Astronomy 100: Course Syllabus

 

Fall Semester 2009

Professor Robert Beeken

Text:  Essential Cosmic Perspective by Jeffrey Bennett (Fifth Edition)

Office: B-205     Hours: 9-10 MWF, 10-11 TR

Course information is available at http://www.uwsp.edu/physastr/Beeken/Profile.htm

Information concerning student academic standards and disciplinary procedures is available at http://www.uwsp.edu/admin/stuaffairs/rights/rightsChap14.pdf
The goals of this course are to (a) understand those physical principles governing the structure and evolution of the universe, (b) appreciate the historical development of observational astronomy, and (c) develop a comprehensive view of the unique environment currently manifest on planet earth.
Week Lecture Text Assignment Laboratory
30 Aug Introduction to the Night Sky Chapter 1 Observatory Visit*
07 Sep Motion in the Sky Chapter 2 Planetarium
14 Sep Early Observations; Models of the Sky Chapter 2 Celestial Globe
21 Sep Famous Astronomers; Solar System Formation Chapters 3, 4, & 6 Phases of the Moon
28 Sep EXAM 1 (Mon); Inner Planet Features Chapter 7 Mass of Jupiter
05 Oct Inner Planet Geology; Outer Planet Features Chapters 7 & 8 Planetary Cratering
12 Oct Outer Planet Moons; Minor Planets Chapters 8 & 9 Planets Video
19 Oct Nature of Light; Blackbody Radiation Chapter 5 Telescopes
26 Oct Atoms and Spectral Lines; EXAM 2 (Wed) Chapter 5 Observing Spectra
02 Nov The Sun; Measuring Stellar Properties Chapters 10 & 11 Stars and Nebulae
09 Nov The HR Diagram; Formation of Stars Chapters 11 & 12 Stars Video
16 Nov Stellar Evolution; The Death of Stars Chapters 12 & 13 Photometry of the Pleiades
23 Nov Stellar Remnants; EXAM 3 (Wed) Chapter 13 No Lab
30 Nov The Milky Way; Galactic Structure Chapters 14 & 15 Morphology of Galaxies
07 Dec Quasars; Cosmology Chapters 16 & 17 Hubble's Law
*The first laboratory exercise (Observatory Visit) will not be conducted during the normal laboratory session.  You will make an evening visit to the UWSP Observatory sometime during the course of the semester to visually observe at least two night-sky objects through the telescope (procedural details provided during lecture).  Since the Observatory is not open on cloudy nights, it is important for you not to wait until the end of the semester to plan your visit.  The Observatory is located on the fourth floor, SW corner of the Science Building.  Check the web site at http://www.uwsp.edu/physastr/plan_obs/Observatory.htm for hours of operation.