ASTRONOMY 110A: SURVEY OF ASTRONOMY (HONORS)

Fall 2009 – Prof. Roy Gal

Course Information and Policies

 

Time: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 12:00-1:15PM

Location: Watanabe Hall, room 415

Co-requisite: ASTR110L (lab) Section 3 with Prof. Mike Nassir, Tuesdays 7-10PM in PSB112

Instructor: Roy Gal

    Email: rgal@ifa.hawaii.edu

    Website: http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/~rgal/teaching/astr110

   Phone: 956-6235

    Office: Watanabe Hall room 402 and Institute for Astronomy (IfA), room C-102

    Office hours: _____________   in Watanabe 402.

Please feel free to email/call me to arrange other times.

 

T.A.: Matt Zagursky

    Email: mzagursk@ifa.hawaii.edu

    Phone: 956-8312

    Office: Watanabe Hall room 402 and Institute for Astronomy (IfA), room C-216

    Office hours: _______________ in Watanabe 402, or by appointment at the IfA

 

WHAT IS ASTR110?

This is a one-semester class designed to introduce you to astronomical concepts. You will:

- learn how astronomers and physicists have discovered what we know about the Universe

- understand the apparent motions of  celestial objects

- develop insights into astronomical techniques and scientific research methods

- develop an understanding of sizes and distances in astronomy, from planets to galaxies and more

- develop an understanding of the basic physical principles governing objects in the Universe

 

These goals will be achieved through a combination of lecture, in-class activities, discussion, and group work. Because this is an Honors section, we will be doing many activities that require your participation!

 

EQUIPMENT AND MATERIALS

 

Required Text 1: Lecture-Tutorials for Introductory Astronomy, 2nd Edition

                        by Ed Prather et al.  ISBN 0132392267

This book includes worksheets for many of the topics we will be covering. These worksheets will be part of your coursework and many will be handed in to be graded. You MUST purchase this book! Feel free to purchase a used copy, as long as it is the 2nd edition.

 

Required Text 2: The Essential Cosmic Perspective, 5th Edition – binder version (in the bookstore; special lower price)

                                    by Jeffrey Bennett et al.

This book includes much of the factual material and more details for the material we will cover in class. Both required texts are bundled into a lower cost package. Cosmic Perspective includes an access code for the MasteringAstronomy.com website. We WILL use this a lot in class!

Required Online Site: MasteringAstronomy.com     Course Code: GAL110AF09

 

Required Materials:

- Notebook or notepad and pen or pencil. You'll need these not just to take notes, but to complete in-class activities, some of which will be handed in.

- Scientific calculator (bring to class).

 

Provided Materials:

- Color-coded ABCD sheet for in-class multiple choice questions. Bring these to every class!

 

GRADING

 

The lecture and lab are graded separately. This document only applies to the lecture.

 

Your final grade will be based on your overall course percentage, which is the number of points you earn on all the assignments, tests and quizzes out of the maximum possible points. A final score of 90% will result in an A-, 80% is a B-, 70% is a C-. Anything below 65% is an F.  These limits may be revised based on overall class performance, but only downward – so, if you get a 90%, you are guaranteed at least an A-.

 

EXAMS (35%): We will have a single midterm and one (cumulative) final. The midterm will be 15% of your grade and the final will be 20%.

 

QUIZZES (15%): We will have occasional short quizzes in class. Missed quizzes may NOT be made up and will be counted as a score of zero unless your absence is excused IN ADVANCE. However, your single lowest quiz grade (including zeroes) will be dropped.

 

HOMEWORK (15%): You will have homework assignments, including questions to answer, short reports, and other similar activities. This will also include online materials at masteringastronomy.com.

 

IN-CLASS ACTIVITIES & PARTICIPATION (20%): We will be completing activities, such as the lecture tutorials, during class. Some of these will be handed in. These MUST be handed in during the class when they are completed. Missed activities may NOT be made up and will be counted as a score of zero unless your absence is excused IN ADVANCE. You will also be required to come to each class with at least one written question about the material covered in the previous class or the reading for the current class.

 

PAPER & PRESENTATION (15%): You will have to write a  4-5 page paper on an astronomy topic NOT covered in class. The topic will be of your own choosing but must be approved by me. After the papers are handed in, we will have 2 class sessions where you will each present the material in your papers (5-10 minute presentation).

 

Extra Credit: There will be a number of optional activities outside of the normal class times which can be attended for extra credit. These may include talks on campus or at the IfA, astronomical event observations, etc. Some may allow you to make up for missed quizzes, while others will add to your final grade. You will be informed of these opportunities as they arise.

 

ATTENDANCE

 

This class will involve lots of activities and discussion during our regular class hours. Therefore, attendance and participation is extremely important!

 

Unexcused absences: You may miss up to three classes without excuses. Keep in mind that missed quizzes and in-class activities can only be made up if your absence is excused in advance. If you have more than four unexcused absences, you will receive a failing grade. Please see the section on extra credit to reduce the impact of missed classes!

Excused absences: Absences due to personal or family emergencies can be excused. You MUST contact me BEFORE class with the reason for your absence. Do NOT wait until the next class.  If you know in advance that you will miss a class (due to travel for work, another class, or a sports team, medical procedure, etc.), you must contact the instructor before that class. We will try to arrange some way for you to make up the missed activities or provide an alternate assignment. If you do not contact me in advance, your absence will count as unexcused unless a true emergency prevented you from reaching me.

 

MOTIVATION AND COLLABORATION

 

We hope that your own curiosity, along with the beauty and excitement of astronomy (and science in general) will motivate you to excel in this class. You'll get to see astronomical objects that most people have never seen, and gain a direct understanding and appreciation of our Universe.

 

In this class, you will often be working in pairs or small groups. Indeed, much scientific research is carried out this way. Teamwork will allow you to learn from each other, debate responses to questions, and develop reasoning skills. There are some guidelines to be followed in this collaborative environment:

1. Be respectful to your partners and group members. Some of our activities will include discussion of why you and someone else disagree on the answer to a question, or have you working together to complete an activity. Please be respectful of other peoplesŐ ideas, and allow everyone to contribute. You should also ensure that you contribute to the group, and not allow someone else to do all the talking and/or all of the work!

2. Your homework and in-class assignments must be written individually, in your own words.

If you worked or discussed something with a partner or group, please include their name on whatever you hand in, along with a note about what you got help with

3. Do NOT copy text, calculations or data from another student, textbook, website, article, etc. These are all forms of plagiarism and you will receive a zero for the assignment. In addition, you may be reported for academic misconduct. Your work should demonstrate and reflect your own personal understanding of the material.

 

ACCOMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

 

Any student who feels s/he may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability is invited to contact me privately. I would be happy to work with you, and the KOKUA Program (Office for Students with Disabilities) to ensure reasonable accommodations in my course. KOKUA can be reached at (808) 956-7511 or (808) 956-7612 (voice/text) in room 013 of the Queen Lili'uokalani Center for Student Services.

 

HALLMARKS OF THE HONORS SECTION

 

Because this is an Honors section, the class will be somewhat different from your regular classes.

 

1. The course requires greater depth of understanding of the subject matter:

For example, this may involve: class discussion of additional primary or secondary source materials; an independent research project or paper; advanced laboratory study; or other additional.

 

2. The course provides for a greater degree of interaction between students and instructors:

For example, this may involve: regular participation in class discussion; group work; peer teaching activities; required conferencing.

 

3. Students will be encouraged to take greater initiative in their learning:

For example, this may include: independent projects; additional out-of-class activities such as a site visit or fieldwork.

 

4. Students should be encouraged to become more reflective in their learning:

For example, this may include: discussion of learning styles and strategies; learning journals.