Astronomy 2
GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Assistant Professor David Dunn
Office: ST-2 (Outside of Sewell Hall)
Phone: 916-781-7162
Email: ddunn@sierracollege.edu
Use short version!
© Sierra College Astronomy Department
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Overview
HB-1
Supplement
Syllabus and Schedule of Activities
 Student Handbook (Astro 2 version)
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ALL of the lecture presentations
ALL homework assignments
ALL third hour activities
Informative documents relevant to your grade
Also: pick up handouts (Syllabus Supplement
and General Schedule of Activities)
Web site: http://astronomy.sierracollege.edu
© Sierra College Astronomy Department
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Overview
Third-Hour will be
ST-2, which lies on
the theatre side of
Sewell Hall
HB-2
ST-2
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More Overview
 Syllabus
and Schedule of Activities
 I’ll Take Roll Now
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Complete the Green Card!
PUT ASTRO 2 ID IN YOUR HANDBOOK!
(This 4-digit # appears on the upper left
hand corner of the green card)
More Overview
 Syllabus and Schedule of Activities
 Course consists of two hours of lecture
HB-2
(in S202) and one “third hour” (in ST-2)
 My “Official” Office Hours (in ST-2)
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12:30-2 M; 9:30-10:30 Tu; 11:30-12:30 W; or Anytime my
door is “open” or after class
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Course required materials:
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Fix (text, includes Starry Night Pro),
Astro 2 Handbook, 2 Star Maps (SC001, SC002),
2006 Sky Gazer’s Almanac
Recommended materials:
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Astronomy Quick Study Guide,
The Night Sky Planisphere
More Overview
 CPS
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device pads (the “clickers”)
We will use it for attendance, and
weekly quizzes worth 5 points each
You will be assigned a clicker which
corresponds to you Astro 2 ID
We will practice using these things
first before the quizzes start
CPS = Class Participation System
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More Overview
 General
Instructor Expectation of
Students
 Students Expectation of Instructor
Be
aware of deadlines (see
handout), finals schedule, safety
protocols
HB-3
More Overview
 Grades:
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See Course Syllabus for more details !
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Tests, Homework, Third Hour Assignments,
Extra/Bonus
Point total for class: 500
Must be here for Midterm or Final (or
Quizzes)
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Midterm, 2-part 100 pt. Exam
Sky Quiz, end of semester, 30 pts.
Final, 3-part 110 pt. Exam
HB-3
More Overview
 Syllabus
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Handout has General Schedule
Homework is due every week except this
week and the weeks of the final and midterm
worth 10 pts each
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and Schedule of Activities
HB-3
Schedule
Homework
20 questions assigned, the Grader checks 10 at
random
Due NOON on Friday (or last non-holiday day of
week) LATE HOMEWORK NOT ACCEPTED!
Third-hour assignment each worth 5 pts/week
“Clicker” questions worth 5 pts/week
More Overview
HB-3
Schedule
Homework
 Syllabus
and Schedule of Activities
 Extra Credit
One of two Bonus questions on HW
• Extra Credit Options sheet (in Handbook)
See General Schedule (Handout)
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Overview
Turn in your
homework here
(Across from
Planetarium)
Due noon on Friday
(or last nonholiday day of
week) LATE
HOMEWORK
NOT ACCEPTED!
The White Box
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Overview

“Secrets” to Success (For a grade of B or A)
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Do the assigned reading (fast) before the first lecture of the
week.
Read all the homework questions before the first lecture of
the week.
Attend lectures with PowerPoint lecture notes from the
Student Handbook.
Work in groups.
Do not wait to the last minute to prepare for exams.
Do some extra credit.
Ask questions.
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A little history about the instructor
Grew up in Woodland, California
Went to UC Davis as undergraduate
 Majored in Physics
Spent 10 years as graduate student at the
University of Iowa
 Was a teaching assistant for most of the time
 Studied Saturn’s rings for thesis work
Then worked as a post-doc/researcher at
Berkeley (and still do)
Studied these planets
using radio telescopes
More history about the instructor
Why my interest in astronomy?
 Dad and brother built a telescope
when I was young
 Several interesting celestial events
happened within 2 years of my initial
interest
 I started to read about it!
• Sky and Telescope
Goals
 Acquire An Appreciation
of Our Celestial
Environment
 Develop the Needed Skills to Interpret
the Observed Sky
 Gain an Understanding of Astronomers’
Role in Acquiring Information and
Formulating Theories About the
Universe
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Objectives
 General
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Introductory Topics
The Sky Calendar
The Celestial Sphere - Equator and Poles
Ecliptic and Zodiac
Seasons, Eclipses, and Moon Phases
 Contributions
from Past Astronomers
 Kinematics and Dynamics
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Laws of Motion
Motion Under Influence of Gravity
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Objectives
 Basic
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Principles of Physics
Nature of Light
Structure of the Atom and Nucleus
Spectra
Thermal Processes
Ionization
Doppler Shifts
 Telescopes
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Objectives
 Earth
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Interior Structure
Plate Tectonics
Origin of the Atmosphere
Greenhouse Effect
Seasons
Precession
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Objectives
 Moon
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Surface Features and Origin
Eclipses
Tides
 The
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Solar System
Planets from Mercury to Neptune
Asteroids, Pluto, Kuiper Belts, and Öort
Cloud
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Mars – Spirit
2004 - 2006
Dust Devils
Mars – Opportunity: 2004 - 2006
Cassini: Mission to Saturn
Saturn
Huygens
probe
lands on
Titan
Titan
Objectives
 The
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Sun
Size and Structure
Physics
Surface Features
Atmospheric Layers
Solar Cycle
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Different Faces of the Sun
UV
magnetogram
optical
X-ray
Objectives
 Planetary
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Formation
Ideas and Theories
Evidence of other planetary systems
 Astrobiology
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Prospects of Life in Universe
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Any Questions?
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Shorter introduction
Objectives (See Handbook)
 General
Celestial Concepts/Astron. History
 Basic Principles of Physics
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Nature of Light, Atoms, Spectra, and Telescopes
 Earth,
Moon, Inner and Outer Planets
 Pluto, Comets, Asteroids and other debris
 The Sun
 Planetary Systems Formation
 Astrobiology
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Any Questions?
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