Astronomy 103 Moons and Planets Spring 2009
Class: 252 JSMC 9:20 - 10:20 MWF;
Laboratory: 12:40 - 3:30 pm Tuesday; Tuesday Evening Observing Sessions
Group 1 Lab, Q
Dr. M. P. Kertzman 233 JSMC kertzman@depauw.edu
academic.depauw.edu/~kertzman/astro103s09/a103s09.htm
You will need a bound notebook for the lab for this class. A normal spiral notebook is fine, as is one of the cheap “composition” notebooks. It should be used only for astronomy lab.
OTHER MATERIALS:
There are three main themes for the course: observational astronomy, characteristics of the solar system, and the Earth and its relation to its space environment. Each of these themes will be visited throughout the semester (rather than following through them one after the other). Specific topics related to each theme are listed below.
The web site for this class can be found at: academic.depauw.edu/~kertzman/astro103s09/a103s09.htm The web site contains the full schedule, detailed weekly schedules, announcements about assignments, useful links, study questions, and other resources for the class. Links on the weekly schedule pages will take you to the Power Point shows used in class. These will be available after each class. The Power Point slide shows are located on the class I drive account, and you must be logged into the local Novell network in order to link to them. Alternatively, you access the files directly on this website; http:\\netstorage.depauw.edu . you will have to log in with your e-services username and password, then navigate to the folder for this course (20809_PHYS103), then navigate to the "public" folder. The Powerpoints will be there, with fairly obvious names. Solutions to problems will be in the "public/solutions" folder.
A schedule for the entire semester is available online here. The full schedule gives you an overview of the entire semester. It also lists corresponding readings from the text, as well as exam and major assignment dates. Detailed weekly schedules will also be posted on the full schedule page. These schedules list topics day by day, as well as text readings, any additional readings, and any due assignments. Links to study questions for each week are given as well. I prefer the course to be flexible and to take extra time on a topic if needed, or allow time for relevant current events in astronomy. However, as a consequence of being flexible, the schedule may vary. In particular, the detailed weekly schedules should not be considered final until 5:00 p.m. on the previous Friday. Any weekly schedule with the label "preliminary" is just that: a preliminary estimate of where I think we will be. At the end of each week, I will adjust the next week's schedule as needed to accommodate what we actually did in class. The weekly schedules contain links to study questions for the course. The study questions are organized by the planed weekly topic and are ordered in the order we will cover them. The study questions are further grouped (and posted) to match the content of the exams.
My office hours this semester are 10:30 - 2:00 Monday (minus an occasional lunch during that window...check with me at class time) and 2:00 - 4:00 Wednesday . I am also available by appointment. Check with me in class to make an appointment if these office hours do not fit your schedule. If you find that this policy is not working for you please tell me so I can change it. When you come to my office, I ask that you come prepared with your questions organized and readily available.
Q CERTIFICATION: Certain labs and homework assignments are designated as "Q". Parts of the exams and lab exams will also be "Q". To achieve "Q" certification, you must have an average of "C" or better on all designated "Q" work AND have a "C" grade for the course. It is possible to pass the course but not receive a "Q"; it is not possible to fail the course and receive a "Q".
Your final grade is determined from the following scale:
Your final course grade is based on the following factors:
There will be 2 - 6 short graded written/oral assignments. These will factor into the "assignments" part of your final grade.
There are three mid semester exams and a three hour comprehensive final exam. The format of the exams will be discussed in detail in advance of the first exam. There are no makeups for exams except in the most extreme situations (e.g. hospitalization, serious injury etc). The exam dates are given below.
Exam 1: Monday Feb. 23
Exam 2: Friday, March 20
Exam 3: Wednesday April 22
Final Exam: Monday, May 11, 8:30 - 11:30 a.m.
The lab has two major purposes. First, it strives to help you become familiar with the nighttime sky. Becoming familiar with the night time sky includes learning to identify and find constellations, observing the motions of stars and planets, learning how to measure locations in the sky, and observing the planets. Secondly, the lab is a time to explore material from class in a different context, and to learn some of the methods used by astronomers to study the objects in our solar system.
Lab is Tuesday 12:40 - 3:30 pm. Lab meets in room 252 Julain.
There will be required evening observing sessions at McKim Observatory. They will last approximately one hour, and will be in the time period between 7:00 and 10:30 pm. as sunset gets later throughout the semester, the observing sessions will start later.
A schedule of these labs is given on the course schedule. In addition to the regularly scheduled labs, there are required independent observing projects (discussed on a separate handout). These projects are relatively easy to do though they take some time, and form a significant portion of your lab grade, so please take them seriously!
You will need a separate notebook for a lab journal. Follow this link for more information about the Lab Journal.
Your lab grade is based on lab participation and lab proficiency. The proficiency grade is based on graded lab work and a lab exam. Graded lab work includes informal lab reports (these will be data sheets and sample sample calculations, and will generally by due at the start of the next week's lab, though some may be due at the end the nights lab), any formal lab reports (there will be between 0 and 4 formal lab reports) , and any other work lab related work that may be assigned. Typically the graded work for each week's lab is worth 10 - 20 points. Your participation grade is based on actively participating in lab. Each lab is worth 5 participation points. By coming to lab and doing the activity, you earn all 5 points. If you miss a lab, for any reason, you receive 0 points for participation. If you are at lab, but not actively participating, you will earn between 1 and 5 points. In some cases you may be able to independently make up the lab work if you missed the lab, but you will not earn the participation points. Any independent makeup of missed lab work is due at the regular due date. Your lab journal will be collected and graded at the end of the semester. No late work for labs will be accepted.
Your lab grade is based on the following factors:
Important note: You must receive a C- or better in lab to receive a passing grade for the course.