School of Earth and Space Exploration:
ASTRONOMY 111 FALL 2008 Line Number: 72068
Class Web Page: http:/starrfield111.asu.edu
INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY I: Discovering the Solar System
INSTRUCTOR: Regents’ Professor Sumner Starrfield, Ph.D.
OFFICE: PSF 250
LECTURES: MWF 9:40 to 10:30 IN ROOM PSH-153
OFFICE HOURS: MWF 10:40- 11:30 IN PSF 250 (AND BY APPOINTMENT <-- PREFERRED)
(THE DOOR WILL BE CLOSED-PLEASE KNOCK!)
TELEPHONE: 965-8102 OR 965-7569
E-MAIL: starrfield@asu.edu (I answer E-MAIL so use this method to contact me–BUT
put AST 111 in the Subject line) (NOTE: This class is not on Blackboard)
TEXTBOOK: FOUNDATIONS OF ASTRONOMY: Michael A. Seeds
TENTH EDITION-2008. Thomson Brooks-Cole Publishing.
NEW: This is the link to the Study Guide for Test 1 to be given on Wednesday September 24,2008
This is the link to the Study Guide for Test 2 to be given on Wednesday October 17, 2007
This is the link to the Study Guide for Test 3 to be given on Wednesday November 14, 2007
This is the link to the Study Guide for the FINAL EXAM That will be given MONDAY December 10, 2007
COURSE DESCRIPTION
This course is an introductory survey of modern astronomy and our understanding of the Sun, Planets, and astronomical tools necessary to understand the properties of the Solar System. It is designed for both non-science and science students. The only pre-requisite is a knowledge of basic high school arithmetic and algebra. We cover about half of the textbook this semester, the other half is covered in AST 112. AST 111 and AST 112 are designed to be separate courses and it is possible to take one without the other. We will follow the the textbook rather closely but outside reading is encouraged. Note that the text has many good discussion and review questions and you are encouraged to study them since I may use some of them for exam questions. In addition, articles and notes in Scientific American, Sky and Telescope, Astronomy, ... often provide interesting and fruitful supplements to our text. They are available in the Noble Library. You will be responsible for all the assigned reading, even if the material is not covered in class.
I will hand-out a set of math and science questions. These questions are given to you to indicate if you have the skills necessary to work the problems given in class. If you cannot do many of the questions in this handout, I strongly suggest that you see me before continuing with the class. The answer key will be posted on a bulletin board on the second floor of Physical Sciences F wing across from the elevators (it is the ugly building across the parking lot). You will receive 2 exam points for turning it in with your name on it.
HONORS CREDIT:
If you are in the Honors College, I encourage you to take this class for Honors Credit as a Afootnote 18" class or whatever it is now called. I will expect additional work such as a term paper. You must see me or email me if you are interested in doing this so we can agree on what will be necessary to obtain this credit.
EXAMS:
All my exams are machine scored, multiple choice and are open book and open notes. You must bring a picture ID to each exam and be prepared to show it upon demand. Neither cell phones nor laptops will be allowed during any of the exams. You may not share a textbook during the exam - I will give you a zero. I will hand out a review sheet before the exam outlining the material that I think is particularly important
There will be three (3) one hour exams during the semester each worth 50 points (50 questions worth one point apiece). Absence from an exam will result in a score of zero. I drop the lowest score among the three one hour exams so that there will be no make-up exam. I cover material during the class that is not in the textbook. I will, therefore, examine you on material that is not in the textbook. If this concerns you, I remind you that there is an attendance requirement for all classes at ASU. I do not take roll and satisfy the requirement by this method.
The final exam is a two (2) hour exam and will be given on Friday December 12, 2008 from 7:30am to 9:20am in PSH-153 (this classroom). Everyone must take the final.
Do NOT make airline reservations for any time before our final exam - there will be no early finals. The final exam is divided into two parts: one part covering the last quarter of the course and a second comprehensive part covering the entire course; it will be worth a total of 100 points.
OUTSIDE EXERCISES:
From time to time during the semester, I will hand out one page sheets with questions that require short answers.
Most of them will involve going to the URL for an astronomy site (such as Astronomy Picture of the Day: see below) and
answering the questions that I have posed. Each sheet will be worth 2 Exam points and I expect to hand out about 10 of
these --more or less. I may also use some of the questions on these sheets as questions on the exams. They will be due the
next class period and the questions must be answered on the sheets that I have handed out. No copies and no late
sheets will be accepted. These are a required part of the course and you must do at least 2 or 3 to pass this course.
They are not extra credit - I add in the exercise points before making up the final grade.
FINAL GRADE
I will make up the grades by totaling the number of exam plus exercise points accumulated during the semester. I will construct a curve based on the person with the largest number of points. I cannot tell how many points will be necessary for a particular letter grade but would guess that about 170 are necessary for an A, about 150 for a B, and about 120 for a C. These numbers are only approximate.
COMMON COURTESY:
(1) Show up on time.
(2) Please do not leave class early and rustle papers in preparation for leaving before class is dismissed.
(3) Try to stay awake - putting your head down on the desk and going to sleep is very distracting.
(5) Don’t cheat off your neighbors exam sheet there is an honors code at ASU.
(6) Turn off your Cell Phones and Pagers!
ACADEMIC DISHONESTY:
In the “Student Academic Integrity Policy” manual, ASU defines “’Plagiarism” [as] using another's words, ideas, materials or work without properly acknowledging and documenting the source. Students are responsible for knowing the rules governing the use of another's work or materials and for acknowledging and documenting the source appropriately.” You can find this definition at: http://www.asu.edu/studentaffairs/studentlife/judicial/academic_integrity.htm#definitions
Academic dishonesty, including inappropriate collaboration, will not be tolerated. There are severe sanctions for cheating, plagiarizing and any other form of dishonesty.(This statement included at the request of Provost Capaldi)
THE WWW ASTRONOMY LINK OF LINKS: Brought to you by Sky and Telescope Magazine;
http://skytonight.com/resources/internet/3304931.html (From here you can go just about anywhere)
Also look at the Astronomy Picture of the Day: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
THE WWW ASTRONOMY LINK OF LINKS: Brought to you by Sky and Telescope Magazine;
http://www.skypub.com/links/astroweb.shtml (From here you can go just about anywhere)
Also look at the Astronomy Picture of the Day: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html
Schedule of Chapters (rough order - subject to change by announcement in class):
Week Chapters Subject Matter
1 Appendix A and 1 Units, Astronomical Data and the Scale of the Cosmos
2 2 The Night Sky
3 3 and 4 Cycles of the Moon and Origin of Modern Astronomy
4 5 Newton and Gravity
5 and 6 6 and 7 Light and Telescopes and Starlight and Atoms
7 8 The Sun as a Star
8 19 Origin of the Solar System
9 20 The Earth
10 21 The Moon and Mercury
11 22 Venus and Mars
12 23 Jupiter and Saturn
13 24 Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Sedna, ...
14 25 Meteorites, Asteroids, Comets
15 26 Life on Other Worlds (maybe)