Download AST 3033

COURSE POLICY STATEMENT - DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS, UWF
COURSE:
AST 3033-0184; Modern Astronomy
TERM:
Fall, 2010, Room 13-230, Tuesdays/Thursdays from 5:30-6:45
TEXT:
Foundations of Astronomy, M. Seeds, Eleventh Edition, 2010
INSTRUCTOR:
Dr. J. Wayne Wooten
OFFICE:
Room 9704, PJC
CONTACTS:
484-1152 (voicemail), [email protected], http://www.eaaa.net
OFFICE HOURS:
M-F afternoons from 1:00 - 3 PM
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WITHDRAWALS: UWF policy requires that students submit to Records and Registration a
completed withdrawal form to withdraw from courses, which is a different policy than that used by
some other institutions. Withdrawals processed by October 29, 2010 results in a “W” grade being
recorded. Withdrawals after this date can be done only by withdrawing from UWF; the grade
assigned will be W or WF. No withdrawals can be made after the close of classes.
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GENERAL COURSE DESCRIPTION:
Modern Astronomy AST 3033 us a broad survey of the known universe, including our view of the
sky, the solar system, the Sun compared to other stars, and our Milky Way among the galaxies. We
will frequently supplement the fine text with new discoveries off the Internet, new articles on current
web sites (assigned via ArgoMail), and discussions of major discoveries, problems, and challenges to
be confronted by astronomers and other scientists in the 21st century.
As we meet in late afternoon, we will utilize UWF telescopes for solar activity before sunset, then
conclude class with observations of the Moon, the currently visible constellations, and telescopic
treats. If this type of observing appeals to you, consider joining the Escambia Amateur Astronomers’
Association; its next public event is the Fort Pickens Gaze at Battery Worth at 7 PM on Friday,
September 10, 2010. You will receive bonus points on your unit tests for participation in these
astronomy club meetings and other extracurricular events.
Also, to acquaint you with the current evening sky, the first five items on each of your four unit tests
will be questions regarding the planets and constellations out now, starting with the spring
constellations in the western sky on your unit I test.
The text is divided into four basic units, each encompassing about a month of the term. At the end of
the unit, there will be a test, with both multiple choice and essay questions, covering the chapter
objectives and The Sky assignments for that unit. We will have a unit review session at the end of
the class preceding each of these four tests. Here is a tentative schedule for the Fall Term of 2010:
Week
8/24
8/31
9/7
9/14
9/21
9/28
10/5
10/12
10/19
10/26
11/2
11/9
11/16
11/23
11/25
11/30
12/7
Topics and Activities
Cosmic Scales, the Sky, Spring Sky
Lunar Motions, The Copernican Revolution
Physics, Light, Telescopes, unit I review
Test I, The Solar System, Summer Sky
Earth and Moon, Terrestrial planets
Jovian planets
Comets and Asteroids, unit II review
Test II, Reading starlight, Fall Sky
The Sun among the stars
Stellar Evolution
Star Death, unit review
Test III Test, The Milky Way Galaxy
Normal Galaxies, Winter Sky
Active Galaxies
Thanksgiving Holiday
Cosmology, unit review
Final Exam Date (unit IV materials only)
Chapters
1-2
3-4
5-6
19
20-22
23-24
25
7
8-9
10-12
13-14
15
16
17
18
Each unit test is worth 100 possible points, with bonus points from article reviews, optional
computer exercises, and observational activities added in, up to +12 points per unit test. The
grading scale at the end of the term is as follows: A = 400-370, A- = 369-360, B+ = 359-350,
B= 349-330, B- = 329-320, C+ = 319-300, C = 299-270, C- = 269-240, D+ = 239 -230, D =
229-210, D- = 209-200, below 200 total points in term is an F. Students using others work on a
test will be given a “O” on that exam. If you make less than a 70 on a unit exam, you may be
assigned remedial questions to pull your unit test grade up to a middle C; you will have two
weeks to turn in this remedial work for full credit. You are invited to ask for help on this work
from your instructor, via e-mail or after class assistance. No excuses for failure…just do it!
Attached is the set of chapter objectives for the term. Also you will receive a sky map and calendar
for the start of the term. New maps for each month will be passed out later. We will study the spring
stars for unit I, summer stars for II, fall stars for unit III, and winter sky for the final exam.
While this course is not intended for science majors, and the math will be held to a minimum, your
instructor feels you will be introduced to many of the issues that make modern astronomy the most
fascinating and rapidly changing of the sciences.
Keep looking up!
Dr. J. Wayne Wooten