ASTR 1010:
Survey of Astronomy
Before Sitting Down, pick up:
Course Syllabus
Schedule
ABCD Voting Card
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
A
B
C
D
Welcome to ASTR 1010, Section 1...
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Welcome to ASTR 1010, Section 1...
Survey of
Astronomy
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Welcome to ASTR 1010, Section 1...
Survey of
Astronomy
Brought to you every
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Welcome to ASTR 1010, Section 1...
Survey of
Astronomy
Brought to you every
TR 9:30–10:45 by:
Prof. J.D. Smith
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Welcome to ASTR 1010, Section 1...
Survey of
Astronomy
Brought to you every
TR 9:30–10:45 by:
Prof. J.D. Smith
with special guest-starring T.A.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Welcome to ASTR 1010, Section 1...
Survey of
Astronomy
Brought to you every
TR 9:30–10:45 by:
Prof. J.D. Smith
with special guest-starring T.A.
Sean Tanny
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Today
Course Overview
Paperwork: Syllabus, course
grade ID sheet
How to do well in this class.
Our Universe: the Big Picture.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
What is this course?
An exploration of the universe, from
planets to stars to other solar systems to
galaxies to the origin and fate of the
cosmos.
Not just facts, but how we gain knowledge
about the universe around us.
Astronomy is very much a Living science:
amazing new discoveries happening right
now.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Who am I?
A professor of Astronomy at UT.
Study the evolution of Galaxies, primarily
with space telescopes.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Details, Details
! Fall 2010
Survey of Astronomy — ASTR 1010 (Section 1)
The Basics
Instructor:
Class TA:
Class Meeting Time:
Textbooks:
Course Website:
Textbook Website:
Professor J.D. Smith
Sean Tanny – sean.tanny@rockets.utoledo.edu – Office: MH 2014
TR 9:30am–10:45pm, MH 1005
The Essential Cosmic Perspective, 5 Edition (Bennett et al.)
http://tir.astro.utoledo.edu/jdsmith/class/a1010_f10
http://www.masteringastronomy.com (Choose our textbook)
Office:
Office Hours:
Email:
Phone/Voice Mail:
Dept. FAX:
RO 3000 (Ritter Observatory, 3000: 3rd floor & through the doors)
T 11am–12:15pm; W 9am–11am (or other times by appointment)
jd.smith@utoledo.edu (please put “A1010” in the subject line)
419-530-8528
419-530-5167 or 419-530-2723
The BackgroundSean’s Office Hours: Thu. 3-4pm
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Astronomy is a broad subject: in principle it includes everything outside the boundaries of our
What you need
Book: “The Essential Cosmic Perspective”,
5th edition (or University of Toledo 2nd
special edition).
An online account at
MasteringAstronomy.com: comes with book
or ~$30 online.
Your ABCD voting card: bring it (and a piece
of paper) to every class!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The website
http://tir.astro.utoledo.edu/jdsmith/class/a1010_f10/
Or, Easier: get to it from “MyCourses” link!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
helps keep you current on the material. Stay on top of it!
7.
Regard the notes as an outline only. It’s not a good idea to simply take down
everything I put up on the projector. Notes will be available on the course
website after class. Don’t confuse reading the notes with studying.
The requirements
8.
Form study groups. Three of four heads are better than one.
The Requirements
• Considerate Behavior: Please turn off cell phones/ipods/etc, and refrain from
using them in any way throughout the class. Show consideration for the other
students and your professor by not talking, chewing, singing, rustling newspapers, tapping gadgets, whistling, humming, or yawning loudly enough to distract
anyone. When in doubt, use the golden rule.
• Bringing your color-coded answer sheet to class. They’ll be used for question
and answer.
• An account on MasteringAstronomy.com. It comes free with a new copy of
your
textbook, or
can purchase
it by itself on the website or at the bookSurvey of
Astronomy
—you
Syllabus
Fall 2010!
store. Register and sign up for my class using our course ID: !
UTASTR1010SMITHFALL10.
• Use of electronic mail and the web. There will be limited paper handouts but
mostly ‘handouts’ and announcements on the web page and by email — check
regularly!
• Know your Rocket ID number. You’ll use this to identify yourself on your exams, etc. Never use your Social Security Number!!! Find your RocketID on MyUT
next to your name under “Detail Schedule”,
• Academic integrity. Maintain academic integrity and honesty. Don’t take credit
for work which is not you own. Among other things, this refers to cheating on
exams, copying (plagiarizing) material without stating where it came from, or
not participating in group work, but taking credit for it. An academic dishonesty policy for the university can be found at:
http://www.utoledo.edu/catalog/2000catalog/admissions/academic_dishonesty.ht
ml.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The Details
2
Mastering Astronomy
masteringastronomy.com
Interactive Study/Homework System
Tutorials, Hints, feedback, interactive figures, and
more.
The best way to prepare for exams
In studies, users of MA increased performance by a
full letter grade!
1% extra credit for completing first ungraded
assignment.
MA demo by Nikki Pulido
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Extra-classroom events
Two Trips to the Ritter Planetarium (across
the way as you exit this building):
In Class (Oct 5th for last name A-K, Oct 7
for last name L-Z).
On your own Friday Evenings.
Evening observing at Brooks Observatory
(on top of this building)
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Brooks
Observatory
Ritter
Planetarium
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Schedule
Four mid-term exams:
September 9th
September 30th
November 9th
December 2nd
online homework assignments due (covering 1-2
chapters each) Fridays at 11:30pm.
Final Exam:
Wednesday, December 15th
8–10am, MH1005
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Grading
Homework (Online only!): 30%
4 mid-term Exams: 30% (lowest
dropped, NO make-up exams).
Final Exam + Class Participation: 30%.
Out of class activities with write-up:
10%.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Participation?
You’ll occasionally be asked to answer a
question on a sheet of paper and turn it in with
your name. Graded on participation, not answer!
If you get full participation credit, it’s like free
points on the final!
Examples:
Full credit: participation=15% (A!!!), final=15%
No credit: Participation=0%, final=30%
Partial Credit: Participation=5%, FINAL=25%
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Your up-to-the-minute
Grade, on the website
Pick a 4 digit class ID number (anything
you’ll remember).
Tear off and turn in final page of your
syllabus.
Hand in today.
Your up-to-date grades will be posted
anonymously on the website.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The Way to Succeed
This is not a class about memorization, but about
knowledge of the universe, what it contains,
where it came from, and where it’s going!
Attend Class: Lectures with extensive Question/
Answer.
Do your out of class activities: it’s like getting
100% on a mid-term!
Go beyond class: Keep up on reading, Homework,
MA study guides, etc.
Come prepared to participate!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Voting Card
Vote on Survey
Questions.
Discuss with your
neighbors.
Argue for your vote!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
A
B
C
D
Example
Which band/Artist do you like
best?
a) Kings of Leon
b) Nelly
c) Elvis Costello
d) Arcade Fire
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
A
B
C
D
A brief
census of
the
Universe
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Stars
Star: A large
glowing ball of
gas, that
generates heat
and light via
nuclear fusion
(i.e., the H-bomb)
Our Sun is a
star
The Sun
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Stars
Star: A large
glowing ball of
gas, that
generates heat
and light via
nuclear fusion
(i.e., the H-bomb)
Our Sun is a
star
The Sun
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Planets
Neptune
Mars
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Planet: A
moderately
large object
that orbits
stars and shines
by reflected
light
Planets may be
rocky, icy, or
gaseous in
composition
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Moons or Satellites
Moon: A object
that orbits a
planet
Mimas (moon of Saturn)
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Moons or Satellites
Moon: A object
that orbits a
planet
IO (moon of Jupiter)
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Asteroids
Asteroid: A
relatively
small rocky
object that
orbits a star
Gaspra
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Comets
Comet: A
relatively
small icy
object that
orbits a star
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Solar (Star) System
Solar System:
A star and all
the material
that orbits it,
including
planets and
their moons,
asteroids, and
comets
There are
many other
ets are tiny compared to the distances between them (a star systems
imes smaller than shown here), but they
in the Galaxy!
lear patterns of composition and motion.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Our Solar System
NOTE: Distances not to scale
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Nebula
A large cloud
of gas and
dust.
Stars are born
in such clouds,
and leave them
behind when
they die.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Nebula
A large cloud
of gas and
dust.
Stars are born
in such clouds,
and leave them
behind when
they die.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Galaxies
Galaxy: A
great island of
stars (100
billion or
more!), held
together by
their gravity.
The Andromeda Galaxy
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
We are located
in the Milky
Way galaxy
Galaxies
Galaxy: A
great island of
stars (100
billion or
more!), held
together by
their gravity.
The Sombrero Galaxy
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
We are located
in the Milky
Way galaxy
Our Milky Way Galaxy
One of billions.
A lovely spiral,
but nothing
special.
Artists Conception
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Our Milky Way Galaxy
You are
Here
Artists Conception
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
One of billions.
A lovely spiral,
but nothing
special.
Our Milky Way Galaxy
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Galaxy Clusters and
Groups
Galaxies grouped
together by their
own gravity
Our Galaxy is
part of the “Local
Group” of
galaxies
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Galaxy Clusters and
Groups
Galaxies grouped
together by their
own gravity
Our Galaxy is
part of the “Local
Group” of
galaxies
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The Universe
The Hubble Deep Field
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
A
B
C
D
The Universe
The sum total of all
matter and energy;
that is, everything
within and between
all galaxies
This picture is the
size of a dime, 75 feet
away.
The Hubble Deep Field
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
How many stars do
you see?
A B
a) 4
b) 100
C D
c) 2,000
d) 6 billion
The Universe
The sum total of all
matter and energy;
that is, everything
within and between
all galaxies
This picture is the
size of a dime, 75 feet
away.
The Hubble Deep Field
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
How many stars do
you see?
A B
✪ a) 4
b) 100
C D
c) 2,000
d) 6 billion
Are we ever sitting still?
At this very instant, how
are we moving in the
universe:
A
B
C
D
A) Sitting perfectly still.
B) Moving at hundreds of miles per
hour.
C) Moving at hundreds of thousands of
miles per hour.
D) Moving faster than the speed of
light.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Are we ever sitting still?
At this very instant, how
are we moving in the
universe:
A
B
C
D
A) Sitting perfectly still.
B) Moving at hundreds of miles per
hour.
✪ C) Moving at hundreds of thousands of
miles per hour.
D) Moving faster than the speed of
light.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Spaceship Earth
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Spaceship Earth
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Spaceship Earth
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Spaceship Earth
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The Age of the Universe
We now know the age of the universe
quite precisely: 13.7 Billion years
old.
Just how long is that?
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The Age of the Universe
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The Age of the Universe
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The Age of the Universe
When where you
born?
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The Age of the Universe
When where you
born?
You were Born:
Dec. 31, 11:59:59.95
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
How Much is in the
Universe?
The Milky Way is one of 100
billion (1011) galaxies (that’s
shorthand for “ten to the power
of 11, or a 1 followed by 11
zeroes!”)
1011 stars per galaxy x 1011
galaxies = 1022 stars
How many is that?
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
How many stars in the
Universe?
As many stars as dry grains of sand on all
Earth’s beaches!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
The size of our
Galaxy
First, a definition:
Lightyear:
The distance light travels in one
year. roughly 6 trillion miles
Light has a finite speed, but it is
FAST: it can go 7 times around
the Earth in one second!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
100,000
Light Years
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
100,000
Light Years
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
100,000
Light Years
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
100,000
Light Years
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Our solar system in the
Galaxy
On this scale, how large is
the distance between the
earth and the sun:
A)
B)
C)
D)
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Size
Size
Size
Size
of
of
of
of
A
B
C
D
Connecticut
Toledo
a Football Stadium
a Grain of Rice
Our solar system in the
Galaxy
On this scale, how large is
the distance between the
earth and the sun:
A)
B)
C)
✪ D)
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Size
Size
Size
Size
of
of
of
of
A
B
C
D
Connecticut
Toledo
a Football Stadium
a Grain of Rice
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
True or False
A
B
C
D
NASA plans to launch a spacecraft that
will leave the Milky Way Galaxy and take a
picture of it from the outside.
A) TRUE
B) FALSE
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
True or False
A
B
C
D
NASA plans to launch a spacecraft that
will leave the Milky Way Galaxy and take a
picture of it from the outside.
A) TRUE
B) FALSE
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
True or False
A
B
C
D
NASA plans to launch a spacecraft that
will leave the Milky Way Galaxy and take a
picture of it from the outside.
A) TRUE
✪ B) FALSE
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Big Picture
The Earth is not the center of the
Universe, but orbits an ordinary star in
the outskirts of a Galaxy of one hundred
billion stars, in a Universe with
hundreds of billions of galaxies!
Although the Universe is roughly 14
billion years old, we are late comers on
the scale of cosmic time. On the cosmic
calendar, all of human history occurs in
the last minute of the year.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Reminders
Read “Essential Cosmic Perspective”
Chapter 1
First ungraded assignment (For 1% Extra
Credit!) on masteringastronomy.com due
Friday at 11:30 pm: “Introduction to
MasteringAstronomy”
Turn in your Class grade release form.
Bring your ABCD voting card to every class!
Tuesday, August 24, 2010