{"id":3239,"date":"2016-04-20T22:15:33","date_gmt":"2016-04-20T18:15:33","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sites.williams.edu\/kkwitter\/?page_id=3239"},"modified":"2017-11-15T23:21:30","modified_gmt":"2017-11-15T19:21:30","slug":"astronomy-111-syllabus-f17","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.williams.edu\/kkwitter\/astronomy-111-syllabus-f17\/","title":{"rendered":"Astronomy 111 Syllabus – F17"},"content":{"rendered":"
last updated 11\/15\/17<\/span><\/pre>\n
\"\"
\n<\/span>Text<\/span><\/h2>\n
Astronomy, A Physical Perspective (2\/e)<\/b><\/i>\u00a0by Kutner, published by Cambridge U. Press, available at Water Street Books. (Make sure to check and make corrections from\u00a0errata pages<\/a>\u00a0at:\u00a0http:\/\/www.astronomyaphysicalperspective.com\/APP2.corr.28Sep04.pdf<\/i>). I will also occasionally assign\u00a0readings available on Glow.<\/p>\n
In addition, an online open-source, up-to-date text that I highly recommend as supplemental reading is available here<\/a>. You can read it online or download the whole (large) text.<\/p>\n
Lectures<\/span><\/h2>\n
Tuesdays and Thursdays: 11:20 AM – 12:35 PM in TPL 203<\/p>\n
\n
Orientation to Observing Facilities<\/span><\/h2>\n
Sign up in class to attend\u00a0one<\/b>. Sign up on the sheets posted outside TPL 203 and meet on the observing deck (4th floor of TPL; take back stairs).
\nMonday, Sept. 11<\/b>: 8:00 PM, 8:30 PM
\nTuesday, Sept. 12<\/b>: 8:00 PM, 8:30 PM
\nWednesday, Sept. 13<\/b>: 8:00 PM, 8:30 PM<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
Indoor Labs<\/span><\/h2>\n
Indoor labs are held regardless of the weather; labs\u00a0do not\u00a0<\/b>meet every week; see the schedule below. You have been assigned by the Registrar to a particular lab section. It is usually possible to switch sections. If you wish to do so, please contact Dr. Souza. All labs are held in TPL 301.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Lab I<\/td>\n\u00a0Electromagnetic Radiation<\/strong><\/td>\nThu. 9\/14, Mon. 9\/18<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lab II<\/td>\n\u00a0Spectral Classification & the HR\u00a0Diagram <\/strong><\/td>\nThu. 9\/28, Mon. 10\/2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lab III<\/td>\n\u00a0Image Processing <\/strong>– RESCHEDULED<\/span><\/b><\/td>\nMon. 11\/6, Thu. 11\/9<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lab IV<\/td>\n\u00a0Binary Stars<\/strong><\/td>\nNEW DATES: Thu. 10\/26,\u00a0Mon. 10\/30<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lab V<\/td>\n\u00a0Virtual Sky CANCELLED<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lab VI<\/td>\n\u00a0After the Supernova<\/strong><\/td>\nMon. 11\/27, Thu. 11\/30<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Observing<\/span><\/h2>\n
The observing deck atop TPL offers a computer-controlled 24-inch telescope with CCD camera, several other telescopes, and auxiliary equipment. We hope that you will enjoy using and learning from our observing facilities. The observing program itself will be described in a separate handout.<\/p>\n
Homework<\/span><\/h2>\n
Problem sets<\/a> will be assigned roughly every week, and will be due in class approximately one week later. Assignments will be accepted (with a grade penalty) up to one day late; after that no assignments will be accepted for credit.<\/p>\n
Workload<\/span><\/h2>\n
In addition to class time, students should expect to spend a minimum of 10 hours per week on this course. This includes time spent on reading, homework, labs, and observing projects.<\/p>\n
Exams and Grading<\/span><\/h2>\n
Hour Exam<\/span><\/i>
\n\u2022 Thursday, October 5, in class
\nThe second hour exam has been cancelled; there will be a regular class lecture instead, to minimize missed material. <\/b><\/p>\n
Final<\/span> Exam<\/span><\/i>
\n\u2022 Friday, December 15, 9:30 AM; 114 TPL<\/p>\n
Makeups for hour exams or labs will be scheduled for those who request to be excused beforehand, or for those with excuses from the Infirmary. Makeup or rescheduled final exams can only be given with the prior approval of the Deans’ Office.<\/p>\n
Grades<\/span><\/i>
\nwill be calculated as follows (this has been updated from what was on the original syllabus<\/b>):
\n\u2022 Hour Exam: 30%\u00a0<\/span><\/span>
\n\u2022 Homework: 20% <\/span><\/span>
\n\u2022 Labs and Observing: 20%<\/span><\/span>
\n\u2022 Final Exam: 30% <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Attendance<\/span><\/h2>\n
Though attendance will not be taken routinely, it is in your interest to attend class regularly. I reserve the right to take your attendance record into consideration when assigning the final grade.<\/p>\n
Disabilities Statement<\/span><\/h2>\n
Students with disabilities of any kind who may need disability-related classroom accommodations for this course are encouraged to contact G. L. Wallace, Director of Accessible Education at 597-4978. Also, students experiencing mental or physical health challenges that are significantly affecting their academic work are encouraged to contact me and to speak with a dean.\u00a0 The deans can be reached at 597-4171.<\/p>\n
Honor System<\/span><\/h2>\n
Students are strongly reminded of the honor system as described in the Student Handbook. No collaboration at all is allowed on exams. All observing work handed in must be exclusively your own. In labs, students will work in small groups, but each student must turn in his or her own lab write-up. If you are in any doubt about how the honor system applies to a particular activity in this course, please consult an instructor.<\/p>\n
Lecture Topics<\/span><\/h2>\n
Below is a schedule of the topics to be covered. It is very important that you do the assigned reading before the class in which it will be discussed;\u00a0that way you\u2019re prepared for the lecture and can bring up any issues or difficulties with the material. This syllabus has been updated and is the operative schedule.<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
DATE<\/span><\/b><\/td>\nTOPIC<\/span><\/b><\/td>\nCHAPTER<\/span><\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Th. 9\/7<\/td>\nIntroduction<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n1, 2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tu. 9\/12<\/td>\nThe Nature of Light; Radiation Laws<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n\u00a02<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Th. 9\/14<\/td>\nMagnitudes, Colors & Distances of Stars<\/strong><\/td>\n2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tu. 9\/19<\/td>\nAtoms & Light<\/strong><\/td>\n2, 3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Th. 9\/21<\/td>\nNO CLASS: ROSH HASHANA\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tu. 9\/26<\/td>\nThermodynamics & Spectra; The Doppler Effect<\/strong><\/td>\n3, 5.2<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Th.\u00a09\/28<\/td>\nStellar Spectra & the HR Diagram I.<\/strong><\/td>\n\u00a03<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tu.\u00a010\/3<\/td>\nStellar Spectra & the HR Diagram II.<\/strong><\/td>\n\u00a03<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Th. 10\/5<\/td>\nFIRST HOUR EXAM<\/strong><\/span><\/td>\nmaterial through Ch.\u00a03<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tu. 10\/10<\/td>\nNO CLASS: FALL READING PERIOD<\/span><\/b><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Th. 10\/12<\/span><\/td>\nTelescopes & Observatories:\u00a0PowerPoint on GLOW<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n4<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tu. 10\/24<\/td>\nBinary Stars: Keys to Masses & Sizes<\/strong><\/td>\n\u00a05<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Th. 10\/19<\/span><\/td>\nThe Sun:\u00a0PowerPoint on GLOW<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Th. 10\/26<\/td>\nStellar Energy Generation; Stellar Structure<\/span><\/strong><\/td>\n9<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tu.\u00a010\/31<\/td>\nStar Formation<\/strong><\/td>\n9; 15.1-5 (ADVANCED)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Th.\u00a011\/2<\/td>\nThe Deaths of Stars Like the Sun: Planetary Nebulae<\/strong><\/td>\n10<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tu. 11\/7<\/td>\nWhite Dwarfs<\/strong><\/td>\n10
\n(skip 10.2)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Th. 11\/9<\/td>\nThe Deaths of Massive Stars I.<\/b><\/td>\n\u00a010.2, 11<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tu. 11\/14<\/td>\nThe Deaths of Massive Stars II.
\n<\/strong><\/b><\/td>\n		10.2, 11<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Th. 11\/16<\/td>\nNeutron Stars & Pulsars<\/strong><\/b><\/td>\n11<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tu. 11\/21<\/td>\nSpecial Relativity<\/strong><\/td>\n7<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Th. 11\/23<\/td>\nNO CLASS: THANKSGIVING<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/span><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tu.\u00a011\/28<\/td>\nGeneral Relativity<\/strong><\/b><\/td>\n8<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Th.\u00a011\/30<\/td>\nBlack Holes: The Basics<\/strong><\/td>\n8, 12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Tu. 12\/5<\/td>\nMore on Black Holes; Compact Binaries<\/strong><\/b><\/td>\n8, 12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Th. 12\/7<\/td>\nObservations of Black Holes<\/b><\/td>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n
Back to Assignments & Announcements<\/a><\/p>\n
Back to Links & Applets<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
last updated 11\/15\/17 Text Astronomy, A Physical Perspective (2\/e)\u00a0by Kutner, published by Cambridge U. Press, available at Water Street Books. (Make sure to check and make corrections from\u00a0errata pages\u00a0at:\u00a0http:\/\/www.astronomyaphysicalperspective.com\/APP2.corr.28Sep04.pdf). I will also occasionally assign\u00a0readings available on Glow. In addition, an online open-source, up-to-date text that I highly recommend as supplemental reading is available here. You […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":198,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":1,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3239","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.williams.edu\/kkwitter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3239","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.williams.edu\/kkwitter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.williams.edu\/kkwitter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.williams.edu\/kkwitter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/198"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.williams.edu\/kkwitter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3239"}],"version-history":[{"count":48,"href":"https:\/\/sites.williams.edu\/kkwitter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3239\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4125,"href":"https:\/\/sites.williams.edu\/kkwitter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3239\/revisions\/4125"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.williams.edu\/kkwitter\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}