ASTR 101 - Course Description

Astronomy 101
Course Description
Fall 2005

Course Objectives:
This course and its companion, ASTR 102, are designed to provide a complete survey of astronomy at the introductory level. Emphasis is placed on the concepts and processes which have led to our current understanding of the universe. In the course, you'll spend as much time learning how we know things, and why we think we're right, as you will in learning what we know. ASTR 101 is a survey of the relatively nearby universe --- our own solar system. We will examine each of its major constituents as individual worlds, and we will explore how our knowledge of these worlds has evolved.

Instructor: Ned Ladd

Office: Olin 151, 189, and Observatory

Phone: 73102

AS101 Office Hours: M 3-4, T 11-12, W 10-11, R 10-11

Email: ladd@bucknell.edu

My Fall 2005 Schedule

Text Materials: Explorations, An Introduction to Astronomy, fourth edition, by Thomas T. Arny
plus, the ASTR 101 Laboratory Supplement (Part I is available in the Bookstore; Part II will show up in soon!)

Class Meetings: MWF 1:00-1:52, Olin 268

Labs:
This course satisfies the laboratory science course requirement of the Common Learning Agenda. Laboratory exercises for this course will be a combination of two types: traditional afternoon labs to be conducted mostly in Olin 269, and observing labs to be conducted in the evenings at the Observatory.
Afternoon Labs: You should be already be scheduled for a lab section one afternoon each week. These lab meetings are three hours long, and you should plan to be there for the entire time. You'll complete nine afternoon labs during the course of the semester. The Course Calendar lists the dates of each afternoon lab. Note that there are a few weeks when we do not have afternoon lab.
If you find that you cannot attend your regularly-scheduled lab, contact me in advance and you might be able to do the lab during another section's time. This year's class is very full and labs cannot accomodate more than 24 students, so the opportunities for lab-switching will be very limited. Please examine your schedules carefully -- if it is likely that you will miss one of more lab sections, you should 1) consider switching permanently to another lab section (if possible), or 2) taking this course during another semester when you can fit it into your schedule.
Observing Labs: Three additional labs will be nighttime observing labs, and you will need to go the Observatory on a clear night to complete them. Since we can't predict very well which nights will be clear during the semester, you have not been assigned a particular night to do these labs. Rather, it is your responsibility to complete these labs prior to their due dates (indicated on The Course Calendar). Space at the Observatory is limited, so you must sign up in advance for an observing slot. Signup sheets will be posted on my office door (Olin 151). When all of the slots for a given night are filled, no additional students may observe, and you'll have to sign up for a different night.
You will have three to four weeks to complete each of these observing labs, and none will require more than one night at the Observatory. Be aware, however, that Lewisburg is a cloudy place, and that clear nights can be few and far between. "It was cloudy" and "all the slots during the week before the due date were filled" are not acceptable excuses for not completing these labs on time.

Problem Sets:
Astronomy is a quantitative science, and the best way to understand the physical concepts involved requires applying your understanding to problems. Problem sets will be assigned (nearly) weekly throughout the semester, and will be due on Thursdays (see The Course Calendar for due dates). Solutions will be posted online at the time the problem set is due; therefore no late problem sets will be accepted for credit. However, I will allow you to drop one problem set without penalty. Your final problem set grade will be determined from your nine highest scores. I strongly recommend that you do all of the problem sets so that you can drop your lowest score, but if life gets in your way some week, you have the option of skipping one assignment.

Exams:
In-class exams are scheduled for 21 September, 19 October, and 16 November. All exams are cumulative in scope (i.e., you might be asked about material presented in September on November's exam); however, each exam will focus most prominently on the material covered since the last exam.
These will be a comprehensive final exam in this course, at a time and place determined by the Registrar.

Grading:
Your final grade will be based on a 1000 point scale. Points are allocated according to the following formula:

each in-class exam is worth 100 points (300 points total)
each lab is worth 30 points (360 points total)
each problem set is worth 15 points (135 points total)
the final exam is worth 205 points
In addition, for each missed lab, your final grade will be lowered by one-third of a grade point (e.g., from B to B-). Don't miss lab. Really. I mean it. Don't miss lab.

Back to the Astronomy 101 Home Page

Course Objectives: This course and its companion, ASTR 102, are designed to provide a complete survey of astronomy at the introductory level. Emphasis is placed on the concepts and processes which have led to our current understanding of the universe. In the course, you'll spend as much time learning how we know things, and why we think we're right, as you will in learning what we know. ASTR 101 is a survey of the relatively nearby universe --- our own solar system. We will examine each of its major constituents as individual worlds, and we will explore how our knowledge of these worlds has evolved.
Instructor:	Ned Ladd
	Office: Olin 151, 189, and Observatory
	Phone: 73102
	AS101 Office Hours: M 3-4, T 11-12, W 10-11, R 10-11
	Email: ladd@bucknell.edu
	My Fall 2005 Schedule
Text Materials:	Explorations, An Introduction to Astronomy, fourth edition, by Thomas T. Arny plus, the *ASTR 101 Laboratory Supplement* (Part I is available in the Bookstore; Part II will show up in soon!)
Class Meetings:	MWF 1:00-1:52, Olin 268
Labs: This course satisfies the laboratory science course requirement of the Common Learning Agenda. Laboratory exercises for this course will be a combination of two types: traditional afternoon labs to be conducted mostly in Olin 269, and observing labs to be conducted in the evenings at the Observatory. Afternoon Labs: You should be already be scheduled for a lab section one afternoon each week. These lab meetings are three hours long, and you should plan to be there for the entire time. You'll complete nine afternoon labs during the course of the semester. The Course Calendar lists the dates of each afternoon lab. Note that there are a few weeks when we do not have afternoon lab. If you find that you cannot attend your regularly-scheduled lab, contact me in advance and you might be able to do the lab during another section's time. This year's class is very full and labs cannot accomodate more than 24 students, so the opportunities for lab-switching will be very limited. Please examine your schedules carefully -- if it is likely that you will miss one of more lab sections, you should 1) consider switching permanently to another lab section (if possible), or 2) taking this course during another semester when you can fit it into your schedule. Observing Labs: Three additional labs will be nighttime observing labs, and you will need to go the Observatory on a clear night to complete them. Since we can't predict very well which nights will be clear during the semester, you have not been assigned a particular night to do these labs. Rather, it is your responsibility to complete these labs prior to their due dates (indicated on The Course Calendar). Space at the Observatory is limited, so you must sign up in advance for an observing slot. Signup sheets will be posted on my office door (Olin 151). When all of the slots for a given night are filled, no additional students may observe, and you'll have to sign up for a different night. You will have three to four weeks to complete each of these observing labs, and none will require more than one night at the Observatory. Be aware, however, that Lewisburg is a cloudy place, and that clear nights can be few and far between. "It was cloudy" and "all the slots during the week before the due date were filled" are not acceptable excuses for not completing these labs on time.
Problem Sets: Astronomy is a quantitative science, and the best way to understand the physical concepts involved requires applying your understanding to problems. Problem sets will be assigned (nearly) weekly throughout the semester, and will be due on Thursdays (see The Course Calendar for due dates). Solutions will be posted online at the time the problem set is due; therefore no late problem sets will be accepted for credit. However, I will allow you to drop one problem set without penalty. Your final problem set grade will be determined from your nine highest scores. I strongly recommend that you do all of the problem sets so that you can drop your lowest score, but if life gets in your way some week, you have the option of skipping one assignment.
Exams: In-class exams are scheduled for 21 September, 19 October, and 16 November. All exams are cumulative in scope (i.e., you might be asked about material presented in September on November's exam); however, each exam will focus most prominently on the material covered since the last exam. These will be a comprehensive final exam in this course, at a time and place determined by the Registrar.
Grading: Your final grade will be based on a 1000 point scale. Points are allocated according to the following formula: each in-class exam is worth 100 points (300 points total) each lab is worth 30 points (360 points total) each problem set is worth 15 points (135 points total) the final exam is worth 205 points *In addition, for each missed lab, your final grade will be lowered by one-third of a grade point (e.g., from B to B-).* Don't miss lab. Really. I mean it. Don't miss lab.