Course Syllabus

PHYS 1060, Astronomy: Stars and Galaxies

Maymester 2019

MTWRF, 8:30-12:00     GRSC 324 (planetarium);     MTWR 9:30 pm up Mill Road

Instructor:  Larry Smith     GRSC 311    283-7520     Larry.Smith@snow.edu       http://www.snow.edu/larrys

Invitation:  I invite you to come along on an exciting journey with me through the night sky and the universe.  We will witness some of the greatest beauties of nature and we will begin to understand how they work physically.  I also invite you to make the learning experience absolutely great by following the suggestions here.

Text:  Astronomy from OpenStax. Free in web view and PDF at  www.openstax.org/details/astronomy.  Can also be purchased in print format at snow.textbookx.com.  Print ISBN 1938168283, Digital ISBN 1947172247

Buying a Planisphere is optional but a great idea. Smartphone apps, such as SkySafari, can also help you find your way around the sky.

Prerequisites and GE:  Math 850 or 1010 (Intermediate Algebra) or equivalent.   This class fulfills physical science GE, but not the laboratory requirement.

Objectives:  Become acquainted with the night sky and appreciate the beauty of nature.  Understand the laws of science that govern heavenly bodies.  Learn how scientists think and work; learn how astronomers know things. 

Topics:  Origins of astronomy, astronomical tools, atoms and starlight, formation, structure, and death of stars, galaxies, cosmology.  Our guiding question will be “How do we know?”

Tools: You need a good calculator.  If you have access to binoculars that would be helpful as well.  You will receive a Plickers card in class for use on the readiness quizzes.

Expectations and How to Get Help:  Both asking and answering questions should prove you’ve delved deeply into the chapter material.   

If you are serious about this class a large portion of your learning will take place outside of class time.  You should plan on spending at least 2 hours in outside study for every hour in class.  You are encouraged to see me during my posted office hours (M-F 12:15-12:45) and at other times by appointment; you may also get help by messaging me in Canvas.  You should do your homework with friends in the math/science lab. 

Policies: See the ADA policy and other pertinent policies.

Night Observations:  To fulfill the objectives of the course you will need to spend some time looking at the night sky, both with the naked eye and the aided eye.  You should attend as many night observations with the class as possible, so leave your late evenings open.

Homework:  Homework will be assigned from the questions at the end of each chapter (doing more than assigned can really aid understanding). You are encouraged to work together in groups, but please make sure you understand everything you turn in.  You must show work.  Homework is due at the end of the class period on announced due dates. Turn it in as typed text or a scanned file or picture in Canvas. Homework that is late for any reason other than a pre-approved legitimate excuse will lose 50% per day late. No late homework after May 28 will be accepted.                                Watch for possible other assignments posted in Canvas.

Quizzes: A short quiz at the beginning of each chapter will assess your prior reading diligence.  We will use free Plickers for this.

Tests:  There will be a test after each unit (part) in the Testing Center (see hours here).  Take a #2 pencil.  Summer hours: M-F 9-5.

Schedule:  The pace will average just barely more than one chapter every day.

The final exam is scheduled for Friday, May 31,  in our classroom.  It will be comprehensive.

Group Work: Much of our in-class time will be spent doing group work.  It is important that you come prepared each day or your group suffers with you.  Please read each chapter before it is discussed in class.

Grading:  Please select the grade you wish to receive and conduct yourself accordingly.   See letter grade task details here.

 

For a D do the following:

* Actively participate (this includes regular attendance).

* Subscribe to the 365 Days of Astronomy podcast, or the Astronomy Cast podcast, or the Cheap Astronomy podcast.  Also subscribe to the EarthSky.org daily e-mail update.

* Watch one episode of astronomy videos from the library and turn in a one-page summary.

* Attend at least seven night observations.

* Demonstrate that you can identify at least three constellations in the night sky.

* Have a 60% or better overall on all homework, quizzes, and tests.

 

For a C do the following in addition to the above:

* Keep a nightly sky journal.

* Write a short (one paragraph) report on one podcast episode from 365 Days of Astronomy and one EarthSky.org update.

* Watch another episode of astronomy videos from the library and turn in a one-page summary.

* Attend at least eight night observations.

* Demonstrate that you can identify at least six constellations in the night sky.

* Have a 65% or better overall on all homework, quizzes, and tests.

 

For a B do the following in addition to all of the above:

* Read two articles from astronomy magazines and summarize them in Canvas.

* Write a letter about preserving dark skies to a politician or newspaper.

* Write a script for an astronomy podcast, like those on 365 Days of Astronomy.

* Watch another episode of astronomy videos from the library and turn in a one-page summary.

* Attend at least nine observations.

* Demonstrate that you can identify at least nine constellations in the night sky.

* Have a 70% or better overall on all homework, quizzes, and tests.

 

For an A do the following in addition to all of the above:

* Write a 5-7 page term paper about some astronomical topic.  Include a poster for public display.

* Make an audio podcast of your astronomy podcast script.

* Watch another episode of astronomy videos from the library and turn in a one-page summary.

* Attend at least ten night observations.

* Demonstrate that you can identify at least twelve constellations in the night sky.

* Have a 75% or better overall on all homework, quizzes, and tests.

 

Please see here for details on these tasks.  No grade can be earned without satisfactory completion of all the tasks for all lower grades.

 

Pluses and minuses from the straight letter grades may be awarded at the discretion of the instructor, pluses for stellar work, minuses for mediocre work.

 

 

The weightings for the categories for homework, quizzes, and tests are:

Homework                      25%

Quizzes                           25%

Tests                               25%

Participation/Attitude       5%

Final Exam                     20%