ASTR 1010: Solar System Astronomy

Lab Syllabus

Fall 2009 * 528 Kell Hall

 

Student Materials: Bring the following to class every lab period,

 

Attendance: Students must attend the lab section for which they have enrolled. Because many labs are full, students cannot attend another section to make up a missed lab class. However, your lowest score will be dropped.

 

Honesty Policy: Students are expected to follow the honesty policies of the university. Any work that does not represent your own efforts will receive a score of zero. When group work is done, it is expected that each student in the group will reply to questions using their own words. Therefore, do not copy other student’s lab work or observations.

 

Lab Grades: Laboratory work is to be completed in class and turned in at the end of each lab period. Late labs, or lab work done outside of class will not be accepted. Each completed lab will be scored on a scale of 0-10 points. Your lowest lab score will be dropped. Therefore, if you miss lab for any reason that will become your dropped score. Your average lab score will count as 25% of your overall ASTR 1010 grade. Failure to attend at least half of the lab classes will result in an F for the entire course because this is a lab science and lab attendance is required. So if you make an A in lecture but do not regularly attend lab you will fail the course.

 

Lab Website: More information about labs, observing sessions, teaching schedules, etc can be found at http://www. chara.gsu.edu/lab

 

Lab Instructor’s name: ______________________________________________

Lab Instructor’s email: _______________________________________________

Lab Instructor’s Office: _____________________________________________

 

Tentative Weekly Schedule

 

Dates

Description

 

 

Aug. 24-28

Lab 1: The Celestial Sphere and Planispheres

Aug 31-Sept 4

Lab 2: Phases of the Moon

Sept 7 (Labor Day Holiday)

Sept 8-11

TERM PROJECT, Lab 26: Observing Phases of the Moon (20 pts.)

Lab 30: Visiting an Observatory.

Both are required and cannot be dropped.

Both are due on the last day of lab.

Sept. 14-18

Lab 24: Measuring the Diameter of the Sun

Sept. 21-25

Lab 3: Planetary Orbits

Sept. 28-Oct 2

Lab 4: Mass of Jupiter

Oct. 5-9

Lab 5: Construction of a Refracting Telescope

Oct. 12-16

CLEA: Rotation of Mercury (hand out in class)

Oct. 19-23

Lab 7: Lunar Features

Oct. 26-30

Lab 8: Relative Ages of Martian Landscapes

Nov. 2-6

Lab 9: The Treat from Beyond: Impacts and Craters

Nov. 9-13

Lab 31: Designing a Student Observatory

Nov. 16-20

Lab Evaluation.

Turn in Lab 26, Observing Phases of the Moon.

Turn in Lab 30, Visiting an Observatory.

These are due on the last day of lab.

Nov. 23-27

No labs meet.

TBA

Lab 30: Visiting an Observatory.

To receive credit for this lab, you must turn in the completed and signed page from lab 30 in your lab manual. Your lab instructor will announce in lab evening observations to be held on campus to complete this requirement, OR you can attend any public night at a local observatory such as Fernbank Science Center, or Hard labor Creek Observatory