Instructor: Ana M. Larson, Ph.D. , Office C335 of Physics Astronomy Building

Office Hours: 1 -2 pm, T & Th; larson@astro.washington.edu ; 206.685.7856

Course Homepage:  http://www.astro.washington.edu/larson/Astro190b/

Course Description

On clear, dark nights, you see thousands of stars in the sky. Just beyond the visible limits, however, are even more stars, wispy nebulae, and distant galaxies. Using the language of the Universe (mathematics) and the tools of astronomical observations (telescopes, detectors, and computers), the secrets of the Universe have been revealed as pieces of an enormous, unending puzzle. This course will start your work on that puzzle by introducing you to the math and technology astronomers use to observe and analyze celestial objects. Almost all of our class time will be spent with hands-on exercises: becoming familiar with the night sky and celestial coordinates; working in observing teams to choose observing targets; learning how astronomical detectors work; determining how to find your object, the best time to observe it, and how long your exposure times should be; learning to use a 12” telescope -- controlling it and your exposures with computers; learning about experimental uncertainties, how to effectively graph and describe your data, and how to write a good scientific report. We will be staying up late one or more nights for general observing and for gathering our data. In this course, the Universe will be yours to discover from within the University, and you will earn NW and QSR credits in the process.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Each class will start with a short lecture, introducing the topics for the day. Each day will have a list of learning goals that we all hope to achieve. Your tutorials, exercises, homework, self-assessment activities, etc. are all geared towards helping each learner reach those learning goals. If you know the information associated with each objective, then you will do very well in this course.

Assignments

Our homepage lists the topics for the day, chapters to read (before coming to class!), exercises, homework, and other activities. Let this calendar be your guide as to how to be best prepared for each upcoming week.

Readings

There is no formal textbook for this course. The foundation for what we want to learn will come from the lectures, tutorials, homework, and exercises. There is a free, on-line text that will supplement what we do in class: http://astronomynotes.com by Dr. Nick Strobel (a UW PhD graduate). Our course homepage itemizes the sections to read. There are also CCD manuals, on-line Astronomy 101 lecture notes, and other interesting web links that will enhance your learning experience.

Tutorials

An integral part of our time together in class will be spent working together on tutorials. This work is not turned in, nor graded. It is to be used by you and your classmates to get a sense of how well you understand the material. The tutorials will also give you more practice studying the material that is important (in other words, help you do better on the exams). Hopefully, you will also find the tutorials fun to work on and motivate you to learn more about observing and astronomy!

Exercises

Observational astronomy today consists of research, forming questions, forming a hypothesis, writing observation proposals, doing the observations, reducing the data (from raw numbers to spectra or images), analyzing the data for results (measuring, graphing, looking for correlations, doing statistics on the data), and then writing up the results for publication. This particular course introduces this process in full. Thus, much of the time, we will be involved in inquiry, calculations, computer use, mapping, data gathering and analysis, and discovery. Having said that, there are two exercises that are more qualitative: learning about the night sky and a web research astronomical treasure hunt.

Problem solving is as much a part of astronomy as it is in real life. If you do not know the answer to a question, then make your best guess and write down the logic you used in making that guess. Original thinking and solid logic are as important as getting the right answer. You will often find during this course that for much of what we observe in the Universe we have no answers!

Please Note: No late work will be accepted! In general, if you miss an exercise, or do not get it turned in on time, then you will receive a zero (BFZ = big fat zero) for that particular assignment. Exceptions to this policy will be considered on a case-by-case basis; penalties may be taken for work turned in late. In any event, you are still responsible for all material contained in assignments for the exams and final paper.

Exams

The exams in this class will test your knowledge, understanding, and comprehension of the course material. The questions will come from the tutorials, lectures, homework, and exercises. More information will be provided before the dates of the exams.

Expectations of Students

It is a bit embarrassing that I find I need to express the following guidelines for behavior in class; but, alas, experience has taught me that it is so.

• Show up to class on time: I usually make class announcements during the first 5 minutes, plus it is disruptive to arrive after class has started.
• Please turn off your cell phone. The rings are extremely annoying; plus, you are busy! Be prepared to be totally embarrassed if you forget......
• Don't fall behind in your class work -- you will find it extremely difficult to catch up; and, don't let your friends in class do your work for you.

Working Together

Working together is encouraged: much learning takes place when discussing the material and concepts with your classmates. You are welcome to help each other find answers and discuss approaches to answers. Having said that, however, with only a couple of exceptions (of which you will be notified), ALL WORK TURNED IN MUST BE IN YOUR UNIQUE WORDS AND PHRASES. Points will be deducted when non-original work is found. In rare cases, it is evident that the whole exercise has been copied. In these cases, we have been advised to refer the work to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and appropriate disciplinary action will be decided on that level after discussions with the student or students involved.

There have been isolated instances in the past where students have not heeded the above caveats. For additional guidelines on Acacemic Honesty and the rights of instructors, TA's, and students, please read carefully: Academic Honesty: Cheating and Plagiarism

Course Evaluation

Grading Percentage Breakdown

The various parts of your work will be weighted as follows:

Overall Grading

A student's course grade will be based on the percentage she or he earned during the quarter. The breakdown is as follows:

Materials/Books

Materials: simple scientific calculator

Text: http://astronomynotes.com by Nick Strobel Handouts (see homepage for all links)

Instructor Biography

Professional Objectives

To modify a student's view of our world by helping her or him learn about the physics of the Universe, our place in it, and how we know what we do.

Background

Born and raised in western Washington; a resident of Seattle since 1966. Doctorate received in physics in 1996 from the University of Victoria, Victoria, B.C., Canada. My research involves the study of the atmospheres and evolution of nearby, sun-like stars. I was also involved in the search for extra-solar planets, a search that turned up no candidates initially, but that later provided additional evidence for possible planets orbiting Pollux (beta Geminorum) and possible Aldebaran (alpha Tauri).

At various times since receiving my degree, I have taught astronomy at the University of Washington, Pierce College in Tacoma, the Pacific Science Center, and Seattle Central Community College. Currently my title is that of "Lecturer." (Lecturer Larson does have a certain ring to it.) I teach Astronomy 101, 150, 190, 270, 421, 480, supervise 499 students, and teach the graduate-level 500 TA-training course. I am supervising the undergraduates in astronomy with their work at the Jacobsen Observatory and oversee the radio astronomy group.

The personal reward that comes from watching a student advance from a limited description of the stars above to a critic of our knowledge of the birth, evolution, and possible fate of our universe is unsurpassed. I am one of those lucky people who unquestionably loves her job.

Final Word:

It's great having you all in the class. Good luck; study hard.