Introductory Astronomy SCI-103 Spring 2016 Course Information
INSTRUCTOR
CLASS
SCHEDULE
OFFICE
HOURS
COURSE WEB
SITE
COURSE
GOALS
COURSE
OBJECTIVES
TEXTBOOK
RESERVE
MATERIALS
ATTENDANCE
Dr. Fred Jaquin, (315) 498-2437, jaquinr@sunyocc.edu , F350
SCI-103-401
Intro Astronomy:
TTh 6:30 pm to 7:45 am, F381
SCI-298-001
Methods of Sci. Research: W
3:00 pm to 7:00 pm, F368
PHY-105L-002 Physics I Lab
Th
2:00 pm to 4:50 pm, F376
T 5:00 pm–5:50 pm, W 12:30 pm–2:00 pm, Th 12:30 pm–2:00 pm, F 10:00 am–11:00 am
Information about and documents for this course are on Dr. Jaquin’s faculty web page
available at http://myhome.sunyocc.edu/~jaquinr/ . Click on the HOT TIPS flashing button to
access course documents.
“Where are we?” and “How do we know?” are the two underlying goals that we will address
in this astronomy course. The answer to the “What” question will be attacked by examining
where we perceive ourselves to be in the Universe. This thread will begin with an examination
of our place in the universe deduced from the apparent motion of astronomical objects in the
sky. We will then examine the properties of the stars to learn where the Sun “fits in” within
that panoply of stellar properties. Finally, we will examine the structure of our own galaxy the
Milky Way and compare it to the inventory of galaxies in the Universe. This journey will
teach us many details regarding the past, present and future of stars and galaxies, but
underneath the details we learn where we fit within this vast array of structures. The “How”
question will be answered by exploring basic physical laws of gravity, electromagnetic
radiation (light), elementary mathematical problem solving techniques and scientific
reasoning. We will not only learn the “facts”, but more importantly, how we “know” the
facts. The facts regarding the details of stellar evolution and galactic structure will not doubt
change as technology improves, but the “how” we explore the universe will remain essentially
the same.
The successful student will be able to:
 Describe how the Sun produces energy and how that determines the lifetime of the Sun, and
 Describe the properties of stars, using the parlance of astronomers, and be able to describe
where the Sun fits in the range of stellar types, and
 Solve basic problems using Newton’s Theory of Gravity in astronomical problems, and
 Describe the stages of stellar evolution, and how a star evolves as it utilizes various energy
production methods, and
 Describe the structure Milky Way Galaxy, and
 Identify other galaxy types using the Hubble Classification system, and
 Describe the characteristics of poor and rich galaxy clusters, and
 Describe how galaxies evolution by collisions, and
 Describe the patterns of apparent motion of the Stars, Sun, Moon and Planets and the causes
for those apparent motions, and
 Describe the principle historic figures responsible for the origin of modern astronomy (i.e.
The Copernican Revolution) and their individual contributions to astronomy, and
 Solve problems using simple radiation laws, and
 Describe the bulk character of our solar system, and
 Describe the Solar Nebula Theory of planetary system formation, and
 Describe how extra-solar planets are found,
 Describe the character of the known extra-solar planets, and
 Solve simple quantitative problems in astronomy using high school arithmetic, geometric and
algebraic skills.
Astronomy Notes by Nick Strobel available at http://www.astronomynotes.com/
None at this time. However, there are many documents posted on the HOT TIPS link of my
faculty web page that will be required reading.
Attendance at all lectures is required because that is where you will learn what material
EXAMS
(80% 0F FINAL
GRADE)
ASSIGNMENTS
& QUIZZES
(20% OF FINAL
GRADE)
DISPUTING
GRADES
DETERMINING
YOUR FINAL
GRADE
Attendance
Policy and the
NA/UF Policy
(from Section
VII of the
Academic
Rules)
from the text is most important and see new material not found in the text. Information will be
presented in lecture that is not in the textbook, and you will be expected to know this material
for the exams. If you miss lecture you may be able to obtain the notes from another student
but you will have most likely missed the higher level connections and revelations that were
explored that day. If you anticipate missing a lecture or series of lectures see the instructor
before hand and he/she may be able to provide some material that will mitigate the loss. You
may be dropped from the class for lack of attendance.
As shown in the course schedule there will be three in-class exams during the semester and a 2
hour comprehensive final exam. Each in-class exam is worth 16.7% of your final grade. The
exam format consists of a variety of multiple choice questions, identification questions, short
answer questions, essay questions and numerical problems. Extensive study guides will be
supplied to guide your preparation for the exam. What is on the study guide will be on the
exam. There are no make-up exams. If you cannot or do not make a scheduled exam
contact the instructor immediately. He/She may be able to make an accommodation. The
final comprehensive exam is worth 30 % of your final grade. The final exam grade will
replace one lower in-class exam.
Assignments will be given at approximately weekly. The assignments will consist of
questions and numerical problems from the end of the units of study, as well as a relevant
essay or investigation distributed in class. Please type all written assignments. Mathematical
problems may be hand written. Please be certain to write your class meeting time on each
assignment. Late assignments are not accepted without extraordinary documented reasons.
Assignments count for 20% of your total grade.
Exams: Mistakes are sometimes made. If you are not satisfied with the way in which your
exam was graded bring it up to the professor. If you fail to get satisfaction, you may initiate a
grade dispute procedure as per the instructions in OCC’s academic rules (PDF version at
http://faculty.sunyocc.edu/ )
Your final grade is computed using the following formula:
0.50 x (Average exam grade computed from all three 1-hour exams)
0.20 x (Homework & Quiz average)
+ 0.30 x (Final Comprehensive exam grade).
Final Grade
Letter grades will be determined from the numerically average grades described above at the
discretion of the professor.
For students that never attend through the first three weeks of classes*, faculty are required to
award the grade of “Never Attended” (NA) and check the never attended flag by census date
(see academic calendar for specific deadlines).
For students that attend during the first three weeks*, but subsequently cease** attending,
faculty are required, per federal regulations, to award the “Unearned F” grade (UF) and must
specify the student’s last date of “attendance”. Since Onondaga Community College does not
require instructors to report attendance, federal guidelines permit institutions to use the last
date the student participated in an academically related activity to serve as this date.
Faculty must submit UF grades within one week after the determination is made that a student
has ceased** attending. The last date to assign the grade of “UF” is three weeks prior* last
day of classes.
You may be dropped from the class for lack of attendance.
*Deadlines for courses other than 15 weeks in length are adjusted proportionally.
**Student has not attended for a period of two consecutive weeks.
STUDENTS
Accommodations for Students with disabilities: The Office of Accessibility Resources (OAR)
WITH
DISABILITIES
at Onondaga Community College is available to assist students who have a documented
disability or who suspect they may have one. If you require an accommodation for this class
please contact the office in the Gordon Student Center, Room G130 or at 3115-498-2834.
They will give you an accommodation form with copies to be shared with your professors.
EMAIL POLICY
Onondaga Community College is now using the college email system to communicate
important information to students. The college will no longer send emails to personal email
accounts. All college related emails will be sent via OCC email or via Angel. Please be sure
to check your OCC email account often.
Students at Onondaga Community College are expected to adhere to the highest values of
intellectual and academic honesty and integrity. Violations of academic honesty will not be
tolerated. We all know what cheating is and it won’t be tolerated.
Homework: You are encouraged to work together on homework assignments so as to better
learn the material. However, you must do your own writing on the problems and assignments.
Assignments that are recognized as identical or too similar will both be given a grade of zero.
It is also considered a violation to lift passages from web sites or other written sources without
due credit. Anyone found copying another source and presenting it as their own work will also
receive a zero for the assignment.
Exams: Cheating on exams will be dealt with swiftly and harshly. If you are caught cheating
during the exam, or accused of cheating after the exams are corrected, you will be given a zero
for the exam. A second instance of cheating on an exam will result in immediate dismissal
from the course
Please turn your cell phones off during class unless you are expecting a significant call. In that
event, tell your instructor that you may receive an important call during class. If the call
comes during class, quietly leave the classroom and take the call. If you receive or send text
messages during class, your grade will suffer since you are not 100% engaged in class. If your
cell phone use is a distraction to students or the instructor you will be asked to leave the
classroom.
One unavoidable truth about college is that it is not easy. If it were, everyone would be a
college graduate. How you react to the normal periods of frustration that all students face says
a lot about you and directly determines your likelihood of success. Many students make the
mistake of giving up on themselves too quickly. Remember, sometimes it’s in struggling with
a challenging assignment and actually figuring it out that the most powerful learning
happens. Above all, talk to your instructor if you’re having difficulties. He/She may be able to
help, but only if they know you’re struggling. So, at the first sign of trouble, take action.
ACADEMIC
INTEGRITY
CELL PHONE
POLICY
HELP
Make college a priority in your life. I know that many of you are balancing school with family responsibilities,
jobs, and friends. Still, to be successful you can’t squeeze college in around the edges of the rest of your life.
Your responsibilities as a student must be a priority and it’s important to have things organized to a point that the
rest of your life isn’t constantly coming into conflict with your responsibilities as a student.
Go to class. In every class there are a few students who drop in and out – never quite sure what’s going on.
Don’t fall into that trap. Decide now that you won’t miss more than one class in each of your courses this
semester. Then, when you wake up some morning and something goes wrong; ask yourself if this circumstance is
bad enough to be the one day you don’t make it to class this semester. I bet it isn’t quite bad enough. Save that
one day for a time you may really need it down the road.
Don’t take on too many work hours. If you have a full course load and you’re working more than twenty hours
a week, you need to take a hard look at what you’re doing. You may be setting yourself up for a lot of frustration.
Nobody works best under pressure. You may get it done because of the deadline, but don’t fool yourself that
it’s your best work. Plan ahead. Get organized.
You will not catch on to everything the first time you hear it. One unavoidable truth about college is that it
isn’t easy. If it were easy, everybody would be a college graduate. The good news is that you’re not on your
own. When you don’t understand something in one of your classes, stop by and talk it over with your instructor
during office hours. The faculty is here to support you, but you have to take that first step and ask for help.