ASTRONOMY
Juniata's
5-inch Brashear Paul E. Hickes Observatory
Refractor (acquired in 1908)
at Juniata College
1. #Astronomy
Picture of the Day
2 .#Astronomy magazines
3. #Course syllabus
a. #Course objectives
b. #Text
c. #Daily schedule
d. #Course grade
e. #Homework
f. #Miscellaneous
4. #Observing
1. Astronomy Picture of the Day
A NASA Web
site that features a different image or picture each day. There is also an archive
of pictures, and loads of
interesting information.
2. Popular Astronomy Magazines
a. Astronomy
b. Sky &
Telescope
PC 120
ASTRONOMY
Fall Semester 2000
1. To see how, through man's curiosity and
creativity, our understanding of the universe has evolved and is still
developing.
2. To understand and appreciate the nature of
scientific study, emphasizing the use of models.
3. To become familiar with the large-scale
components and processes of our violent but magnificent universe.
4. To gain sufficient background and knowledge
to follow new developments in the field (e.g., Galileo's encounter with
Jupiter;
Cassini; Space Telescope; Chandra; Exploration of Mars).
5. To become familiar with the night sky.
B. Text: Discovering the Universe, 5th edition, by Kaufmann and Comins
[#Contents]
Meeting Date Reading Assignments; Films; Exams
1 8/28/00
Introduction
2
Foundations
I: Modern Astronomy; Film (Powers of Ten)
3
Chapter
1: Discovering the Night Sky; Observing;
Constellations; Moon(phases);
Constellation Myths
4 9/04/00
Finish chapter 1
5
Chapter
2: Gravitation and the Waltz of the Planets; Copernicus(monument)
6
Finish
chapter 2
7 9/11/00
Chapter 3: Light and Telescopes; Hubble Space Telescope
8
Finish
chapter 3; Film (The Invisible Universe)
9
Chapter
4: The Origin and Nature of Light
l 0 9/18/00
Finish chapter 4
11
Foundations
II: The Solar System; Origin; Overview; Extrasolar Planets
12
Exam
#1 (through chapter 4)
13 9/25/00
Chapter 5: The Earth and Its Moon; Earth; Moon
14
Finish
chapter 5
15
Chapter
6: The Other Inner Planets; Film (Mercury); Mercury; Venus
16 10/02/00
Finish chapter 6; Film (Life on Mars); Mars; Missions to Mars
17
Chapter
7: The Outer Planets; Jupiter; Galileo Mission; Saturn; Cassini Mission
l 8
Chapter
7; Uranus; Neptune
19 10/09/00
Finish chapter 7; Pluto
20
Mountain
Day "padding"
21
Chapter
8: Vagabonds of the Solar System; Asteroids;
Comets; Meteorites
-- 10/16/00
Fall Recess - no class
22
Finish chapter 8; Film (Comets: Time Capsules of the Solar System)
23
Chapter 9: Our Star, the Sun; Sun
24 10/23/00
Exam #2 (through chapter 8)
25
Finish
chapter 9
26
Foundations III: The Stars
27 10/30/00
Chapter 10: The Nature of Stars
28
Finish
chapter 10
29
Chapter
11: The Lives of Stars;
Films (Algol-The Demon Star;
Sirius and the White Dwarf)
30 11/06/00
Finish chapter 11
31
Chapter
12: The Deaths of Stars
32
Finish
chapter 12; Film (Birth and
Death of a Star)
33 11/13/00
Chapter 13: Black Holes
34
Foundations
IV
35
Exam #3 (through chapter 13)
36 11/20/00
Chapter 14: The Milky Way Galaxy
--
Thanksgiving
Recess - no class
--
Thanksgiving
Recess - no class
37 11/27/00
Chapter 15: Galaxies
38
Finish chapter 15
39
Chapter 16: Quasars and Active Galaxies
40 12/04/00
Finish Chapter 16
41
Chapter 17: Cosmology
42
Finish chapter 17
43 12/11/00
Chapter 18: The Search for Extraterrestrial Life; Film (The
Universe - Man’s Changing
Perception)
44 12/??/00
Final Exam
Points Percentage
Exam #1 Friday, September
22
100 23
Exam #2 Monday, October 23
100
23
Exam #3 Friday, November 17
100
23
Final Exam (December 14-20)
130 31
¾ ¾ ¾ ¾
Total: 430
100
E. Homework will be assigned regularly, collected periodically, read (not graded), recorded, and returned.
[#Contents]
1. Office (Dr. Norm Siems) BSC P230 Hours:
11:00-12:00 MWF; 10:00-11:00 TTh
2. Regular class attendance is expected.
3. Some evening observing is required.
Constellation and star identification will constitute part of the final exam.
4. Adherence to the College's Academic Integrity
Policy is expected.
5. Course withdrawal is permitted until noon on
12/12/00 .
4. OBSERVING One of the things you hope to achieve in an introductory astronomy course is a familiarity with the night sky. Learning some of the constellations and actual star names now can provide you with a life-long fascination and attachment to the heavens. You will be able to expand over time (each season brings its own cosmic delights) on the identifications you make this semester.
The student astronomy assistant, Amy Schumann, and/or I will be available every clear Monday and Wednesday night at 9:00 to help you begin your star and constellation identification. We will also point out other interesting heavenly spectacles (Moon, planets, Milky Way, galaxies, nebulae, etc.), and use 8-inch and 12-inch reflecting telescopes to observe them. Ultimately, you will be asked to point out and name a number of constellations and stars as part of your final exam in the course. Constellation names, pronunciations, and translations. [#Contents]