Dr. W. Pezzaglia
Las Positas College
Astronomy 20, Fall 2015
Syllabus, Lec #1 (Star Maps, Ecliptic)
Page 1
2015Aug17
: Room 1826
"Dr. Bill" Pezzaglia (Pez-al-ya)
Mon 7:00-9:50 pm
1825/1824
650-430-0342 (cell)
Monday 6-7 pm
:
 Chaisson & McMillan, Astronomy Today: (8 th
ed)
Full version or vol 2 “Stars & Galaxies” version
 Make sure has Mastering Astronomy code
ATTENDENCE: Showing up at all classes is a college requirement (you can be dropped for missing 4 classes). In this electronic age you should also:
 Check your official College Email (daily)
 Check BLACKBOARD for announcements, lecture materials, quiz schedules
 Check MASTERING ASTRONOMY for announcements, homework, quizzes
BLACKBOARD : Each student should have a valid Blackboard account, and check it regularly for announcements, handouts, lectures, topical supplements and quizzes.
HOMEWORK: “Mastering Astronomy” : There will be regularly assigned homework problem sets. Its important for you to spend time on them, even if you don’t get it all correct. Most of homework will use “Mastering Astronomy”, but some may be “old fashion” pencil on paper.
 Mastering Astronomy: login at www.masteringastronomy.com
 Course: “LPC Astro 20 Fall 2015 Pezzaglia”
 Course ID: MAPEZZAGLIA70138
 You will need an “access code” to pay for the service, either: o
Came with your textbook (if you bought from bookstore) o
Purchased separately from bookstore o
Or you can buy directly from Mastering Astronomy online
WEB : I have a “backup” website which will mirror the essential stuff on blackboard: http://www.clifford.org/drbill/lpc/
Login needed for some parts, Login as “lpc”, password: “galileo9” (all lower case)
EXAMS : Your lowest quiz score will be dropped (which allows for one absence). You are required to attend the midterms and the final. Make up exams will not be given except for college accepted reasons (e.g. death in family, documented illness). Example questions handed out before each exam. Cheating on exams is a really bad ideas as it results in an automatic “zero” score plus a referral to the student discipline office for evaluation and censure.
GRADES : Grade Weighting is approximately: Quizzes (25%), Exams (30%), Comprehensive
Final (30%), Homework-Activities (15%). A "typical" grade distribution for this course might be: A (25%),
B(35%), C(30%), D/F (10%), however this varies pending class performance.
Academic Honesty: Cheating/plagiarism on exams (or homework) will gets a “zero” score, and a referral to the student discipline office for evaluation and censure . See LPC “honesty” policy at: http://www.laspositascollege.edu/facultystaff/honesty.php
LAB (Astro 30): Consider taking this class next semester!

Dr. W. Pezzaglia
Las Positas College
Astronomy 20, Fall 2015
Syllabus, Lec #1 (Star Maps, Ecliptic)
Page 2
2015Aug17
Week Day Date Topic Topic Reading Event
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Mon 17 Aug
Mon 24 Aug
Mon 31 Aug
Mon 7 Sep
Mon 14 Sep
Mon 21 Sep
Mon 28 Sep
Mon 5 Oct
Mon 12 Oct
10 Mon 19 Oct
11 Mon 26 Oct
12 Mon 2 Nov
13 Mon 9 Nov
14 Mon 16 Nov
15 Mon 23 Nov
16 Mon 30 Nov
13
14
15
11
12
12
13
05
06
07
08
09
10
05
05
X
X
05
01
02
03
04
Star Maps & Constellations†
Ecliptic & Annual Motion
Time & Diurnal Motion (geography)
Lunar Motion
Planetary Motion, Geocentric
Planetary Motion, Heliocentric
HOLIDAY
(Labor Day)
Newton, Gravity
Light
Spectra
Telescopes, Optics
Nuclear Physics
The Sun
Intro to Astrophysics, HR Diagrams
EXAM 1
Nebulae, Stellar Birth
Stellar Midlife, Clusters
Red Giants, Variables, Cepheids
Stellar Death: Planetary Nebulae
Stellar Death: White Dwarfs, Nova
Supernova, SNR, Neutron Stars
General Relativity
Black Holes
HOLIDAY
Veterans Day
Milky Way Galaxy, our home
Cosmography (mapping the universe)
Galaxy Types, Structure
EXAM 2
Galactic Evolution
Dark Matter
Chap 1
Chap 1
Chap 2 Quiz 1
Chap 3
Chap 4 Quiz 2
Chap 5
Chap 16
Chap 17
Exam 1
Chap 18
Chap 19
Chap 20
Chap 21
Quiz 3
Chap 22
Quiz 4
Chap 23
Chap 24
Chap 25
Chap 26
Exam 2
17
Mon 7 Dec
Cosmology, the universe, Dark Energy
Cosmogony, the lifetime of universe
Mon 14 Dec
FINAL EXAM 7:30-9:20 pm
18
**Chaisson & McMillan, Universe: 9
Comprehensive th
edition
Chap 27
FINAL
†
* Exam schedule is approximate
Download from Blackboard (or Web Site http://www.clifford.org/drbill/lpc/astro20 )

Dr. W. Pezzaglia
Las Positas College
Astronomy 20, Fall 2015
Syllabus, Lec #1 (Star Maps, Ecliptic)
Page 3
2015Aug17
1. Demonstrate ability to recognize and classify astronomical objects, specifically constellation identification, nebulae, star clusters, planetary bodies and galaxies.
2. Study underlying physical laws and processes that explain the evolution of the universe and bodies within and their behaviors.
3. Be able to summarize the methodologies that we use to remotely measure the universe and properties of astronomical bodies for which we are too far away to have any direct contact.
4. Communicate effectively summaries of basic models and their underlying assumptions and evidence that we have for them which explain the formation and evolution of the solar system, stars, galaxy and universe.
Disclaimers

Exam schedule is approximate.

It is expected that you have a computer with access to the web that can access
Blackboard and meets Mastering Astronomy requirements, Browser with ability to view pdf, ppt, doc and video files

Note that I can’t do computer support for you! (I’m a theorist !)
Disabilities/Special Needs: Students with special needs should contact the Disability
Resource Center at http://www.laspositascollege.edu/DSPS/index.php
ASAP.
Misc Dates

Aug 28, last day to add/drop in person

Aug 30, last day to add/drop online

Aug 31, Census Day (instructor submits official roster of enrolled students)

Sep 11, Deadline to file for Pass/NoPass

Nov 6, Deadline to file for W (withdraw)

Dec 14, Final Exam, all work must be submitted

Jan 2, Grades due 11pm