Methods of Astronomy

Andromeda Galaxy by participants in the 1998 Leadership Workshop for Teachers at McDonald Observatory

COURSE SYLLABUS

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1. Course information
2. Meeting times and location
3. Instructor
4. Teaching Assistant
5. Required supplies
6. Assignments
7. Grading system
8. Policies: Attendance and Official Dates
9. Scholastic dishonesty policy
10. Public Outreach in the Astronomy Department
11. Memo to Undergraduate Students from the Chairman of the Department of Astronomy

Methods of Astronomy, Spring 2006

Unique numbers: 48200for Astronomy and 58060 for Physical Science
Course numbers: Ast 367M and PS 367M
Description: An introductory, self-paced course in the methods of Astronomy that emphasizes learning astronomical principles through observations. (May not be counted toward the BA, plan I degree in Astronomy.) Especially appropriate for future teachers.

Prerequisite: 9 semester hours of math and/or science, including at least one of the following P S 303, 304, AST 301, 302, 303. Equivalent preparation in math, physics, chemistry, and/or earth science may be substituted with written approval of the instructor.

Introduction: This course was originally developed for K-12 teachers, both those preparing to teach science and those currently teaching science. It concentrates on astronomy and the background principles of physical science that astronomers use in their attempts to explore and explain the universe in which we live.

The course begins with measurement activities in Unit 1. You will later use the instruments you construct to observe the night sky in Unit 2. These two units (which are generally more time-consuming than the others) are required of all the students. Your grade is determined by the total number of units you successfully complete. The course is taught as a modified Keller-method course.

This course is not an encyclopedic survey of astronomy; it concentrates on the methods and reasoning processes involved in an observational science, using actual observations and discovery activities to give a research-like exposure to the subject. It is a "do-it-yourself" course, and you proceed through the various activities at whatever rate you choose. There are no lectures in the class; the class periods exist as times for you to do the activities, obtain guidance from the instructor when you have questions, and take the tests which demonstrate your mastery of the concepts.

Mastery is the key word in a course constructed in this fashion. In a conventional lecture class, a considerable amount of material is covered, and a certain percentage of comprehension (perhaps as low as 50 percent, depending upon the curve adopted by the instructor) is considered passing. In a Keller-method class, a lesser amount of material is covered, but a high degree of understanding is required. The goal is to acquire a more complete comprehension of the concepts.

To this end, when you take a quiz over a particular unit, there are only two grades you can earn on it - PASS (which indicates a perfect or near perfect score) and REPEAT (indicating you need to prepare some more and try again). There is no stigma attached to "failing" a test and no penalties are assigned to it. You simply continue working on the materials until the required degree of comprehension is achieved, and your final grade depends upon how many unit tests you pass. Thus in a real sense, you are rewarded only for your successes and not penalized for your failures.

Courses designed in this fashion have historically been found to be satisfying both to teach and to take and often to result in a better understanding of the material than conventional classes. As a student, you will have a thorough and complete understanding of its concepts, not a 50% understanding. Until you achieve such understanding of its concepts, you do not continue on to other material, simply because the course is moving along at a certain rate. If you work diligently and do not procrastinate, there is no reason why you should not be able to earn an A in the class. Don't procrastinate!

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Meeting times and location

Days: Monday and Wednesday, plus observing sessions on clear evenings (nights and times to be determined). Observing is required. Attending the observing sessions scheduled on campus is not required. You may chose to do the observations at another location of your choice.
Time: 2:00 to 4:00 PM
Place: RLM 13.132

There will be some alternative meeting times arranged by the instructor after consultation with the class about the schedule. These alternative sessions are not required.

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Instructor

Name: Dr. Mary Kay Hemenway
Office: RLM 13.126
Office hours: Tuesday 1:00 to 3:00 PM or by appointment
Phone: 471-1309
E-mail: marykay@astro.as.utexas.edu

Teaching Assistant

Name: TBD
Office: TBD
Phone: TBD
E-mail: TBD

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Required supplies

• A bound notebook, either blank or graph paper.
• a drawing compass
• a protractor
• a ruler
• a meter stick
• a calculator (any type with simple scientific functions)
• a textbook will be supplied by the instructor (included in the lab fee)

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Assignments

Preparation: I expect you to come to class prepared to work.

Reading the textbook: Because many topics presented in this course will be brand new to you, read the unit before you begin to work through it. You should study your notes in the evening to make sure everything is clear.

Study Habits: Study wisely and ask for help if you need it. Doing science is different from memorizing facts and equations. Work with a partner as you do the activities. Write complete answers in your notebook. Make the graphs and sketches large enough to read.

Completing a unit

To complete each unit, there are several steps:

• Do the activities and answer the questions in your notebook.
• Have the instructor or TA check your notebook for completeness. The instructor or TA may have questions for you concerning the activities, so you must be present for this process.
• Give a mini-talk to another student, one who was not your partner. You must listen to as many talks as you give and a record is kept of these talks.
• Take an oral or written quiz on the unit. If you do not pass, you may study again and take another quiz on the same material at a later time.

Comprehensive final exam: There is none. All units must be completed by the last class day (May 3, 2006).

All units have some indoor work, but many require clear skies during the day or night. Modifications for the units as presented in the textbook will be listed on the BlackBoard site.

The possible units are:

1. The Principles of Measurement: Using a Cross-Staff and a Quadrant (REQUIRED. Indoor activity.)
2. Mapping the Night Sky and Its Motions (REQUIRED. Requires outdoor observations over several nights.)
3. Lunar Surface Features (requires some outdoor observations over a two week period)
4. The Motion and Phases of the Moon (requires outdoor observations over a four week period)
5. Motions in Astronomy (requires some outdoor observations over three nights)
6. The Sun: Its Size and Daily Motion (requires outdoor observations over one day)
7. The Sun: Its Energy Output and Yearly Motion (requires outdoor observations over several days)
8. Properties of Lenses and Mirrors (indoor activity)
9. Cameras and Photography (requires outdoor observations of about one hour)
10. Using a Small Telescope (requires outdoor observations over several nights)
11. Introduction to Spectroscopy (indoor activity)
12. Distances and Fundamental Properties of Stars (indoor activity)
13. Components of the Milky Way: Stars, Gas, and Dust (indoor activity)
14. Studies of Galaxies (indoor activity)

Advanced Units

• Using a Solar Telescope (requires observing time during the day)
• A Spectral Comparison of the Sun and Beta Draconis (indoor activity)
• The CCD (Charge-Coupled Device) Camera in Astronomy (requires several nights observing time)
• Project as arranged with instructor
  

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Grading system

Grades are assigned on the basis of how many units you complete.

If you have not completed Unit 1 by February 1, it is suggested you drop the class. A "Q" will not be given to anyone attempting to drop after this date unless Unit 1 is completed by February 1.

If you have not completed Unit 2 by February 27, it is suggested you drop the course or change to Pass/Fail.

Incompletes are NOT given in this course.

Students with a documented disability who wish to discuss academic accommodations should contact the instructor as soon as possible -- before an assignment that might be affected by the accommodation requirement.

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Policies: Attendance and Official Dates

Regular attendance is expected. You cannot have your notebook checked or take a quiz except during regular class times or at times announced by the instructor (not during office hours).

It is the policy of The University of Texas at Austin that the student must notify each instructor at least fourteen days prior to the classes scheduled on dates he or she will be absent to observe a religious holy day. For religious holidays that fall within the first two weeks of the semester, the notice should be given on the first day of the semester. The student may not be penalized for these excused absences but the instructor may appropriately respond if the student fails to complete satisfactorily the missed assignment or examination within a reasonable time after the excused absence.

• January 20: Last official day of Add/Drop Period
• February 1: Last day to drop and receive a refund
• February 13: Last day to drop a course without a possible academic penalty
• March 27: Last day, with dean's approval, to withdraw from the University or drop a course except for urgent and substantiated, nonacademic reasons. This is also the last day to change to Pass/Fail registration. If you have non-academic problems, see a counselor in your Dean's Office immediately.
• May 3: Last class day for this course

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Scholastic dishonesty policy

Scholastic dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent. You are expected to have read and understood the current issue of General Information Catalog, published by the Registrar's Office, for information about procedures and about what constitutes scholastic dishonesty.

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Public Outreach in the Astronomy Department

The times of the following events vary throughout the semester and are especially affected by our move to Daylight Savings Time on April 2. Call 471-5007 for further information and updates. (The phone message is updated weekly.)

• Announcements in class will be made concerning Astronomy Department Public Lectures.
• Astronomy Department Star Parties will be held at the 16-inch telescope on the top of RLM every clear Wednesday of the semester that UT is in session.
• The 9-inch telescope in Painter Hall is open every clear Friday and Saturday night of the semester that UT is in session.
• You can learn to use the 9-inch Painter Hall Telescope. Request a booklet concerning check-out procedures in RLM 13.122.

Memo to Undergraduate Students from the Chairman of the Department of Astronomy

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