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ASTR
210
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Section 1
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Spring 2005
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Syllabus:
Available
as pdf.
You have chosen a great time to take this course.
Astronomy is right now in a golden age, with an explosion of new images and
data about the Solar System, the Galaxy, and indeed the whole Universe coming from
many new ground-based and space-based telescopes. Our scientific view of the big picture— the nature of the physical
universe— underwent a revolution in the 20th century, and further
discoveries are on the horizon. In this course, we will get an understanding of
the big astronomical picture through the development of a qualitative
and quantitative understanding of the structure and evolution of the
Universe. From the night sky to the
earliest instants of the Big Bang, we will apply basic physical principles on
grand scales to outline the major aspects of modern astrophysics, describe some of the fundamental
mysteries that remain unsolved, and imply how the flood of new data will help
to solve them. Indeed, we will find astrophysics
to be a great symphony that interweaves all areas of classical and modern
physics.
My goals for a graduate of
this course are that they understand our current scientific view of the
Universe, conceptualize the Universe, propose what the future may hold for the
field, make informed decisions about science policies, and hold any
“discovery” to a personal scientific standard of proof. To realize this goal, the student should develop a
broad conceptual synthesis— to “get under the hood" of the
Universe and see how the cosmic machinery works. This will require a mathematical description
of the Universe; thus, the lectures and assignments will feature a strong
quantitative component. Indeed, we will find that a quantitative analysis is
often essential to address qualitative questions, the results of which can lead
to revolutions in our view of the universe.
The following table shows the approximate grading scale in this course.
Final course grades will follow these guidelines. Plusses and minuses will be
used.
The ranges are approximate in that I may have to
adjust them if, for example, I give an exam that is a little too hard. In any
case, I will not increase the minimum cutoffs for each letter grade.
Introduction to Modern Astrophysics, Bradley W. Carroll & Dale A. Ostlie,
Addison-Wesley, 1996.
This book has the advantage that it is well written
and fairly accessibly, and manner covers all of astrophysics. Indeed, if you go
on to take more astrophysics, (e.g., ASTR 404, 405,
or 406) this book is often a text for those courses, so you can view this as an
investment in your astrophysics future. Unfortunately, either new or used, this
text is very expensive: my
apologies. Information in the text may be used for homework assignments, so a
copy has been placed on reserve in the Physics and Astronomy Library in Loomis.
Also, this book is very large! You
should not fear that you have to memorize its contents! The truth is that it is
very difficult to find a good textbook for this course, and Carroll & Ostlie represents the best compromise I currently know of.
Coming of Age
in the Milky Way, by Timothy Ferris, Perennial, 2003
This book is
a nice general overview of most of the important topics in this class. Some homework and exam questions will be
based from this book. Besides, it is a
fun read.
You are expected to attend lectures. I will cover material here that will
not always be in the text, and the lecture material will be included on the
exam. Class time is the most valuable
for you if you come prepared, having done the reading and ready to actively
engage the material. To encourage your engagement, the lectures will often be
punctuated by opportunities for your feedback, in the form of asking questions,
"voting" on the possible outcomes of observations or demonstrations,
or brainstorming answers to open-ended questions. To reward your participation
in these activities, you will occasionally be asked to write down and hand in
your response.
These participation surveys
are not "quizzes" in the usual sense, in that you are not required to
get all answers right. Rather, to get full credit you simply must offer a scientifically
reasonable response. The point of this is that the survey is always an
opportunity to gain points as long as you are actively engaged, even if you are
still a little confused. Indeed, the most difficult and potentially confusing subjects
are precisely those that most require you participation!
Although the number of these
is not set, often they come upon me in a whim, we will
usually have 8-15 of these a semester and 1-3 of them are dropped. This usually means that you can miss 1-3 surveys without penalty.
There will be
11 homework assignments given throughout the course. These are meant to sharpen
your thinking on the material covered in lecture, to develop physical intuition
and quantitative skills, and to help prepare you for the exams. Homework is due
at the beginning of class on almost every Friday. Check the schedule online for specifics
(http://eeyore.astro.illinois.edu/~lwl/classes/astro210/spring05/schedule.html).
Homework counts for 30% of the final grade! Your best
10 homework grades will be counted.
However, you are responsible for all of the material covered on all 11
homework assignments. Thus, it is to
your advantage to do all 11 of the assignments, and hand them in on time.
Homework is due at the beginning
of class or at the announced time, after which the answers will be made
available. No late homework will be accepted.
Nighttime Observing
Evening observing sessions will be held for several
weeks at the Campus Observatory. You are required to go to one session at any
of the several dates that will be posted online
(http://www.astro.illinois.edu/classes/obs.shtml). At the session there will be 4
stations that you can visit in any order. You may come any time during a
session, but expect to stay a full hour.
That means that you must leave enough time for the entire process. Do not come the last 10 mins
of the session and expect to finish.
Don’t forget that the sessions are outside, so dress warmly. The
weather is unpredictable, so go early in the semester.
Solar Observing
Daytime sessions to observe the sun are held at the
Campus Observatory. You are required to go to one session at any of the several
dates that will be posted online (http://www.astro.illinois.edu/classes/obs.shtml).
You may go any time during these hours; the session will take about 30 min for
observing and hearing a presentation from the TA on duty. As with nighttime
observing, the weather is unpredictable, so go early. Note that both night and
solar observing are required. While you only need to observe for one night and
one day, you must be available to do this for several occasions, since there is
no way to guarantee that weather will permit observing on any one day or night.
If you are unavailable for night or solar observing, see the instructor
immediately. If you don't go to an observing session then your report will not
be accepted.
Planetarium
Special presentations designed for Astronomy students
will be held at Staerkel Planetarium at Parkland College (on Bradley
Avenue in Champaign). Show dates: Shows will be held on to be
announced dates. You must make a
reservation at the UIUC website ahead of time
(http://www.astro.illinois.edu/classes/planetarium/). Sessions start at 6:35pm and run for about an hour. A $3 charge is required and must be paid in
cash at the planetarium. You are
responsible for your own transportation. Maps and bus schedules are available
online. A form will be posted on the
class website, and will containing a series of questions about what you learn
during your visit.
Stardial
You will get a feel for how modern astronomers take
real data by observing a variable star using the Stardial
camera that is mounted on the roof of the Astronomy building. Every night, the Stardial
camera automatically takes pictures of the sky, and posts them on the Web. This is where you will get your data. The
class webpage has forms that contain instructions on how to use Stardial. The forms
also contain questions you should answer about the variable stars you observe.
Reports for All Observing
Forms will be made available, containing instructions
and questions to be answered before, during, and after your night and solar
observing sessions and the planetarium visit, as well as the Stardial activities.
The planetarium report is due in class Friday, March 4th.
The night observing report is due in class Friday, March 11th;
to encourage early attendance, extra credit of points will be given for night
observing reports turned in by Friday,
March 1st. The solar observing report is due in class Friday,
April 8th. The Stardial reports are due in class on Friday, February 11th and Friday, April 19th.
Late reports will be deducted -5 points per calendar day late.
Exams will be two one-hour
midterm exams and a comprehensive final exam. The exams will consist of short
answers and essay questions. Dates are
as follows.
Academic honesty is essential to this course and the University. Any
instance of academic dishonesty (including but not limited to cheating,
plagiarism, falsification of data, and alteration of grade) will be documented
in the student's academic file. In addition, the particular exam, homework, or
report will be given a zero.
Guidelines for collaborative work: Discussing course material with your
classmates is in general a good idea, but each student is expected to do his or
her own work. On homework, you may discuss the questions and issues behind
them, but you are responsible for your own answers. In writing observing and
planetarium reports, you may discuss with classmates during the activity, but
again, you are must give your own answers in your own words. Finally, on exams
your work and your answers must of course be your own.
For further info, see http://www2.illinois.edu/admin_manual/code/rule_33.html.
To insure that disability-related concerns are properly addressed from
the beginning, students with disabilities who require reasonable accommodations
to participate in this class are asked to see the instructor as soon as
possible.
Note that the lecture material may vary, but
assignments are fixed. Remember to check
the webpage for the most up to date schedule.
http://eeyore.astro.illinois.edu/~lwl/classes/astro210/spring05/schedule.html