Transcript 1 st quarter moon nights - Austin Peay State University

Astronomy 1020-H
Stellar Astronomy
Spring_2016
Day-1
Snow-1, Education-0
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I’m posting these so y’all can look through them
BEFORE we meet (probably on) Monday 1/25.
If the snow does not make it in tonight, we’ll cover
some of this tomorrow.
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Dr. Allyn Smith
Office Hours: (B329-SSB): MWF 1000-1100 & by app’t.
Lecture-Tutorials & Text Book
D2L – Will be used for grade tracking only. Do NOT
send email via D2L – it probably will not be read.
Everything you need for this class can be found at:
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http://www.apsu.edu/astronomy
NOT using i-clickers in this class.
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Goals for the class:
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Understanding of the scientific process
Concepts of the basic physics of astronomy
How we obtain information about the stars
Star & Galaxy formation
Star & Galaxy evolution
The Sun
The Universe
Life and other weird stuff
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Text Book: 21st Century Astronomy, 4th Edition
 By Kay, Palen, Smith, & Blumenthal
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ORDER FROM:
Amazon.com or visit Study Master
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ISBN: 978-0-393-91878-6 (Full book) – if you plan to also
take ASTR-1010: Intro. To Planetary Astronomy
ISBN: 978-0-393-92057-4 (Stars & Galaxies)
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Also: Lecture-Tutorials for Introductory Astronomy
 By Prather, Slater, Adams, & Brissenden
 Bring this book to class EVERY day. It will be used a lot. It
is a workbook to be written in!
NOT using i-clickers in here.
How to Attack the course
• Read the text – preferably BEFORE class.
• Visualize the concept.
• Quiz yourself (and others)
• Try to teach the material to your study group.
• Focus - Concepts, Relationships, Connections.
• Don’t psych yourself out over the “math”.
• Stay current with assignments.
• If you have questions … Office Hours!!!
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If you’re in the Honors class, you should also take this
one... It will help build character.
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This course gives the mathematical background that
should be in this class at a grade-appropriate level.
ASTR-2020: Problems in Stellar Astronomy
Mondays, 4-5 pm
E109
Dr. Buckner – if you are interested, let him know BY
MONDAY – preferably earlier rather than later.
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Assignment:
Look through these slides AND the on-line material;
especially the syllabus, observing requirements, and
the project.
Read Chapter 1.
Think about the process outlined in the Scientific
Method and how it is used to investigate and explain
observations.
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What is key to the process?
Think of an example where the scientific method could
be used.
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Observing:
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1st quarter moon nights – 3 of them this semester
You MUST attend at least one.
Will be held cold, rain, snow, or clear.
6 Dark Night observing sessions – you must attend 1:
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Report due by Mon. Apr. 18 by 5pm.
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Weather dependent
Notice posted on astronomy URL by 5pm.
Format is on the web site.
Information to include is on the web site – Look at this
BEFORE attending one of the sessions.
Dates are on the web site.
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Exams:
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Four, ”1 hour” exams (~30 MC + 1-2 discussion/problem)
The lowest grade will be dropped
The last one will be given during the final exam time
Final – You MUST take it.
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It will not be dropped.
5-6 discussion questions – comprehensive.
BONUS POINTS: Wear Hawai’ian shirts on exam days;
Attend a planetarium show (or two); attend a BSAS star
party or meeting.
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SmartWorks setup:
You will need:
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1. A valid email address (use your apsu one)
2. The enrollment key (ASTRO4E9590 – case sensitive)
3. The registration code. This is the ”proof-of-purchase”
code on the card inside the cover of the book – IF you
bought the book new. It looks like a scratch-and-sniff, but
DO NOT SCRATCH it ... Rub GENTLY with a slightly damp
cloth to reveal the code.
If you did not buy the book new, you must purchase the
code separately from W.W. Norton (see login page) or the
bookstore. It is cheaper from the publisher.
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On-Line Homework System:
We are using this link (of the 4-6 listed on the site):
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Austin Peay St Univ, ASTR-1020-H, Spring 2016, Prof. Smith
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More instructions and information may be found on: the
Smartworks instruction sheet – posted on the class web
site: http://www.apsu.edu/astronomy/smith (and follow
the links).
You MUST have a permanent account established BY
Friday Jan. 29.
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Honors Class Extras:
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You will engage in a semester long ”research project” to
determine the rotation rate of the Sun at various solar
latitudes.
This is 15% of your grade – don’t slack on it.
Estimate of time to spend on it???
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This is a 3 hour class, 1000 level. So assume you spend 3 hours
outside of class for each hour in class (9 hours/week)
14 class weeks in the semester (9 x 14 = 126 hours)
15% of 126 hrs = 18.9 hr, call it 20 hours.
Solar Rotation Project
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What to do (on handout)
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Visit spaceweather.com 3-7 days per week.
Download the solar image.
Check the flare alert box.
If a flare (especially a big one) is going off, visit the
Solar Dynamics Observer site
(http://sdo.gsfc.nasa.gov/) and look at (download)
the other wavelength images which may show flare
activity.
Check handout for other details.
Course Announcements
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Smartworks Chapter 1: Start on – it will be
due next week.