ASTR 1010: Astronomy of the Solar System
Fall 2008 *** MWF
Instructor: Dr. Douglas R. Gies
719 One Park Place South
Telephone: (404) 413-6021
E-mail:
gies@chara.gsu.edu
WWW Site: http://www.chara.gsu.edu/~gies/ASTR1010/
Office Hours: TR 11:00am - noon or by
appointment
Textbook: The Cosmic Perspective
(5th ed.) by Bennett, Donahue, Schneider, & Voit
(2008;
ISBN 0-321-50618-9; Pearson Education).
Do not buy the smaller
version
Essential Cosmic Perspective that is
the text for ASTR 1000. The
textbook
comes bundled (total cost $129) with a license key (can also be
purchased on-line, $27) for www.masteringastronomy.com
Attendance: Regular class attendance is highly recommended; it is usually the
key to success. Laboratory attendance is required each week.
Laboratories: You will
need to purchase
*** Lab textbook Activities in Astronomy by John Wilson
($45) ***
*** Lab materials card from
the University Bookstore ($20 blue card) ***
80255
(M10:00-11:50am), 80257 (M12:00-1:50pm), 80256 and 83674 (T8:00-9:50am).
If
you have a schedule conflict, you should go through drop/add by Aug. 22.
Labs
begin the week of Aug. 25 and are held in 528 Kell
Hall.
You
are required to attend the same laboratory section each week.
Bring blue card, drawing
compass, protractor, cm ruler, and simple calculator.
A
passing lab grade is required in order to pass the course.
Lab
coordinator is Dr. John Wilson (713 1PP; 404 413-6035).
Grades: Laboratory 25% A:94-100%,
A-:90-93%,
Best 3 of 4 tests 30% B+:87-89%,
B:84-86%, B-:80-83%,
Assignments 20% C+:77-79%, C:74-76%, C-:70-73%,
Notebook 5% D:60-69%, F:0-59%
Final exam 20%
Because
only 3 of 4 tests will be counted, there will be no make-up tests.
Purchase a 1-inch wide,
3-ring binder for a class notebook. Add
dividers to make sections for the syllabus, class handouts and notes,
assignments, tests, and labs.
Students
are expected to do their own work and to abide by the Policy on Academic Honesty
discussed in the GSU General Catalog.
Cheating on any test or exam will yield
a zero on that work.
Key Dates: HLCO Open Houses: September 6, October 4
Last day to withdraw
and receive a grade of W: October 1
Tests, Exam: Sept.
15, Oct. 8, Oct. 31, Nov. 21, Dec.12
Schedule of Classes (numbers in parentheses give the relevant text chapter):
|
Mondays |
Wednesdays |
Fridays |
|
Aug18 |
Introduction |
Aug20 |
Cosmic Voyage |
Aug22 |
Night sky, seasons |
|
Aug25 |
Motion of Moon |
Aug27 |
Motion of Planets |
Aug29 |
Ancient Astron. |
|
Sep01 |
Labor Day |
Sep03 |
Copernicus |
Sep05 |
Kepler, Galileo |
|
Sep08 |
Time |
Sep10 |
Coordinates |
Sep12 |
Navigation |
|
Sep15 |
Test #1 |
Sep17 |
|
Sep19 |
Gravity |
|
Sep22 |
Tides (4) |
Sep24 |
Light |
Sep26 |
Light and matter |
|
Sep29 |
Doppler shift |
Oct01 |
Optics |
Oct03 |
Telescopes |
|
Oct06 |
GSU CHARA |
Oct08 |
Test #2 |
Oct10 |
Solar System |
|
Oct13 |
Planets |
Oct15 |
Exploration by |
Oct17 |
Birth of Earth |
|
Oct20 |
Birth of Solar System (8) |
Oct22 |
Formation of |
Oct24 |
Terrestrial planet |
|
Oct27 |
Terrestrial planet |
Oct29 |
Mercury, Venus, |
Oct31 |
Test #3 |
|
Nov03 |
Terrestrial planet |
Nov05 |
Atmospheres of |
Nov07 |
Atmosphere of |
|
Nov10 |
Jovian planets |
Nov12 |
Jovian planetary |
Nov14 |
Jovian planetary |
|
Nov17 |
Meteors, asteroids, |
Nov19 |
Pluto and Kuiper |
Nov21 |
Test #4 |
|
Nov24 |
Cosmic Impacts (12) |
Nov26 |
Thanksgiving |
Nov28 |
Thanksgiving |
|
Dec01 |
Planets around |
Dec03 |
Planetary |
Dec05 |
Review for exam |
|
Dec08 |
No class |
Dec10 |
No class |
Dec12 |
Exam |
Unexpected
circumstances may require changes in the syllabus as the semester progresses.
Key Web sites:
NASA Solar System (JPL): http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/solar_system/
Astronomy Picture of the Day: http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html