syllabus astro

Spring 2001

Syllabus and Schedule

Astronomy
& Cosmologies

Astronomy
home

Welcome to our schedule for Spring quarter. This is a guideline, not a bible.
Details may change, so check for weekly updates.
Tip: Hit "Refresh" or Shift - Reload to update web pages and see the latest information.

Most of our class meetings will take place in the
CAL = Computer Applications Laboratory, first floor, Lab II

click here for THIS WEEK's plans

We will meet Tuesday and Thursday evenings in the CAL from 6-8 pm.
Our first meeting is on Tuesday 3.April.2001. Click here to prepare for the first class.
If it is clear, we will go out to observe together after class one night a week.
Observing will begin on the roof of Lab II or on the grassy knoll outside the Longhouse,
and will progress to the new Observatory on the edge of campus later in the quarter.

We will meet electronically several other times per week, for question/answer sessions, seminars, and other discussions and possibly workshops.
Office hours will be conducted by email or by appointment.

More than half of the program activities will be conducted remotely (through the computer) or in small groups of students meeting outside class. You should take this program only if you are comfortable with:

* extensive Internet communication instead of lots of face-to-face classroom time;
* committing to meet your small teams of classmates several times per week without fail;
* committing to taking responsibility for your own learning - you must be able to work independently and to organize your time effectively;
* working hard and steadily - at least 50 hours per week. This is a demanding program! You will have a lot of reading, writing, observing, and homework.

SCHEDULE

color key: work with classmates
(activities in parentheses are optional)

Online activities.
Post assignments into the appropriate folder on Web-X.

class time with Dr. Zita

time

Monday
team work

Tuesday
Astronomy

Wednesday
Cosmologies

Thursday
workshops

Friday
team work

before
3 pm

(3:00-4:00: Zita's office hours and help session with Sara in Math Center, LIB 3402)

Post * 2 significant questions and * 2 key points (in your own words!) on the Astronomy readings.

* Post your thoughtful paragraph on the Cosmologies readings

Prepare for this evening's workshop with your team. Each team post 2 significant points or questions about tonight's workshop.

Meet your team to
* finish yesterday's workshop, discuss questions
* post your team workshop report
* Every student fill out the weekly survey on your own.

6-8 pm

Meet your team. Discuss:
* the Review Questions
at the end of this week's Universe chapter
* your ideas about the Cosmology readings
* your questions about the workshops
* Homework problems from last week's reading: Do the Universe questions with answers in the back - before you meet today - so you can discuss them now.

*Post your
2 significant points or questions on this week's indoor workshop.

lecture/workshop in CAL

5:30: Online seminar

* post a response to two classmates' writings after seminar, this evening.

workshop in CAL
with Sara

Do the independent workshop tonight or this weekend.

evening

observe with teams
(meet Sara in CAL at 8:30
if it's clear)

observe with class
(if it's clear)

observe with teams
(meet Sara in CAL at 8:30 if it's clear)

observe with class
(if not on Tuesday)
with Sara

observe with teams

Outline of weekly activities and assignments:

Astronomy texts Universe = Kaufmann & Freedman, Universe
Binocs = Moore, Exploring the Night Sky with Binoculars
A = National Audubon Society Guide Cosmologies texts Echoes = Krupp, Echoes of the Ancient Skies
SW = Prehistoric Astronomy in the Southwest, by Malville and Putnam
A = National Audubon Society Guide Workshop texts Ex = Dawson, Out of the classroom
F = Ferguson, Introductory Astronomy Exercises (optional)
SN = Starry Night exercises

week Astronomy
reading Cosmologies
reading indoor
workshops observing
workshops independent
workshops due Friday by 3 pm: Events

1 Universe 1+2: space, time
Binocs 1+2: basics
Ex: Reference Guide Echoes 1: The sky
SW 1+2 Photos and WebX
Space & Time Ex.1,8,9: Planisphere SN.1: Stars
Diaries weekly survey: (astroWk1) workshop report Required WebX workshop Thus.

2 Universe 2+3: moon, eclipses
Binocs 3, 9: stars, moon Echoes 7: Time
and last week's assignment
Solar Motion (bring materials from kit)
Eclipses Ex.2,5: Sextants, Alt-Az. (bring protractors) SN.2: Sky
Record the Moon's position, phase, and time every time you see it.
(astroWk2)
research proposal: (astroproposal) email your workshop report. Use Dawson.175 and be *specific*

3
16-20 Apr
Universe 4: gravity, orbits
Binocs 6, 7, 10: stars, planets Echoes 2: ancient obs. Weigh Jupiter Kepler continued Hemispheres (bring your kit)
SN.3: Seasons
Observing plan
(astroWk3)
workshop report

4
23-27 Apr
Universe 5-6: light, scopes
Binocs 4+5: binaries,
variables, clusters SW 3-5: skywatchers and Chaco Build scope using lenses use reflectors
Ex.12: double stars SN.4: Moon Cosmologies plan
(astroWk4)
workshop report

5
30 Apr.-4.May
Universe 18: Sun
Binocs 8: Sun Finish SW: Chaco, sun cycles,
Echoes 148-156, 231-236 ~~F.15: Sun~~
Finally, let's build the celestial spheres. Bring a scissors and your kit & instructions. Ex.20: Sun
bring a cardboard sunshade cut to fit your binocs (p.117)
SN.5: Sun Annotated bibliography
(astroWk5)
workshop report
team evaluations

6
7-11 May
field trip (astroWk6)

7
14-18 May
Universe 19: Stars
skim U. (20-22)
Binocs 11: shooting stars Echoes Ch.3
All 11 Cultural History articles linked to Chaco "in depth" page
Crab Nebula:
in China
Tuesday OFF this week, to recover from field trip.
"After Chaco" Web-X assignments due by 3 pm Wed.16.May
Meet Wed. 10 am in CAL to hear Dr. Neil Hurlburt on Sun!
Ex.23
Spectrometers
Build your spectrometers before class, following instruction package. Work with your team to answer each other's questions.
Review all your Starry Night exercises. One page each on
* research observations
*cosmology readings
Follow Finkle rules and post to WebX
(astroWk7)

8
21-25 May
Universe 25 (26): Galaxies
BRING TUESDAY your two best research articles for Zita to read (the ones you were to have brought on fieldtrip)
Echoes 4: Myths Dark Matter: Review your week 3 workshop - we will finish it. Bring your wk.3 work.
No class Thursday due to strike - REDRAFT your RESEARCH report!
Choose a target for viewing with the Meade LX 200 telescope.
* where (altitude, azimuth)
* what do you expect to see
* question to investigate ~~Starry Night quiz~~ (postponed) Second draft research report
(~~astroWk8~~)
chemist Rachel Jameton on campus interview

9
28 May - 1 Jun
Universe 28 (29): Cosmology Echoes 13: Cosmologies Dawson Ex. 27
you might want extra copies of graphing sheets Post before class your Meade target. We will go out IFF you are ready.
Planck time
Hubble law Starry Night quiz
(astroSN) - take it by this Friday Final research report
astroEval
(astroWk9)

10
4-8 Jun
research
presentations Wed: post two themes of program and connections to readings (author, page) Tuesday
6:00 Ellie, Morea, Heidi
6:30 Sarah & Luke
7:00 Ben & Rob
7:30 Adam & Shane
post feedback to each talk Thursday
6:00 Bo
6:30 Meagan
7:00 buckie
7:30 Keith
post feedback to each talk portfolio + evals
due Thursday in class: read this in advance to prepare take online final exam (astroWk10) this weekend (not Fri,since Zita's computer is in the shop Thus-Fri.)

11
11-15 Jun
evaluation conferences in Lab II Rm 2272:
*come 5 min. early
* conferences go to 40 min. past the hour. 12:30: Sara
Matt
2:00 Jonathan 11:00 Meagan
12:00 Luke
1:00 buckie
2:00 Morea
3:00 LUNCH
4:00 Ellie
5:00 Bo
6:00 Ben 11:00 Max
12:00 Adam
1:00 Rob
2:00 Keith
3:00 LUNCH
4:00 Sarah
5:00 Heidi
6:00 Shane

Mon.11.Jun. Tues.12.Jun. Wed.13.Jun. Thus.14.Jun. Fri.15.Jun.

First week's schedule is unique:

*time*	*Monday 2 April* team work	*Tuesday 3 April* Astronomy	*Wednesday 4 April* Cosmologies	*Thursday 5 April* workshops	*Friday 6 April* team work
*before* *3 pm*	*First assignment - complete for the first class meeting tomorrow:* Read Ch.1 of the texts by Kaufmann, Moore, and Krupp. write down 3 key points of each chapter write down 3 questions you have about each chapter be prepared to share these with the class and turn them in *Buy your equipment packet from Lab Stores* Lab I, Rm 2059, x6489 about $10 hours 8:30-4:00	Start your reading for the rest of the week: Universe, Ch.2 Binocs, Ch.2 Echoes, Ch.2 Dawson, Ex. 1, 8, 9 (handout) Write down your notes and questions, and bring them to class.	* Finish reading and write a thoughtful paragraph on the Cosmologies readings, including a page reference to a relevant quote. * print it out and bring 2 copies to seminar.	Before 3:00, with team: * Discuss this evening's workshop with your team (read the whole thing in advance). * Each person write 2 significant points or questions about the workshop, as a Word or Text document on a PC floppy disk. * Write a brief introduction of yourself and one specific thing about astronomy you're interested in. 3:00: WebX workshop with Susan Bustetter in the Computer Center * Bring your floppy disk * Post your introduction with your picture * Post your workshop points or questions * Practice online chat about your workshop questions, briefly.	Meet your team to finish yesterday's workshop, discuss questions, and each person: * post your own 1-page workshop report. Use Dawson p.175 * take this week's survey on InQsit (astroWk1) Team members: help each other remember how to use WebX - go to the computer together to post your individual assignments.
*5-7 pm*		lecture/workshop in CAL Bring your planisphere and flashlight so we can go outside to observe after class In class: Get your photo taken Form teams Register for WebX and put your exact username on our list.	5:30 Face-to-face seminar in LIB 4004 Read essays at the end of Ch.1 and Ch.2 of Universe, and these online Myths. Compare the myths you read to other sources, such as your Audubon guide.	workshop in CAL with Sara Bring your binocs and blank notebook Intro to Starry Night Space (& Time) Dawson Ex. 8+9 If we have time: solar motion	Do the independent workshop tonight or this weekend: Starry Night Exercise 1, using the disk that came with your texbook (or the CAL computers) * Easy version * Advanced version Continue Ex. 8+9. Draw your observations in your log book, using Dawson pp.22 as a guide.
*evening*	Get out your binoculars and try them out. What can you see in the sky?	*observe with class* *(if it's clear)* Dawson Ex.1.	observe with teams (optional)	*observe with class* *(if not on Tuesday)* with Sara	observe with teams

Maintained by: E.J. Zita

week	Astronomy reading	Cosmologies reading	indoor workshops	observing workshops	independent workshops	due Friday by 3 pm:	Events
1	Universe 1+2: space, time Binocs 1+2: basics Ex: Reference Guide	Echoes 1: The sky SW 1+2	Photos and WebX Space & Time	Ex.1,8,9: Planisphere	SN.1: Stars Diaries	weekly survey: (astroWk1) workshop report	Required WebX workshop Thus.
2	Universe 2+3: moon, eclipses Binocs 3, 9: stars, moon	Echoes 7: Time and last week's assignment	Solar Motion (bring materials from kit) Eclipses	Ex.2,5: Sextants, Alt-Az. (bring protractors)	SN.2: Sky Record the Moon's position, phase, and time every time you see it.	(astroWk2) research proposal: (astroproposal) email your workshop report. Use Dawson.175 and be specific
3 16-20 Apr	Universe 4: gravity, orbits Binocs 6, 7, 10: stars, planets	Echoes 2: ancient obs.	Weigh Jupiter	Kepler continued	Hemispheres (bring your kit) SN.3: Seasons	Observing plan (astroWk3) workshop report
4 23-27 Apr	Universe 5-6: light, scopes Binocs 4+5: binaries, variables, clusters	SW 3-5: skywatchers and Chaco	Build scope using lenses	use reflectors Ex.12: double stars	SN.4: Moon	Cosmologies plan (astroWk4) workshop report
5 30 Apr.-4.May	Universe 18: Sun Binocs 8: Sun	Finish SW: Chaco, sun cycles, Echoes 148-156, 231-236	~~F.15: Sun~~ Finally, let's build the celestial spheres. Bring a scissors and your kit & instructions.	Ex.20: Sun bring a cardboard sunshade cut to fit your binocs (p.117)	SN.5: Sun	Annotated bibliography (astroWk5) workshop report team evaluations
6 7-11 May	field trip					(astroWk6)
7 14-18 May	Universe 19: Stars skim U. (20-22) Binocs 11: shooting stars	Echoes Ch.3 All 11 Cultural History articles linked to Chaco "in depth" page Crab Nebula: in China	Tuesday OFF this week, to recover from field trip. "After Chaco" Web-X assignments due by 3 pm Wed.16.May Meet Wed. 10 am in CAL to hear Dr. Neil Hurlburt on Sun!	Ex.23 Spectrometers Build your spectrometers before class, following instruction package. Work with your team to answer each other's questions.	Review all your Starry Night exercises.	One page each on * research observations *cosmology readings Follow Finkle rules and post to WebX (astroWk7)
8 21-25 May	Universe 25 (26): Galaxies BRING TUESDAY your two best research articles for Zita to read (the ones you were to have brought on fieldtrip)	Echoes 4: Myths	Dark Matter: Review your week 3 workshop - we will finish it. Bring your wk.3 work. No class Thursday due to strike - REDRAFT your RESEARCH report!	Choose a target for viewing with the Meade LX 200 telescope. * where (altitude, azimuth) * what do you expect to see * question to investigate	~~Starry Night quiz~~ (postponed)	Second draft research report (~~astroWk8~~) chemist Rachel Jameton on campus interview
9 28 May - 1 Jun	Universe 28 (29): Cosmology	Echoes 13: Cosmologies	Dawson Ex. 27 you might want extra copies of graphing sheets	Post before class your Meade target. We will go out IFF you are ready. Planck time Hubble law	Starry Night quiz (astroSN) - take it by this Friday	Final research report astroEval (astroWk9)
10 4-8 Jun	research presentations	Wed: post two themes of program and connections to readings (author, page)	Tuesday 6:00 Ellie, Morea, Heidi 6:30 Sarah & Luke 7:00 Ben & Rob 7:30 Adam & Shane post feedback to each talk	Thursday 6:00 Bo 6:30 Meagan 7:00 buckie 7:30 Keith post feedback to each talk	portfolio + evals due Thursday in class: read this in advance to prepare	take online final exam (astroWk10) this weekend (not Fri,since Zita's computer is in the shop Thus-Fri.)
11 11-15 Jun	evaluation conferences in Lab II Rm 2272: come 5 min. early conferences go to 40 min. past the hour.	12:30: Sara Matt 2:00 Jonathan	11:00 Meagan 12:00 Luke 1:00 buckie 2:00 Morea 3:00 LUNCH 4:00 Ellie 5:00 Bo 6:00 Ben	11:00 Max 12:00 Adam 1:00 Rob 2:00 Keith 3:00 LUNCH 4:00 Sarah 5:00 Heidi 6:00 Shane
		Mon.11.Jun.	Tues.12.Jun.	Wed.13.Jun.	Thus.14.Jun.	Fri.15.Jun.