Astronomy: Stars, Galaxies and Cosmology
Course Syllabus
Spring Trimester 2011 – 3rd Period
Course Description
This course represents an inquiry based introduction to the study of astronomical phenomena
associated with stars, galaxies and the universe. Students learn concepts and ideas related to
astronomy and physics through experimentation, inquiry, and demonstrations. Topics included are:
tools of astronomy: electromagnetic radiation, multi-wavelength astronomy, technology, telescopes,
image processing, spectra, spectral analysis, investigating stars: stellar properties, nuclear fusion, stellar
evolution, classification, inverse square law, stellar endpoints (white dwarfs, neutron stars and pulsars
and black holes), variable stars, galaxy evolution, the universe: cosmological distance ladder, parallax,
type 1a supernovae, size and age of the universe, formation and evolution of the universe, dark matter,
dark energy, Hubble’s Law, and galactic spectra/redshift. Students will take a field trip to the MSU
Space Science Center for a star theater show, a tour of the 21 meter space tracking antenna and a
presentation on the current research of supernova remnants being conducted at MSU. The course will
end with a day dedicated to a question and answer session with a professional astronomer. THIS CLASS
IS A PREREQUISIT FOR THE PULSAR SEARCH COLLABORATORY CLASS NEXT YEAR.
Text Book
You will be using the inquiry based astronomy text Investigating Astronomy. We will cover chapters 4, 5
and 6. You can find online support for this text at http://ia.terc.edu/. The website is very useful as it
contains the IA data center used for activities and images that will be used during class. Each unit is
divided into Explorations. Each Exploration begins with a “First Thoughts/Making Claims” that allows you
to evaluate your initial thoughts. Each Exploration concludes with a “Final Thoughts/Revisiting Your
Claims” that allows you to evaluate your progress/learning. Each Exploration is divided into Activities.
Many of the activities have an associated reading called an FYI. Each FYI must be read and the Checking
In must be completed. Each Activity has a Pause and Reflect that contains questions that address the
focus of the activity. Each Pause and Reflect must be completed.
Grades
You will be graded on 10 exploration quizzes, two unit exams and one comprehensive final exam.
Grade Breakdown:
10 Exploration Quizzes
2 Unit Exams (Unit 4 and Unit 5)
Final Exam (Σ Units 4, 5, and 6)
30%
40%
30%
Total
100%
(the lowest quiz grade will be dropped)
Each quiz is worth ~3% of your grade. Each unit exam is worth 20% of your grade and the final exam is
worth 30% of your grade
Classroom Rules
 Be prompt to class. If you are not in your seat when the tardy bell rings, YOU ARE TARDY! Three
tardies to class within the trimester will result in a one-hour after school detention with Mrs.
Carter
 Respect others and their property. Rudeness to classmates and teacher will not be tolerated!
 Be prepared for class. Always bring you notebook, pencil and homework to class every day.
 Enter and exit classroom through hallway entrance. Students are not allowed in the science
commons without teacher permission.
Classroom Procedures
 Begin bell work as soon as you enter class. Your bell work may be written on the board or you
may find it on your table.
 If you were absent the day before, see me before the tardy bell rings to get your make-up work.
You are expected to ask myself or fellow students for the notes that were delivered on the day
of your absence.
 Class will be dismissed by the teacher when all students are seated and classroom is clean.
 Label each handout with Name, Date, Class Period and Assignment Name.
 Class Exits – You are allowed 3 class exits each trimester.
 Make-up Work – You have 5 days to make up your work for absences, per the student
handbook.
Parent/Guardian Communication
Astronomy is an exciting part of our lives. I eagerly welcome you, the parent, to join our class anytime.
We will be taking a field trip to the Morehead State University Space Science center during this class and
you are welcome to attend. We will be hosting “Lunch with an Astronomer” on June 2. Students are
parents are encouraged to bring “goodies” to class while having the opportunity to ask MSU
astrophysicists questions that were not answered during the trimester. We have done this for the past
two trimesters and it is very fun.
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My planning period is 5th period. You may call or meet with me during that time or after school.
You can email me at jennifer.carter@rowan.kyschools.us
You can view my teacher webpage at www.rowan.kyschools.us/rchs/index.html
If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call, conference or email. My door is
always open!
I have read the syllabus and understand all that is expected of my child during the trimester.
__________________________________________
Parent/Guardian Signature
____________________
Date
I have read the syllabus and understand all that is expected of me during the trimester. I will keep this
document in my 3-ring binder as a contract between myself, my parents/guardians and Mrs. Carter.
__________________________________________
Student Signature
____________________
Date
Tentative Schedule
Date
Monday
3.7.11
Activity
Introductions, Syllabus, Structure of Everything,
Looking Into the past, Scale of the Universe, Size
of the Universe
Tuesday
Unit 4: Investigating Tools of Astronomy,
3.8.11
Exploration 1 Activity 1: Gathering Evidence
from a scene
Wednesday Activity 2: What does Electromagnetic Radiation
3.9.11
Tell Us? Spitzer Cool Cosmos
Thursday
Activity 3: Discovering the Multi-Wavelength
3.10.11
Universe
Friday
3.11.11
Monday
3.14.11
Tuesday
3.15.11
QUIZ 1 (Exploration 1)
Exploration 2
Activity 1: Making and Receiving
Electromagnetic Radiation
Activity 2: Observing and Measuring Waves
Wednesday
3.16.11
Thursday
3.17.11
Friday
3.18.11
Activity 3: Making the Electromagnetic
Spectrum
Activity 3 cont… QUIZ 2 (Exploration 2)
Exploration 3: Technology in Astronomy Activity
1: Building a Telescope to Collect Visible Light
Part 1: Observing with Lenses
Monday
Activity 1 Part 2: Constructing a Telescope Part
3.21.11
3: Observing with Your Telescope (if sunny)
Tuesday
Activity 2: CCD’s Part 1: Looking at Pixels in a
3.22.11
Digital Photo Part 2: Modeling a CCD
Wednesday Activity 3: Image Processing
3.23.11
Readings, Writings, Skill Builders and BONUS
E 1: First Thoughts/Making Claims Read FYI –
Evidence and Inference and CI
E1A1 – Pause and Reflect
E1A2 – Pause and Reflect
Read FYI – Observing Different Types of
Electromagnetic Radiation and CI Read FYI –
Astronomical Objects in Different Types of
Electromagnetic Radiation and CI E1A3 – Pause
and Reflect
E1: Final Thoughts/Revisiting Your Claims E2:
First Thoughts/Making Claims
Read FYI – Electromagnetic Waves and CI E2A1
– Pause and Reflect
Read FYI – Properties of Waves and CI E2A2 –
Pause and Reflect Skill Builder Working with
Scientific Notation
Use the internet to select images for wall
display
E2A3 – Pause and Reflect
E2 – Final Thoughts/Revisiting Your Claims
E3 – First Thoughts/Making Claims Read FYI –
Telescope Basics and CI E3A1P1 – Pause and
Reflect
E3A1P2/3 – Pause and Reflect
Thursday
3.24.11
Friday
3.25.11
QUIZ 3 (Exploration 3)
Exploration 4: Messages of Light
Activity 1: How Do We Analyze Light? Part 1:
Investigating Spectra
Monday
3.28.11
Tuesday
3.29.11
Wednesday
3.30.11
Thursday
Activity 1 Part2: Absorption Lines (if sunny)
E3A2P1 – Pause and Reflect Read FYI – CCDs
and Pixels and CI E3A2P2 – Pause and Reflect
Read FYI – Telescopes for Different Types of
Electromagnetic Radiation and CI Read FYI –
Image Processing and CI E3A3 – Pause and
Reflect
E3 – Final Thoughts/Revisiting Your Claims E4 –
First Thought/Making Claims
Read FYI – Breaking Up Light With a Diffraction
Grating and CI Read FYI – Spectral Lines and CI
E4A1P1 – Pause and Reflect
E4A1P2 – Pause and Reflect
Activity 2: Interpreting Color and Temperature
Part 1: The Color of Stars
Activity 3: Comparing Images and Spectra
Read FYI – The Color of Stars and CI Read FYI –
Filters in Astronomy and CI
E4A3 – Pause and Reflect
REVIEW
E4 – Final Thoughts/Revising Your Claims
3.31.11
Friday
4.1.11
Monday
4.4.11
Tuesday
4.5.11
EXAM 1
Unit 5: Investigating Stars Exploration 1 Activity
1: What Kinds of Stars Are There?
Activity 2: How Big Are the Stars
Wednesday
4.6.11
Thursday
4.7.11
Friday
4.8.11
Activity 3: What Determines the Color and
Temperature of Stars?
Activity 3 cont…
Monday
4.11.11
Quiz 5 (Exploration 1) Exploration 2 Activity 1:
How are Stars Classified? Part 1: Classifying
Stellar Spectra
Activity 4: How is Energy Produced in Stars?
Tuesday
Activity 1 Part 2: Classifying the Spectra of
4.12.11
Unknown Stars
Wednesday Activity 3: The Hertzsprung Russell Diagram
4.13.11
Thursday
4.14.11
Friday
4.15.11
Activity 3 cont…
Monday
4.18.11
Activity 6: Using the H-R Diagram to Determine
the Age of Stars in a Cluster Part 1: Plotting
Color and Brightness Part 2: Determine the Age
of the Jewel Box Cluster
E2 – Pause and Reflect Quiz 6 (Exploration 2)
Activity 5: The Lives of Stars, Evolution of Stars
Matching Game
Tuesday
4.19.11
Wednesday Exploration 3: The Deaths of Stars Activity 1:
4.20.11
Unstable Stars: Planetary Nebulae and White
Dwarfs
Thursday
4.21.11
Friday
4.22.11
Activity 2: Unstable Stars: Variables
Monday
4.25.11
Activity 4: By-products of Stellar Death: Neutron
Stars and Black Holes Part 1: Modeling the
Death of a Massive Star
Activity 4 Part 2: Finding the Event Horizon of a
Black Hole
Tuesday
4.26.11
Activity 3: The Atom Factories of the Un
Supernovae
BONUS CHALLENGE due
E1 – First Thoughts/Making Claims E1A1 –
Pause and Reflect
Skill Builder: Making Scale Models Read FYI –
How Are Stars, Planets, and Moons Different
from Each Other? and CI E1A2 – Pause and
Reflect
Read FYI: The Color of Stars and CI Skill Builder:
Understanding Temperature
Skill Builder: Creating a Graph E1A3 – Pause and
Reflect
Read FYI – Nuclear Fusion and CI Read FYI –
Conservation of Mass and Energy and CI E1A4 –
Pause and Reflect
E2 – First Thoughts/Making Claims Read FYI –
Spectral Classification – A look Back and CI Read
FYI – Stella Spectra – What’s in a Star? and CI
E2A1P1 – Pause and Reflect
E2A1P2 – Pause and Reflect
Read FYI – Inverse Square Law – Star Light, Star
Bright: The Magnitude System and CI Read FYI –
The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram and CI
E2A3 – Pause and Reflect
BONUS Activity 4: The Winter Triangle (if clear)
Read FYI – Forces Inside a Star and CI Read FYI:
The Lives of Stars and CI E2A5 – Pause and
Reflect
Read FYI – Determining the Age of a Cluster and
CI E2A6 – Pause and Reflect
E3 – First Thoughts/Making Claims Read FYI –
Planetary Nebulae and CI, E3A1 – Pause and
Reflect
Read FYI – Variable Stars and CI E3A2 – Pause
and Reflect
Read FYI – A Cosmic Balancing Act and CI Read
FYI – Supernovae and CI E3A3 – Pause and
Reflect
Read FYI – Nature’s Most Exotic Objects –
Neutron Stars and Black Holes and CI E3A4P1 –
Pause and Reflect
E3A4P2 – Pause and Reflect E3 – Final
Thoughts/ Revisiting Your Claims
Wednesday
4.27.11
Thursday
4.28.11
Friday
4.29.11
Monday
5.2.11
Tuesday
5.3.11
Wednesday
5.4.11
Thursday
5.5.11
Friday
5.6.11
Monday
5.9.11
Tuesday
5.10.11
Wednesday
5.11.11
Thursday
5.12.11
Friday
5.13.11
Monday
5.16.11
Tuesday
5.17.11
Wednesday
5.18.11
Thursday
5.19.11
Friday
5.20.11
Monday
5.23.11
Tuesday
5.24.11
Wednesday
5.25.11
Thursday
5.26.11
Review
Exam 2
BONUS CHALLENGE due
Introduction to the Pulsar Search Collaboratory
Pulsar details and Data Sets
CLEA: Pulsars and Radio Astronomy
Testing
Article Reading
Testing
Article Reading
Testing
Quiz 7 (PSC)
Unit 6: Investigating the Universe Exploration 1:
Getting to Know the Universe Activity
1:Timeline of the Universe Part 1: Timeline
Activity 1 Part 2: Distance-line
Article Reading
Activity 2: Sorting Through Galaxies
Quiz 8 (Exploration 1) Exploration 2: The
Distance Ladder
Activity 2: Understanding Parallax Part 1: Using
Your Fingers Part 2: Measuring the Parallax
Angle with a String
Activity 3: Measuring Parallax of Stars in Images
Quiz 9 (Exploration 2) Exploration 3: Standard
Candles
Activity 1: How Does Brightness Change with
Distance?
Activity 2: Comparing the Brightness of the Sun
to a Light Bulb Part 1: Differential Photometer
Activity 2 Part 2: Using a Light Bulb as a
Standard Candle (if sunny)
Activity 3: Measuring Distance Using Cepheids
Activity 4: Measuring Cosmological Distances
Using Type 1a Supernovae
Quiz 10 (Exploration 3) Exploration 4: Hubble’s
Law
E1 – First Thoughts/Making Claims E1A1 –
Timeline of the Universe E1A1P1 – Pause and
Reflect
Read FYI – Looking Back in Time and CI Read FYI
– The Formation of the Universe and CI E1A1P2
– Pause and Reflect
Read FYI – Types of Galaxies and CI E1A2 –
Pause and Reflect
E2 – First Thoughts/Making Claims
Read FYI – The Cosmological Distance Ladder
and CI
Skill Builder: Understanding Angles and
Calculating Parallax E2A2 – Pause and Reflect
E2A3 – Pause and Reflect
E2 – Final Thoughts/Revisiting Your Claims
E3 – First Thoughts/Making Claims
Read FYI – Inverse Square Law – Apparent
Brightness and Luminosity and CI
Skill Builder: Calculating Luminosity, Distance,
and Apparent Brightness E3A1 – Pause and
Reflect
E3A2 – Pause and Reflect
Read FYI – Cepheid Variable Stars and CI E3A3 –
Pause and Reflect
Read FYI – Type 1a Supernovae and CI E3A4 –
Pause and Reflect
E4 – First Thoughts/Making Claims
Friday
5.27.11
Tuesday
5.30.11
Activity 1: Everything’s Expanding Away
Activity 2: Galaxy Spectra Activity 3: Measuring
Redshift of Spectra from Galaxies Part 1:
Measuring Redshift Part 2: Calculating Galaxy
Speeds from Redshift
Wednesday REVIEW
6.1.11
Thursday
“Lunch With an Astronomer”
6.2.11
Friday
COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM
6.3.11
E1A1 – Pause and Reflect
Read FYI – Redshift of Spectral Lines and CI
Read FYI – Hubble’s Law and CI FYI – Using
Hubble’s Law to Determine the Age of the
Universe and CI
BONUS CHALLENGE due
Have a great summer!