Download AST 111 – Introduction to Astronomy

AST 111 Astronomy
Syllabus and Telecourse Packet
AST 111
Craig A. Bradley
Instructor, Fall 2010
(618)634-3345
800-481-2242 #3345
(618) 634-9451 (h) (618)771-2153 (cell)
[email protected]
http://www.shawneecc.edu/craigb
Return this sheet with your first assignment:
Name ____________________________________________
Phone number _____________________________________
Cell Phone ________________________________________
E-mail ___________________________________________
Sign and return:
I ___________________________ have read and understood this entire packet for the
AST 111 Astronomy class tele course. I understand that the assignments are due by the
dates marked on the worksheets. I understand the dates for the midterm and final exams
and that I can only take these exams during the time periods listed in the syllabus and in
any mailings I receive from my instructor. I understand that if I do not take these tests at
the predetermined time that I will receive a zero (0) for that exam. I also understand that I
must attend 4 evening outdoor labs and that if I do not attend the minimum number, up to
25% of my grade will be deducted from my final score. I also understand that extra credit
will not count until I have attended four (4) labs.
_________________________________________ _____________________________
Name
Date
First lab is August 30, 8pm. Please try to be there.
AST 111 – Introduction to Astronomy
Course
Description:
A course in astronomy designed for students in any curriculum. The
course includes a study of the sun and its planets together with a study
of the stars and the nebulae beyond the sun. Evening observation of the
moon and planets with the telescope and field glasses, together with the
study of approximately 20 constellations.
Current
Text:
Seeds. Horizons: Exploring the Universe. 11th ed. Belmont, Calif.:
Thomson Brooks/Cole (ISBN 0-495-55973-3).
Student Guide for Astronomy: Observations & Theories. 3rd ed.
Belmont, Calif.: Brooks/Cole (ISBN 0-439-04602-6).
Telecourse videos. Available in the bookstore. (Required)
Grading
Policy:
100% - 90%.....................................................................................A
89% - 80%.....................................................................................B
79% - 70%.....................................................................................C
69% - 60%.....................................................................................D
59% - 0%.....................................................................................F
Total points for class: 350 points.
Worksheets (8 @ 10 points)
Midterm Exam...(100 points) Chapters 1 - 11
Final Exam.........(100 points) Chapters 12 – 20
Labs are 25% of your final grade. (4 labs must be attended) 70 points
Worksheets: Worksheets with questions covering course material will be due
Attendance
Policy:
Test Policy:
periodically. The worksheets will be used to evaluate student progress.
Since this is a telecourse you are not required to make class meetings
except the four labs. YOU will be responsible to makeup the missed
exams. You must attend and participate in 4 outside evening labs.
These labs are 25% of your final grade.
Tests are expected to be taken on the date given. Tests can also be
taken at the LSC on campus by calling Kari Ghoulson at 634-3316 to
setup an appointment. You may also take exams at any of the extension
centers. Please notify me if you wish to take the exams at any location
other than main campus. Any other missed exams will net a score of 0,
which will be averaged in with your other exam scores.
1. Read the textbook chapters/student guide lessons as indicated on
Course
your assignment sheet.
Requirements
2. View the video lessons. A schedule for this telecourse is enclosed.
3. Complete the study activities and the worksheets at the end of each
section. These will not be collected, but may help you with the
midterm and final.
Course
Objectives:
Credit
Hours:
1. Define astronomy, describe the process of science, and offer
examples of the dynamic and ever-changing nature of this discipline.
2. Describe the appearance and motions of the sun, moon, planets, and
stars that can be observed with the naked eye, and explain related
phenomena such as eclipses and seasons.
3. Identify the historical contributions of Ptolemy, Copernicus, Tycho,
Kepler, Galileo, and Newton, and discuss how astronomy developed
from the ancient conceptions of the Greeks to a modern
understanding of gravity, tides, and orbital motion.
4. Explain the interaction of light and atoms, and discuss how
telescopes and associated instruments are used to gather and analyze
light at different wavelengths to measure the physical characteristics
of stars and galaxies.
5. Describe the interior and atmosphere of the sun, including the
nuclear processes taking place in its core and surface phenomena
(such as those that affect Earth).
6. Discuss how astronomers determine the basic properties of stars
(such as distance from Earth, luminosity, mass, and diameter) and
explain how these properties change at different stages of a star’s
life.
7. Explain the physical processes taking place during the birth, life, and
death of stars and binary star systems.
8. Describe the structure, behavior, origin, and evolution of galaxies
(including our Milky Way), explain the phenomena associated with
active galactic nuclei, and discuss the distribution of galaxies
throughout the universe.
9. Explain the fundamental principles of cosmology, including the
shape of space-time, evidence for the big bang, and effects of
inflation and acceleration of the universe.
10. Summarize the basic features of our solar system, the physical
processes involved in its formation, and evidence for extrasolar
planetary systems.
11. Compare and contrast the similarities and differences among the
terrestrial planets, the Jovian planets, and smaller bodies of our solar
system.
12. Summarize what is known about the origin and nature of life on
Earth, and relate this to the search for possible life beyond our
planet.
4 credit hours.
Schedule (subject to change) YOU MUST USE TELECOURSE VIDEOS!!!
TEXT CHAPTER
Week 12
Chapter 1 The Scale of the Cosmos
Chapter 2 The Sky
Chapter 3 Cycles of the Sky
9/1
Worksheet #1 Due
Week 34
Chapter 4 The Origin of Modern Astronomy
Chapter 5 Astronomical Tools
Chapter 6 Atoms and Starlight
9/15
Worksheet #2 Due
Week 56
Chapter 7 The Sun
Chapter 8 The Properties of Stars
9/29
Worksheet #3 Due
Week 78
Chapter 9 The Formation and Structure of Stars
Chapter 10 The Deaths of Stars
Chapter 11 Neutron Stars and Black Holes
10/13
6pm
Room –
K1134A
Week 910
Worksheet #4 Due 10/13 (or at Exam)
Midterm Exam Text Chapters 1 – 11,
October 13th Wednesday 6pm – 8pm
Exam offered at extension centers and
testing center 10/5 – 10/12
Chapter 12 The Milky Way
Chapter 13 Galaxies
10/27
Worksheet #5 Due
Week
11-12
Chapter 14 Galaxies with Active Nuclei
Chapter 15 Cosmology
11/10
Worksheet #6 Due
Week
13-14
Chapter 16 The Origin of the Solar System
Chapter 17 The Earthlike Planets (PP 367–377)
VIDEO/STUDENT
GUIDE
Lesson 1
Lesson 2
Lesson 3
Lesson 4
Lesson 5
Lesson 6
Lesson 7
Lesson 8
Lesson 9
Lesson 10
Lesson 11
Can also take Midterm in
testing center and extension
sites without notification of
instructor. Setup
appointments with them.
Lesson 12
Lesson 13
Lesson 14
Lesson 15
Lesson 16
Lesson 17
11/23
Worksheet #7 Due
Week 14 Chapter 18 Worlds of the Outer Solar System
Chapter 19 Meteorites, Asteroids, and Comets
Chapter 20 Life on Other Worlds
12/5
12/8
Extra Credit Paper Due
Worksheet #8
Final
Exam
12/15
Final Exam Chapters 12 – 20
December 15, 2010 6pm – 8pm K1134A
Computer Lab
Lesson 18
Lesson 19
Lesson 20
Finals will also be given at
extension centers and
testing center – 12/6 –
12/10 (thru 12/15 at testing
center)
Astronomy lab schedule at
http://www.shawneecc.edu/craigb/AST111/labs.htm
You will receive a lab schedule in the mail before classes begin. You must attend up
to 4 evening labs to get up to your 25% grade credit for these labs.
Extra credit will only count after 4 labs are attended and all work is turned in.
AST 111 – Introduction to Astronomy
Fall 2010
This course will use the study or stars to introduce you to the many concepts basic to all
sciences.
If you have not taken a telecourse before, you will find that it is different than a regular
classroom course. By telecourse, the student, meaning you, has the freedom to set their
own class hours, but they will assume more of the responsibility for the following
material. You will do well if you use the videos, the textbook and the telecourse
guide together. All three of these correspond closely and provide several perspectives
on the material. Worksheet questions and exams will draw from all three sources. The
worksheets are short, so it is best to review all of the questions in the workbook and the
“review questions” in the textbook when you are studying for the exams.
Class will meet for the mid-term and final exams. The times and locations will be mailed
to you during the semester. If you cannot attend an exam you must contact me at the
college at 1-800-481-2242 or by email at [email protected] prior to the date of the
exam. You can take the exams at the LSC on the main campus by setting up an
appointment at extension #3316. You may also take exams at the extension centers
during the week of midterm and final exams.
Each assignment has a due date at printed at the top. The purposes are to keep everyone
on track for the exams and evaluate your progress. Answers will be sent back to you in
the mail marked on your sheets. No assignments will be accepted after the answers have
been posted. Please note the due dates on each sheet now so that you will know what to
expect. Assignments may be mailed back to me at this address:
Shawnee Community College
8364 Shawnee College Road
Ullin, IL 62992
Attention: Craig A. Bradley
There will be extra credit, which requires you to write a paper and evaluate a work of
science fiction. You may also do a research paper on a topic in astronomy that interests
you. You should use material from the course and backup material from the library to
compare the science of the book, movie or TV series to current scientific principals. An
example is that you might examine space travel as it is accomplished in a movie and
compare it to current modes of travel and current theories on the limitations of space
travel. The paper is to be 10 pages in length and quoted APA style. However, you must
clear the topic with me at or before the midterm exam! A copy of the paper must be
submitted on disk for publication on the internet. Extra credit paper will only count
AFTER all labs are attended and all worksheets are turned in!!!
Thank you for your interest in astronomy and if you have any questions please feel free to
contact me. I have will be at main campus daily during the semester.
The exams will be given at mid term and the end of the semester. Each exam will be
offered on two dates, which will be mailed to you at a later date. There is a class web
page with links to other information at the following address:
http://www.shawneecc.edu/craigb then select the AST 111 link. Supplemental lecture
materials are located at this site.
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS
The following list includes materials available at the SCC library and many other
collegiate and public libraries:
Videos – SCC Library – Other videos are available
“Universe – The Infinite Frontier” telecourse videos
“Venus Unveiled”
“The Science of Star Trek”
Magazines
Astronomy Magazine
Science News
Sky & Telescope Magazine
Astronomy Books
Cosmos – Carl Sagan
A Brief History of Time – Stephen Hawking
The Universe in a Nutshell – Stephen Hawking
I tend to prefer Sky & Telescope magazine for news and articles referring to astronomy.
There is a star chart in the center of the magazine that is very easy to use. The magazine
is also located in the SCC library. There are also many websites and WebPages such as
http://www.skypub.com. This site provides access to four different online magazines and
lots of different interests. Other websites include:
http://www.astronomy.com
http://www.spaceweather.com
“Venus Unveiled” is an excellent video and should be viewed as a part of the course if
possible. “The Science of Star Trek” provides good ideas for the extra credit term paper.
Criterion for the Astronomy papers:
Papers are to be specific on the topic you chose. Each of the papers should be typed in
APA style. The papers must follow these criteria:
1. Papers must be submitted in paper form and on floppy disk in Microsoft Word
format. If the papers cannot be read in Word, they will not count for credit.
2. Papers are worth a maximum of 10 points, 1 letter grade, based on 1 point per
page. For example, 8 body pages can earn up to a total of 8 points.
3. Pages are counted as the body of the paper. The cover sheet and bibliography
page do not count toward the total.
4. The paper will be graded on content then figured in with the total number of
pages.
5. Pictures can be included in the paper but cannot count toward the total number of
pages. If you have 3 pictures on a page that take up a complete page, that page
will not be counted as a whole page.
6. The pages must have a 1” margin top, bottom and sides. They must be numbered
and have a header with your last name on the page by the page number in the
upper right hand corner.
7. The text on the page must be 12 point, Times New Roman.
8. If you use a direct quote in the paper, it must be referenced in the text: i.e.
(Bradley, 76). The quote must have a reference in the bibliography page.
9. The bibliography page must be in APA style for the quotes from the articles.
10. You must have at least 6 sources or books used for the quotes. The text book can
be one of your sources. These sources can come from the internet and must be
quoted appropriately.
11. You can use first search at this address to find papers:
http://newfirstsearch.oclc.org/ Authorization: 100109750 Password:
EVXX*JESS
12. The Shawnee College library and its website can be used to access online
information. If you need assistance, see me or contact the library staff.
13. Papers must be submitted by the date assigned by the instructor for credit. If you
want the paper returned, include a large manila envelope with your name and
address on the cover. The college will pay for postage for the paper to be
returned.
14. Extra credit papers will only count AFTER all required labs have been
attended!
Submission of Worksheets
Worksheet answers are to be submitted on the accompanying scan forms. Make sure to
identify the worksheet you are submitting on the sheet by writing the number on the
top of the sheet. Send in only the scan form unless you are doing a paper, then you may
send in Worksheet 4. Worksheets submitted 1 week after the required date will have 2
points deducted. After this period of time, the worksheets will be graded 0.
For example: Worksheet 2 might read at the top - AST 111 #2
Make sure your name is on the scan form and the worksheet. Any scan sheet mailed out
without an identifying mark will not be graded! Grades will be mailed back to you
periodically.
The worksheets are multiple choice or true false and each of the questions has at least 4
answers to them. Please read the questions carefully as some of the answers are on the
same line to preserve paper.
If you have any questions about the sheets, please contact me.
Thanks,
Craig A. Bradley
DO NOT PUT MY NAME ON THE WORKSHEETS! PUT
YOUR NAME ON THEM!
You MUST put the worksheet number on the sheets!
WORKSHEET #1 (Send in only scan sheet with your name and worksheet # as in the
example on the previous page.)
DUE September 1, 2010 (not postmarked date, in my hand these dates!)
AST 111 - INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY
Material covered: Text chapters 1-3
Name_________________________
____
____
____
____
____
____
Multiple choice. Please choose the most correct answer. (1 Pt each)
1. How is a planet different than a star?
a. Planets reflect light while stars produce their own light.
b. Planets are brighter than stars.
c. Planets are larger than stars.
d. Stars move faster in the sky than planets.
2. Seen from the northern latitudes, the star Polaris
a. is the brightest star in the sky.
b. is never above the horizon during the day.
c. is never visible during the winter.
d. always sets directly in the west.
e. is always above the northern horizon.
3. The magnitude scale
a. was used to determine the rate of precession.
b. can be used to indicate the apparent intensity of a celestial object.
c. is no longer used today.
d. originated just after the telescope was invented.
e. was devised by Galileo.
4. If we say that an object is 1,000 light-years away we see it
a. as it looked 1,000 light-years ago.
b. as it is right now, but it appears 1,000 times dimmer.
c. as it looked 1,000 years ago.
d. as it would appear to our ancestors 1,000 years ago.
5. The star Vega has an apparent visual magnitude of 0.03 and the star HR 4374 has an
apparent visual magnitude of 4.87. It has been determined that both stars are at the same
distance from Earth. What does this information tell us about the two stars?
a. Vega will appear fainter to us than HR 4374.
b. Vega must produce less energy than HR 4374.
c. Vega must be farther from Earth than HR 4374.
d. Vega must produce more energy than HR 4374.
e. Vega must be closer to Earth than HR 4374.
6. Constellation names are in
a. Greek.
b. Italian.
c. English.
d. Arabic.
e. Latin.
____
7. A solar or lunar eclipse will occur
a. when the sun is near the line of nodes of the moon and the moon is new or full.
b. half way through an eclipse year.
c. when the sun is near the solstice and the moon is new or full.
d. when the sun is near the equinox and the moon is new or full.
e. any time the moon is new or full.
____
8. The ____ is 18 years and 11 days long.
a. eclipse season
b. eclipse year
c. synodic period
d. saros cycle
e. sidereal period
____ 9. The Big Dipper is
a. an asterism.
b. a constellation.
c. only visible from the southern hemisphere.
d. always on an observer's zenith.
e. a circumpolar constellation for southern hemisphere observers.
____ 10. The point in Earth's orbit where Earth is farthest from the sun is known as
a. aphelion.
b. perihelion.
c. precession.
d. the winter solstice
e. a and d
____ 11. An observer in the Northern Hemisphere takes a time exposure photograph of the night
sky. If the illustration below depicts the photograph taken by the observer, which
direction was the camera pointing?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
straight up, directly overhead
straight north
straight south
straight west
straight east
____ 12. Which sequence is correct when ordered by increasing size?
a. Earth, Milky Way, Solar System, galaxy clusters
b. Solar System, Earth, galaxy clusters, Milky Way
c. Earth, Solar System, Milky Way, galaxy clusters
d. Galaxy clusters, Solar System, Milky Way, Earth
____ 13. The sun is on the celestial equator at the times of the
a. autumnal equinox and the vernal equinox.
b. sun is on the ecliptic and is never on the celestial equator.
c. vernal equinox and the summer solstice.
d. autumnal equinox and the winter solstice.
e. summer solstice and the winter solstice.
____ 14. Precession of the rotation axis of Earth is caused by
a. the force of gravity from the sun and Jupiter on the Earth-moon system.
b. the impact of asteroids.
c. the force of gravity from the sun and moon on Earth's equatorial bulge.
d. the magnetic field of Earth.
e. the formation and subsequent melting of glaciers during the ice-ages.
____ 15. The average distance from Earth to the sun is
a. 1 billion km
b. 1 AU
c. 1 million miles
d. 1 ly
e. 1 million km
____ 16. An observer's nadir is
a. the point directly opposite the observer's zenith.
b. always located near a circumpolar constellation.
c. the north point on the observer's horizon.
d. located at the center of Earth.
e. directly opposite the north celestial pole.
____ 17. A galaxy contains
a. thousands of superclusters.
b. gas, dust, and stars.
c. lots of gas and dust but very few stars.
d. primarily planets.
e. a single star and planets.
____ 18. The celestial equator is
a. a line around the sky directly above Earth's equator.
b. the dividing line between the north and south celestial hemispheres.
c. the path that the sun appears to follow on the celestial sphere as Earth orbits the
sun.
d. a and b.
e. a and c.
Diagram 3-1
____ 19. Diagram 3-1 shows three approximate locations of the sun along the western horizon.
Which number indicates the location of the sun at sunset on autumnal equinox for an
observer at a latitude of 45° N?
a. 3
b. 1
c. The sun will set in the east for an observer in the northern hemisphere.
d. The sun will not set on autumnal equinox at this latitude.
e. 2
____ 20. Northern Hemisphere winters are colder than Northern Hemisphere summers because
a. Earth is closer to the sun during the summer than it is during the winter.
b. the snow that falls in the northern latitudes cools Earth during the winter.
c. the light from the sun shines more directly on the Northern Hemisphere during the
summer.
d. the period of sunlight is longer during the summer than during the winter.
e. c and d
WORKSHEET #2
DUE September 15, 2010
AST 111 - INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY
Material covered: Text chapters 4-6
____
____
____
____
____
Name:___________________________
Multiple choice. Please choose the most correct answer. (1 pt. each)
1. What is the wavelength of the longest wavelength light that can be seen with the human
eye?
a. 400 nm
b. 3×108 m
c. 7000 nm
d. 4000 nm
e. 700 nm
2. Long wavelength visible light
a. will have a speed that is faster than short wavelength light.
b. will appear blue in color to the average human eye.
c. has a higher frequency than short wavelength visible light.
d. will have a greater energy than short wavelength visible light.
e. will appear red in color to the average human eye.
3. A ____ has a few million light sensitive diodes in an array typically about a half-inch
square.
a. photometer
b. spectrograph
c. grating
d. photographic plate
e. charge-coupled device
4. A ____ is a piece of glass with many small parallel lines etched on its surface to produce
a spectrum.
a. grating
b. photometer
c. spectrograph
d. charge-coupled device
e. prism
5. Why don't we see hydrogen Balmer lines in the spectra of stars with temperatures of
3,200 K?
a. The stars are hot enough that most of the hydrogen is ionized and the atoms cannot
absorb energy.
b. Stars of this temperature are too hot to produce an absorption spectrum.
c. There is no hydrogen in stars this cool.
d. Stars of this temperature are too cool to produce an absorption spectrum.
e. These stars are so cool that nearly all of the hydrogen atoms are in the ground
state.
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
6. A(n) ____ is a circle whose center is located on the circumference of another circle.
a. deferent
b. equant
c. epicycle
d. retrograde loop
e. ellipse
7. A telescope that suffers from chromatic aberration and has a low light gathering power is
most likely
a. a small diameter refracting telescope.
b. a large diameter refracting telescope.
c. an infrared telescope.
d. a small diameter reflecting telescope.
e. a large diameter reflecting telescope.
8. Retrograde motion
a. is only observable for the moon.
b. is observable for planets more distant from the Sun than is Earth.
c. is observable for planets located between Earth and the sun.
d. is observable for all planets.
e. none of the above
9. Astronomers build telescopes on tops of mountains because
a. there is less air to dim the light.
b. the seeing is better.
c. CCDs work better when there is less oxygen in the air.
d. all of the above
e. a and b
10. Radio telescopes are important in astronomy because
a. they can detect cool hydrogen.
b. they don't need to be as large as optical telescopes to achieve the same resolving
power.
c. they are very inexpensive to build on tops of mountains.
d. the can detect interstellar dust clouds.
e. they have high magnification.
11. An achromatic lens
a. is used to correct spherical aberration in reflecting telescopes.
b. is used to correct chromatic aberration in refracting telescopes.
c. is used to correct spherical aberration in refracting telescopes.
d. is used to correct chromatic aberration in reflecting telescopes.
e. contains two mirrors and focuses the light back through the primary mirror.
12. The process of removing an electron from a stable nucleus is known as
a. Doppler broadening.
b. quantum mechanics.
c. a red shift.
d. ionization.
e. collisional broadening.
____
13. The two most abundant elements in the sun are
a. carbon and nitrogen.
b. sulfur and iron.
c. nitrogen and oxygen.
d. carbon and hydrogen.
e. hydrogen and helium.
____
14. Parallax is
a. the circular orbits used in Copernicus' heliocentric universe.
b. the distance between two foci of an ellipse.
c. the apparent motion of an object due to the motion of the observer.
d. the small circle that the planets slid along in Ptolemy's geocentric universe.
e. half the length of the shortest diameter of an ellipse.
____
15. Atoms that have the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons are called
a. isotopes.
b. atomic pairs.
c. ions.
d. nuclear pairs.
e. molecules
____
16. A nanometer is
a. a unit of length.
b. a unit of frequency.
c. a unit of energy.
d. a unit of mass.
e. a unit of resolving power.
____
17. Absolute zero is
a. zero degrees Celsius.
b. the temperature at which atoms have no remaining energy from which we can extract heat.
c. the temperature at which water freezes.
d. both a and c
e. none of the above
____
18. The ____ of a gas is a measure of the average speed of the particles in the gas.
a. temperature
b. binding energy
c. heat
d. composition
e. blue shift
____
19. Which of the following features of a telescope determines its light gathering power?
a. The focal length of the objective
b. The diameter of the objective
c. Length of the telescope tube
d. The focal length of the eyepiece
e. None of the above.
____
20. Interferometry
a. requires that radio telescopes be within a few hundred feet of each other.
b. works only for large x-ray and ultraviolet telescopes.
c. decreases the chromatic aberration of a telescope.
d. is used to improve the resolving power.
e. none of the above
WORKSHEET #3
Due September 29, 2010
AST 111 - INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY
Material covered: Text chapters 7 & 8
Name:____________________________
Multiple choice choose the most correct answer (1 Pt each)
____
1. Sunspots are dark because
a. the sun rotates differentially.
b. regions of the photosphere are obscured by material in the chromosphere.
c. shock waves move through the photosphere.
d. they radiate their energy into space faster than the rest of the photosphere.
e. the strong magnetic field inhibits the currents of hot gas rising from below.
____
2. A recent sunspot maximum occurred in 2001. What is the year of the sunspot maximum that
immediately follows the 2001 maximum if the solar cycle continues?
a. the last cycle started a Maunder minimum and the next maximum cannot be predicted.
b. 2006 or 2007
c. 2018
d. 2023
e. 2012
____
3. Compared with the spectral lines in the solar spectrum, lines in a supergiant spectrum are
a. more narrow.
b. broader.
c. weaker.
d. stronger.
e. b & c
____
4. The ____ coincides with the period known as the "little ice age" of Europe and North America.
This provides one piece of evidence that suggests a link between solar activity and the amount of
solar energy Earth receives.
a. weak solar force
b. Coulomb barrier
c. Babcock model
d. coronal hole
e. Maunder minimum
____
5. Much of the solar wind comes from ____ where the magnetic field does not loop back into the
sun.
a. spicules
b. granulation
c. prominences
d. auroras
e. coronal holes
____
6. The hydrogen lines in spectral type A stars
a. are very weak and difficult to see.
b. are useful in determining the apparent magnitude of the star.
c. can not be used to estimate the luminosity of the star.
d. are most narrow for main sequence stars.
e. are most narrow for supergiants.
____
7. The ____ occurs when a rapidly rotating conductor is stirred by convection to produce a magnetic
field.
a. Babcock effect
b. aurora
c. Zeeman effect
d. proton-proton chain
e. dynamo effect
____
8. The ____ is (are) the hot gases that are the moving extension of the sun's corona.
a. prominences
b. flares
c. supergranules
d. spicules
e. solar wind
____
9. Differential rotation of the sun
a. causes the sunspots to migrate slowly from the equator toward the poles as the sun rotates.
b. implies that the equatorial regions of the sun rotate more rapidly than the polar regions.
c. implies that the sun's southern hemisphere and northern hemisphere rotate in opposite
directions.
d. is caused by the magnetic dynamo inside the sun.
e. causes the heating in the chromosphere and corona that makes them hotter than the
photosphere.
____ 10. In a binary system, the more massive star
a. is farthest from the center of mass.
b. is nearest the center of mass.
c. is at the center of mass.
d. shows a larger Doppler shift in its spectral lines.
e. follows the largest orbit.
____ 11. In the H-R diagram, 90 percent of all stars are
a. in the giant region.
b. in the supergiant region.
c. among the G stars.
d. on the main sequence.
e. among the B stars.
____ 12. The sun creates its energy by the process of
a. radiation.
b. conduction.
c. nuclear fusion.
d. convection.
e. nuclear fission.
____ 13. To determine the period of a visual binary, we must measure
a. brightness.
b. wavelengths.
c. position.
d. temperature.
e. luminosity.
____ 14. ____ about 130 km above Earth's surface when energy in the solar wind guided by Earth's
magnetic field excites gases in the upper atmosphere.
a. Flares occur
b. Auroras occur
c. Coronas occur
d. Nuclear fission occurs
e. Coronal holes occur
____ 15. Which of the following best obey the mass-luminosity relation?
a. white dwarfs
b. giant stars
c. main sequence stars
d. supergiant stars
e. all of the above
____ 16. The chromosphere of the sun
a. appears yellow-white in color during total solar eclipse.
b. produces an absorption spectrum.
c. is hotter than the photosphere.
d. is the visible surface of the sun.
e. all of the above
____ 17. Which of the following stars is most dense?
a. the sun
b. a giant star
c. a supergiant star
d. a white dwarf
e. a main sequence star
____ 18. Parallax would be easier to measure if
a. Earth moved faster along its orbit.
b. Earth's orbit was larger.
c. the stars were farther away.
d. all of these
e. none of these
____ 19. Granulation is caused by
a. the heating in the chromosphere.
b. rising gas below the photosphere.
c. sunspots.
d. the solar wind flowing away from the corona.
e. shock waves in the corona.
____ 20. The sun's magnetic field is evident in the looped shapes of
a. the corona.
b. solar flares.
c. sunspots.
d. granules.
e. prominences.
WORKSHEET #4
DUE October 13 (or at the midterm exam 10/13 hand in only 6pm K1134A & B)
Off campus midterms 10/5 – 10/12
AST 111 - INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY
My extra credit paper will be_____________________________________ Due 12/5
Material covered Text chapters 9-11
Name____________________________
Multiple choice choose the most correct answer (1 pt each)
____
1. Emission nebulae are also called ____ because they are composed of ionized hydrogen.
a. HI regions
b. Bok globules
c. reflection nebulae
d. HeI regions
e. HII regions
____
2. A planetary nebula is
a. produced by a nova explosion.
b. produced by a supernova explosion.
c. a nebula within which planets are forming.
d. a cloud of hot gas surrounding a planet.
e. the expelled outer envelope of a medium mass star.
____
3. Which of the following nuclear fuels does a one solar mass star use over the course of its entire
evolution?
a. hydrogen, helium, carbon, neon, and oxygen.
b. hydrogen, helium, carbon, and neon
c. hydrogen
d. hydrogen, helium and carbon
e. hydrogen and helium
____
4. The Great Nebula in Orion
a. is believed to be about 5 billion years old.
b. is a reflection nebula.
c. is an emission nebula.
d. contains only young low mass stars.
e. is a Herbig-Haro object.
____
5. ____ are small luminous nebulae excited by nearby young stars.
a. Giant molecular clouds
b. Herbig-Haro objects
c. T Tauri stars
d. O associations
e. Bok Globule
____
6. A star will experience a helium flash if
a. its mass on the main sequence was less than 0.1 solar masses.
b. it is a supergiant.
c. its core is degenerate when helium ignites.
d. it is more massive than about 6 solar masses.
e. its core contains oxygen and helium.
____
7. ____ are small dark nebulae about 1 light-year in diameter that contain 10 to 1,000 solar masses.
a. Reflection nebulae
b. Emission nebulae
c. Bok globules
d. HI regions
e. HII regions
____
8. In A.D. 1054, Chinese astronomers observed the appearance of a new star, whose location is now
occupied by
a. a pulsar.
b. a neutron star.
c. a supernova remnant.
d. all of the above
e. a and b
9. As a star exhausts hydrogen in its core, it
a. becomes cooler and less luminous.
b. becomes hotter and less luminous.
c. it becomes larger in radius and hotter.
d. becomes cooler and more luminous.
e. becomes hotter and more luminous.
10. Stars within a cluster that are at the turnoff point
a. have life expectancies that are equal to the age of the cluster.
b. are stars that are just entering the main sequence portion of their evolution.
c. are stars that are about to supernova.
d. are stars that are generally spectral type G stars.
e. are stars that are just becoming white dwarfs.
11. A mass is transferred through the inner Lagrangia point in a binary system toward a white dwarf,
the material forms a rapidly growing whirlpool of material known as a(n)
a. accretion disk.
b. Lagrangian point.
c. supernova remnant.
d. Algol paradox.
e. planetary nebula.
12. ____ occurs when light travels out of a gravitational field, loses energy and its wavelength grows
longer.
a. A pulsar wind
b. A X-ray burst
c. A gravitational redshift
d. A magnetar
e. Time dilation
____
____
____
____
____ 13. The slowing of clocks in strongly curved space time is known as
a. gravitational red shift.
b. gravitational curvature.
c. time dilation.
d. gravitational radiation.
e. hyperspace drag.
____ 14. The Crab nebula is
a. supernova remnant.
b. an absorption nebula.
c. a Bok globule.
d. an open cluster.
e. a planetary nebula.
____ 15. The density of a neutron star is
a. about the same as a water molecule.
b. about the same as that of a white dwarf.
c. smaller than expected because the magnetic field is so strong.
d. about the same as an atomic nucleus.
e. about the same as that of the sun.
____ 16. Protostars are difficult to observe because
a. they radiate mainly in the infrared.
b. they are surrounded by cocoons of gas and dust.
c. the protostar stage is very short.
d. all of the above
e. they are all so far away that the light hasn't reached us yet.
____ 17. The average star spends ____ of its lifetime on the main sequence.
a. 50%
b. 90%
c. 75%
d. 25%
e. 10%
____ 18. What causes the outward pressure that balances the inward pull of gravity in a star?
a. The opacity of the gas.
b. The outward flow of energy.
c. The temperature of the gas.
d. The density of the gas.
e. c and d
____ 19. Giant and supergiant stars are rare because
a. helium is very rare.
b. helium flash destroys many of the stars before they can become giants and supergiants.
c. they do not form as often as main sequence stars.
d. the giant and supergiant stage is unstable.
e. the giant and supergiant stage is very short.
____ 20. Which of the following is not evidence of the existence of an interstellar medium?
a. extinction
b. narrow calcium lines in the spectra of O and B stars
c. molecular bands in the spectra of cool stars
d. dark clouds
e. reddening
WORKSHEET #5
DUE October 27, 2010
AST 111 - INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY
Material covered: Text chapters 12 & 13
Name:__________________________
Multiple choice. Please choose the most correct answer. (1 pt each)
____
1. The cluster method can be used to determine a galaxy's
a. age.
b. distance.
c. mass.
d. diameter.
e. luminosity.
____
2. How did Harlow Shapley determine where the center of the galaxy lies?
a. He plotted the distribution of globular clusters.
b. He plotted the distribution of open clusters.
c. He measured the amount of dust obscuration in every direction of the galactic disk.
d. He made star counts in every direction of the galactic disk.
____
3. Galactic cannibalism refers to
a. binary galaxies.
b. galaxies drawing in gas from the intergalactic medium.
c. the merging of galaxies.
d. the destruction of a galaxies globular clusters by the galaxies nucleus.
e. none of these
____
4. How is the age of the galaxy determined?
a. Measuring the metallicity of Population II stars.
b. Counting the number of open clusters in the spiral arms.
c. From the motion of stars in the galactic halo.
d. Finding the turnoff point in the H-R diagram of globular clusters.
____
5. Radio maps of our galaxy show spiral arms because
a. the stars in the spiral arms emit most of their energy at radio wavelengths.
b. the arms have larger Doppler shifts.
c. the gas in spiral arms is denser.
d. the gas in the spiral arms is very hot.
e. the dust in spiral arms is denser.
____
6. An E galaxy contains
a. mostly white dwarfs and supergiants.
b. mostly upper main sequence stars and gas and dust.
c. mostly lower-main sequence stars and giants.
d. roughly equal numbers of upper and lower main sequence stars.
e. mostly upper main sequence stars and giants.
____
7. Gravitational lensing
a. occurs when the mass of a galaxy is less than expected from the luminosity of the galaxy.
b. occurs when light passes near a massive object and is deflected by the object's
gravitational field.
c. can be used to determine the luminosity of a galaxy.
d. can be used to determine the recessional velocity of a galaxy.
e. occurs when the mass of a galaxy is greater than expected from the luminosity of the
galaxy.
____
8. ____ are produced when two galaxies pass near each other and pull large streamers of stars, gas,
and dust away from the galaxies.
a. Tidal tails
b. Rotation curves
c. Irregular galaxies
d. Ring galaxies
e. Spiral galaxies
____
9. The center of our galaxy lies in the direction of the constellation of
a. Monoceros.
b. Ursa Major.
c. Orion.
d. Sagittarius.
e. Ursa Minor.
____ 10. Who first calibrated the Cepheid variable stars for use in determining distance?
a. Henrietta Leavitt
b. Harlow Shapley
c. Edwin Hubble
d. Carl Sagan
e. John Glenn
____ 11. ____ have elongated nuclei with spiral structure extending from the ends of the elongations. The
Milky Way is a member of this class of galaxy.
a. Irregular galaxies
b. Spiral galaxies
c. S0 galaxies
d. Elliptical galaxies
e. Barred spiral galaxies
____ 12. An irregular galaxy contains mostly
a. upper and lower main sequence stars and gas and dust.
b. lower-main sequence stars and giants.
c. white dwarfs and supergiants.
d. upper main sequence stars and giants.
e. upper main sequence stars and gas and dust.
____ 13. A mega-parsec is equivalent to
a. the diameter of the Milky Way galaxy.
b. 3,260,000 light-years.
c. 206,265 AU.
d. 206,265 light years.
e. 3.26 light-years.
____ 14. ____ in other galaxies should contain luminous O and B stars if they are like the Milky Way.
a. The halos
b. The bulges
c. The spiral arms
d. The coronas
e. The globular clusters
____ 15. Which of the following is not used as a distance indicator?
a. Large globular clusters
b. H II regions
c. Herbig-Haro objects
d. Cepheid variable stars
e. Supernovae
____ 16. Which of the following is not a characteristic of the stars of the disk component of our galaxy?
a. star formation regions
b. circular orbits
c. young stars
d. higher metal abundance
e. randomly inclined orbits
____ 17. A group of 10 to 100 stars that formed at the same time but are so widely scattered in space their
mutual gravity cannot hold them together is called
a. a globular cluster.
b. an open cluster.
c. an accretion disk.
d. a spherical component
e. an association.
____ 18. ____ first noticed that for Cepheid variable stars, there was a direct relation between the
luminosity and the period of the variation in their brightness.
a. Carl Sagan
b. Edwin Hubble
c. Henrietta Leavitt
d. John Glenn
e. Annie Cannon
____ 19. A spiral galaxy contains
a. mostly white dwarfs and supergiants.
b. upper and lower main sequence stars and gas and dust.
c. mostly upper main sequence stars and giants.
d. mostly lower-main sequence stars and giants.
e. mostly upper main sequence stars and gas and dust.
____ 20. Younger stars have more heavy elements because
a. old stars destroy heavy elements as they age.
b. heavy elements haven't had time to settle to the core of these younger stars.
c. the heavy elements were made in previous generations of stars.
d. young stars burn their nuclear fuels faster.
e. all of these
WORKSHEET #6
DUE November 10, 2010
AST 111 - INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY
Material covered: Text chapters 14 &15
Name:_________________________
Multiple choice choose the most correct answer. (1 pt. each)
____
____
____
____
____
1. Statistical evidence
a. is applicable to classes of objects where only a few objects from the class have
been studied.
b. provides insight into the behavior of an individual object based on careful
observations of it.
c. can be used to draw conclusions about a specific cases.
d. allows scientists to deduce general characteristics about a class of objects with
similar properties.
e. allows scientists to determine the mechanism that produces the dust ring in
Centaurus A.
2. Seyfert galaxies
a. are more common in close pairs of galaxies than in isolated systems.
b. emit more energy at X-ray, ultraviolet, infrared, or radio wavelengths than normal
spiral galaxies.
c. generally show red shifts greater than 6.
d. a and b
e. a, b and c
3. The assumption of homogeneity states that
a. the universe looks the same from all locations over sufficiently great distances.
b. the universe looks the same in all directions over sufficiently great distances.
c. the universe looks the same at all epochs.
d. all of the above
e. none of the above
4. As the universe cooled, it eventually reached a temperature of 3,000 K and protons were
able to capture and hold electrons to form neutral hydrogen. This process is known as
a. isotropy.
b. ionization.
c. hydration.
d. recombination.
e. annihilation.
5. The resolution of Olbers' paradox suggests that it gets dark at night because
a. the universe is not infinite in age.
b. the universe is static.
c. the universe is closed.
d. a and b
e. all of the above
____
____
____
____
____
6. In 1998 it was announced that the expansion of the universe is accelerating. What does
this imply from the perspective of the big bang?
a. A force exists that we knew nothing about that causes the expansion.
b. The universe is finite.
c. The universe must be infinitely old.
d. The universe must be closed.
e. The amount of dark matter must be greatly less than the amount of normal matter.
7. During the first moments of the big bang, nuclear fusion reactions made few heavy
elements because
a. the helium nucleus is unstable.
b. the temperature and density were too low.
c. no nuclei heavier than helium could form since there weren't any electrons formed.
d. no stable nuclei exist with masses of 5 or 8 hydrogen masses.
e. all heavy nuclei are unstable.
8. The central galaxy in a double-lobed radio source is usually
a. a dwarf elliptical galaxy.
b. an irregular galaxy.
c. a spiral galaxy.
d. a giant elliptical galaxy.
e. a quasar.
9. How does the study of quasars reveal information of the history of the universe?
a. Quasars are very distant so we can view how galaxy evolution occurred in the past.
b. Quasars typically act as host galaxies for gravitational lensing.
c. Quasars have been found to exist in every stage of the universe's evolution.
d. Quasars contain stars of all ages.
10. What is the most distant active galaxy?
a. BL Lac objects
b. Radio galaxies
c. Quasars
d. Seyfert galaxies
WORKSHEET #7
DUE Nov 23 (extra credit paper due 12/5. Four labs must be attended to count paper.)
AST 111 INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY
Material covered Text chapters 16 & 17
____
____
____
____
____
____
Name:__________________________
Multiple choice. Please choose the most correct answer. (1 pt. each)
1. Outgassing is
a. caused by the bombardment of the solar wind.
b. the largest of the Galilean satellites.
c. the adding of material to an object by collection of solid particles.
d. the release of gas from rocks as they are heated.
e. the adding of material to an object an atom or molecule at a time.
2. Slow surface evolution is caused by
a. wind erosion.
b. plate tectonics.
c. differentiation.
d. all of the above
e. a and b
3. The presence of breccias among the lunar rock samples shows that
a. molten lava once flowed over the lunar surface.
b. the lunar surface was fragmented by meteorite impacts.
c. volcanism did not occur on the moon.
d. water once existed on the moon in the form of small lakes and streams.
e. the crust must have been made of anorthosite.
4. The ozone layer is
a. opaque to infrared radiation.
b. opaque to visible light.
c. opaque to ultraviolet radiation.
d. responsible for producing most of the oxygen that animal life needs.
e. transparent to ultraviolet radiation.
5. An extrasolar planet is
a. the tenth planet found around a distant star.
b. another name for a meteoroid.
c. a planet found orbiting around a star other than the sun.
d. a planet that orbits the sun that we have not yet discovered.
e. another name for an asteroid.
6. A(n) ____ is a solar system object that enters Earth's atmosphere and becomes very hot
due to friction between the object and Earth's atmosphere.
a. comet
b. planetesimal
c. meteoroid
d. asteroid
e. meteor
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
7. The theory that Mercury shrank slightly when it was young has been proposed to explain
a. magnetic field.
b. large craters.
c. lobate scarps.
d. extended lava plains.
e. regolith.
8. Which of the solar system objects listed below is most similar to Earth in terms of mass
and density?
a. Moon
b. Mercury
c. Venus
d. Deimos
e. Mars
9. The gas that is most responsible for the greenhouse effect on Earth is
a. ozone (O3)
b. carbon dioxide (CO2)
c. ammonia (NH3)
d. oxygen (O2)
e. nitrogen (N2)
10. ____ are located more than 5 AU from the sun, have extremely large masses and very
low densities.
a. Jovian planets
b. Extrasolar planets
c. Asteroids
d. Terrestrial planets
e. Comets
11. Which one of the following objects is most like the planetesimals that formed in the solar
nebular?
a. asteroids
b. the sun
c. Earth
d. Venus
e. Saturn
12. The youngest parts of Earth's crust are
a. the continents.
b. the Appalachian Mountains.
c. the bottom layer found in the walls of the Grand Canyon.
d. the continental margins.
e. the midocean rifts.
13. The Galilean satellites
a. orbit the planet Jupiter.
b. orbit Mars.
c. orbit the Jovian planets.
d. orbit asteroids.
e. orbit extrasolar planets.
____ 14. Which of the following is not produced by plate tectonics?
a. the ring of fire
b. Earth's magnetic field
c. rift valleys
d. the Appalachian Mountains
e. midocean rifts
____ 15. ____ is the separation of material according to density.
a. Outgassing
b. Sublimation
c. Differentiation
d. Condensation
e. Accretion
____ 16. Accretion is
a. the adding of material to an object by collection of solid particles.
b. the largest of the Galilean satellites.
c. the release of gas from rocks as they are heated.
d. caused by the bombardment of the solar wind.
e. the adding of material to an object an atom or molecule at a time.
____ 17. The oldest rocks found on Earth are about ____ years old.
a. 3.9 billion
b. 4.6 billion
c. 6.2 million
d. 5.3 billion
e. 10 billion
____ 18. Which of the following is not one of the four stages in the development of a terrestrial
planet?
a. slow surface evolution
b. flooding
c. differentiation
d. sublimation
e. cratering
____ 19. The geology of Venus appears to be dominated by
a. strip mining.
b. plate tectonics.
c. erosion by flowing water.
d. impact cratering.
e. volcanism.
____ 20. Protoplanets
a. grew in size primarily by condensation.
b. grew in size by collecting the particles in the solar wind.
c. grew in size primarily by accretion.
d. are still visible today as the terrestrial planets.
e. grew in size by the coalescing of planetesimals.
WORKSHEET #8
DUE December 8, 2010 (no later, see final exam schedule on course outline)
AST 111 - INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY
____
1.
____
2.
____
3.
____
4.
____
5.
____
6.
Material covered: Text chapters 18-20
Name:_________________________
Multiple choice. Please choose the most correct answer. (1 pt. each)
The stars most likely to have inhabited planets are
a. G to K main sequence stars.
b. G to K giants.
c. white dwarfs and neutron stars.
d. M main sequence stars.
e. B to A main sequence stars.
The gas tail of a comet always
a. points perpendicular to the orbital path
b. extends ahead of the head along the orbital path.
c. points away from the sun.
d. points toward the sun.
e. trails behind the head along the orbital path.
The life zone is
a. only found around G and K stars.
b. the region on a planet where conditions are acceptable for life to exist.
c. very small for a massive star.
d. a region around a star where a planet's temperature would permit the existence of
liquid water.
e. a region on a young planet where amino acids can begin to form DNA molecules.
Though Titan is small, it is able to retain an atmosphere because
a. it has a very strong magnetic field.
b. it attracts gas from the solar wind.
c. it rotates very slowly.
d. it is very cold.
e. it is very dense.
A meteor shower is produced when
a. massive particles are carried outward from the sun by the solar wind and enter
Earth's atmosphere.
b. Earth passes through the orbital path of a comet.
c. Earth passes through the asteroid belt.
d. meteors cause condensation in the upper atmosphere that leads to early morning
rains.
e. a large number of sporadic meteors are observed.
Belt and zone circulation
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
is more obvious on Saturn than Jupiter.
is caused by the planet's magnetic field.
is caused by rising and sinking gases.
explains the formation of Cassini's division.
has been observed only on Jupiter.
____
____
____
____
____
____
____
7. Both Jupiter and Saturn
a. have belt and zone circulation.
b. emit more energy than they absorb from the sun.
c. have rings.
d. have liquid metallic hydrogen in their interiors.
e. all of the above
8. ____ in Saturn's rings is/are produced by the gravitational interaction of Mimas with the
particles in the rings and appears as a large gap in the rings.
a. Bending waves
b. The Io torus
c. Spiral density waves
d. Spokes
e. Cassini's division
9. The grooved terrain found on Ganymede is believed to be
a. caused by meteor impacts with the surface of Ganymede.
b. flow channels or liquid methane.
c. flow channels or liquid water.
d. a system of faults in the crust.
e. the peaks of water waves in a large ocean.
10. Comets falling into the inner solar system from the ____ become long-period comets.
a. Widmanstätten region
b. Roche limit
c. asteroid belt
d. Oort cloud
e. Kuiper belt
11. Meteorites can be classified according to their
a. impact history.
b. orbit.
c. distance from the sun.
d. mineral content.
e. coma.
12. The rings of Uranus were discovered
a. during an eclipse of Uranus by the rings.
b. by Voyager 1.
c. as Uranus and the rings passed behind Jupiter.
d. during an occultation of a star.
e. during an eclipse of one of the moons by the rings.
13. The impact of a large comet with Earth has been suggested to have caused the extinction
of the dinosaurs. The impact site of this comet is in or near
a. Iowa
b. Hudson Bay
c. Crater Lake, Oregon
d. Canberra, Australia
e. Chicxulub, Mexico
____ 14. The ____ of a planet is the region around the planet where the magnetic field is able to
deflect the solar wind and other charged particles.
a. hydrosphere
b. aurora
c. corona
d. Schwarzschild radius
e. magnetosphere
____ 15. The rotation of Uranus is peculiar in that
a. it can not be measure because Uranus has no surface features.
b. the equator rotates much faster than the poles.
c. it is much slower than is typical for Jovian planets.
d. it is much faster than is typical for Jovian planets.
e. the axis is nearly parallel to the plane of its orbit.
____ 16. Chondrites are meteorites that have
a. been heated sufficiently to release the volatiles it contained.
b. been completely melted.
c. entered Earth's atmosphere but will be destroyed before reaching the ground.
d. never been heated.
e. been heated sufficiently to melt the chondrules.
____ 17. The excess heat produced by Jupiter and Saturn is the result of
a. radioactive decay.
b. the continual slow contraction of each planet.
c. the large number of meteorite and comet impacts that occur each year.
d. hot molten lava rising to the surface.
e. nuclear reactions in their liquid metallic hydrogen cores.
____ 18. Why are massive main sequence stars not likely to have planets that contain life?
a. These stars are too hot to allow water to exist as a liquid on any planets that might
form.
b. These stars would sweep away all of the material from which planets could form.
c. These stars are almost always binaries and planetary orbits are unstable around
binaries.
d. These stars are on the main sequence for too short a time to allow life to evolve.
e. The life zones around these stars is too small.
____ 19. The first complex life appeared on Earth about 0.5 billion years ago during the
a. Mississippian Period.
b. Jurassic Period.
c. Precambrian Period.
d. Neolithic Period.
e. Cambrian Period.
____ 20. A bit of matter that enters Earth's atmosphere and survives to reach the ground is called
a. a minor planet.
b. a meteorite.
c. an asteroid.
d. a meteoroid.
e. a meteor.
Astronomy Lab Schedule
The astronomy class will attempt to meet on the following dates and times to use the telescope to look at
astronomical objects. Please contact the college 1 hour before lab on these dates if the weather looks
questionable. I will inform the front desk if the labs are cancelled. The number to call is 1-800-481-2242 or
you may call me at home at 618-634-9451. You may send me a text message to 618-771-2153 on my cell
phone.
Labs will be conducted at the Shawnee College Baseball field
Monday, August 30, 8 – 10pm
Wednesday, September 1, 8 -10pm
Thursday, September 9, 9 – 11pm
Monday, September 27, 7:30 – 9:30pm
Tuesday, September 28, 7:30 – 9:30pm
Midterm Exam (telecourse students) Wednesday October 13 6 – 8pm K1134A and B. Lab after
8:30 – 10:30pm
(more labs will be scheduled after midterm)
The lab schedule will be posted on my website at
http://www.shawneecc.edu/craigb/AST111/labs.htm
Attendance at four (4) labs is mandatory. Labs after the first 4 are worth 1 extra credit point for
attendance. You come when you can. There will be extra credit offered in the lab sessions and some test
material will come from the labs. Extra credit paper or any other extra credit will not count until four labs
are attended.
What to bring: lawn chair, blanket, flashlight, bug spray, notebook, pencil or pen, any maps or charts
handed out in class. Make sure to dress for the weather.
Thank you,
Craig
August 24 - Full Moon. This full moon will be the most distant and therefore the smallest of the year.
September 21 - Jupiter at Opposition. The Solar System's largest planet will be at its closest approach to
Earth.
September 23 - The Autumnal Equinox occurs in the northern hemisphere at 03:09 UT. There will be equal
amounts of day and night. This is also the first day of fall.
October 21, 22 - Orionids Meteor Shower. The Orionids is an average shower producing about 20 meteors
per hour at their peak. This shower usually peaks on the 21st, but it is highly irregular.
November 17, 18 - Leonids Meteor Shower. The Leonids is one of the better meteor showers to observe,
producing an average of 40 meteors per hour at their peak.
December 13, 14 - Geminids Meteor Shower. Considered by many to be the best meteor shower in the
heavens, the Geminids are known for producing up to 60 multicolored meteors per hour at their peak. The
peak of the shower this year should occur on the night of December 13 and morning of the 14th,
December 21 - Total Lunar Eclipse – visible after midnight
December 21 - The Winter Solstice occurs in the northern hemisphere at 23:38 UT. The Sun is at its lowest
point in the sky and it will be the shortest day of the year. This is also the first day of winter.