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Welcome Astronomy 311 Professor Lee Carkner Lecture 1 Questions to Consider Am I in the right place? Astronomy 311: The Solar System Do I have the right stuff? “Astronomy Today” by Chaisson/McMillan Star and Planet Locator Calculator WebAssign card Things to Know Professor Dr. Lee Carkner Office Hours M, W, F 1-2 pm Science 208 Places We will normally meet in Science 102 Some classes we will meet in the planetarium (like next Monday) We will have evening observing sessions in the observatory How Does the Class Work? Read the book material before class Do the online homework Come to class Do the in-class activities Go out and make the assigned observations and turn them in by the due date Come to the observing sessions when announced Three quizzes and a final Web Page http://helios.augustana.edu/~lc/as311/intro. html Outline gives readings and lecture topics Lectures posted online before class Download and print out before class Fill in blank areas during class Outline will be updated and modified as the class goes on Web page will also list observing sessions WebAssign Homework is due every class day Go to webassign.net/student.html Click on student login Username: firstnamelastname e.g. johnsmith Institution: augustana Password: Your Augustana ID number You can change the password after you login You will have to register using a WebAssign card purchased at the bookstore WebAssign Homework Once logged in you will see a list of assignments Click on the current assignment For Friday it is “2history” Be sure you have done the reading first Answer all questions and click “submit” You only get one submission so be sure you are ready to answer all questions before you start I will try to list the questions on the class web site to look at ahead of time Grading Three Quizzes -- 45% (15% each) Observing -- 10% In Class Activities -- 15% Homework – 10% Final -- 20% Guidelines for Work Handed In Written answers must be in complete sentences Numbers must have units Answers must reasonable If not reasonable, explain why All work must be neat and easily readable Explain all work! Surveys Please answer all questions on both surveys to the best of your ability Surveys are optional All results will be kept anonymous Information will be used to help improve the course Your input is appreciated Why is Astronomy Unique? How is astronomy different from all other sciences? Astronomy is mostly observational Observing and Planetary Science Dawn of Time to 1600 AD Naked Eye 1600 – 1959 Telescope 1959 – 2001 Spacecraft probes Even spacecraft send back mostly images, i.e. just a fancier observation Why Are Observations Important? Science is an attempt to understand the universe Problems: The Universe is not simple Humans tend to delude themselves Our entire technological society is based upon careful and repeated observations You don’t really know anything about the Universe you live in unless you observe it carefully Observing How does the Observing Project work? Make several copies of the blank observing forms Go outside on a clear night and sketch and label the required objects Answer the questions on a separate sheet Come to the observing sessions and sketch the objects through the telescope This class requires you to do work at night both on your own and in groups at the times announced in class!! How to Observe Face a cardinal point (N, S, E, W) The semi-circle represents the half of the celestial dome in front of you Draw each star as a dot Size proportional to brightness Draw to scale Label and include comments! For telescope views, draw what is in the eyepiece Observing Tips Take advantage of clear nights Use resources to help find things Star and Planet Locator Sky maps in back of book Planetarium software (comes with book) Make many copies of observing form and do a first “practice” sketch Draw only what you can see Do not cheat! Next Time Read Chapter 2.1-2.4 Do WebAssign homework Question of the Day: How have our ideas about the universe changed and why? Observe if clear!
