of Arizona (Astronomy)
Fellow,
Royal Astronomical Society (London), Member, American Astronomical Society,
Astronomical Society of the Pacific, American Association of Physics
Teachers. Principal Astronomer for
the Four College Consortium (This means that IÕm responsible for the operation
of the CollegeÕs computer controlled telescope located in southern Arizona).
Member Kepler Asteroseismological Consortium
Personal: Married with two children - both boys
Teaching Assistant: Jesica
Trucks
Office: Science
Center 122
Office Hours: Office
Hours (tentative): M
– W 3:00-3:50
Phone: 953-8073
(Office)
953-5593
(Secretary)
577-0479
(Home - before 10 p.m. please)
906-5786
(Cell Phone)
Email dukesr@cofc.edu
World wide web www.cofc.edu/~dukesr/
I encourage you to contact me outside of class. Please feel
free to come by at anytime. If you
want to guarantee IÕll be here you may make an appointment but you donÕt have
to. You can call me on my cell phone or email me with any questions.
Text: Universe
(9th Edition) by Roger A. Freedman and William J. Kaufmann III
Astronomy 129/130 Lab Manual
(Available at SASE-Ink; on south side of Calhoun between Pitt and Smith –
Next to NormÕs).
Celestron
Telescope Operating Manual
(available at the CofC Observatory site. (https://neffj.people.cofc.edu/WWW/observatory/IntroLabs/)
Text Website: https://bcs.whfreeman.com/universe9e/
Catalog
Description:
An introduction to astronomy.
ASTR129L is a corequisite or prerequisite for ASTR129. A working knowledge of high school
algebra is assumed.
Course Goals and Themes: In accordance with this philosophy, I have adopted the
following four goals and eight themes for the course.
Goals:
1. To
be able to explain the common phenomena of the sky visible to the naked eye
observer.
2. To
develop an appreciation for the interactions between astronomy and astronomical
phenomena and life on our planet Earth.
3. To
be able to comprehend the significance of the development of modern astronomy.
4. To
emulate the process of scientific reasoning involved in the gathering and
analyzing of data and arriving at justifiable, defensible conclusions.
Themes:
1. The
universe is dynamic and continually evolving.
2. The
universality of physical laws discovered on Earth allows us to analyze and draw
conclusions about celestial phenomena that can be studied only at great
distances.
3. Scientific
conclusions must be based on an exacting comparison of hypotheses to evidence
obtained from observations and experimental data.
4. The
universe, because it has objects and environments that cannot be duplicated on
Earth is a unique laboratory for testing scientific hypotheses.
5. Because
astronomy is a human endeavor, it is subject to both the limitations and the
enhancements of personal relationships, biases, inspiration, and creativity.
6. Most
astronomical knowledge accumulates incrementally, with each new piece of
knowledge providing a potential foundation for further understanding.
7. Observational
and computational technologies play critical roles in shaping our understanding
of the universe.
8. In
addition to scientific value, astronomy has practical and philosophical value
because humans are participants in, as well as observers of, the universe.
Most of
your lab work will be done in groups of two or three. Under no circumstances will groups larger than three be
allowed. You may form your own
groups initially but I reserve the right to adjust groups at any time. There will often be multiple activities
both indoor and outdoor in one evening.
These should not be treated as a race to see who can finish and leave
first since we will generally all leave at the same time. There will be periods in lab when the
group that finishes first will have to wait for the others before the entire
lab can begin a new activity together.
Knowing this fact and planning ahead (by bringing some work to study)
will make the situation easier for all concerned. A course meeting at night can encounter conflicts with other
activities. This situation is
unfortunate but if you have numerous late afternoon or evening activities that
will prevent attending lab you should consider another course. An impending test is no excuse for not
attending lab or for requesting a ÒquickieÓ exercise.
Attendance:
Students
are expected to attend all labs.
It is impossible to make up a lab that is done in your absence. The only students who have made D's or F's in lab in more than a
decade, did so due to excessive
absences.. Because of different
schedules and limited seating and equipment it will not be possible for
students to switch lab days on a temporary basis. If you are seriously ill turn in a medical excuse to the Office
of the Associate Dean of Students (https://studentaffairs.cofc.edu/services/absence.php). A student with much more than 3
absences will be given a grade of WA (which is computed as an F in the G.P.R.)
unless very unusual circumstances exist.
If something you feel falls into this category happens to you
(hospitalization for an extended period, family emergency, auto wrecks, etc.)
please notify as soon as possible.
Grades:
1.
Work
done during the lab. This will
generally consist of sheets from your lab manual to be filled in.
2.
A
written quiz on the lab given at the end of the evening.
Approximate
Grading Scale:
|
>94% |
A |
|
90-93% |
A- |
|
87-89% |
B+ |
|
84-86% |
B |
|
80-83% |
B- |
|
77-79% |
C+ |
|
74-86% |
C |
|
70-73 |
C- |
|
67-69% |
D+ |
|
64-66% |
D |
|
60-63% |
D- |
|
<60% |
F |