AST 101

Spring 2012

Course Title: Astronomy of the Solar System

Course Number: AST 101

Instructor: Philip S. Harrington Office: 344-5669

Textbook (required): Voyages to the Planets, A. Fraknoi, et al (Brooks/Cole Pub.; ISBN: 0534395678)

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• Use a star chart to identify major stars and constellations of each seasonal sky
• Identify terms of the sky, such as zenith, nadir, right ascension, and declination
• Use the scientific method to prove that our solar system is a heliocentric system
• Identify major characteristics of the Sun, Moon, each planet in our solar system, as well as comets and asteroids

• In-class lectures, including use of supplemental visual aids, videotapes, and other audio-visual material
• Planetarium presentations
• Outdoor observing sessions

To pass this course successfully, each student must complete the following:

• Complete all reading and homework assignments, including the term paper, mid-term, and final exams to the best of the student's abilities and ON TIME

• Attend all classes.  If you know that you will be absent for a class, please inform the instructor beforehand.  If you are out sick, please be prepared to have a valid reason.  For extended absences, a doctor's note may be requested.

• Successfully pass all tests

• Take good, concise class notes

• Ask questions and participate in discussions

• Weekly: Using the article submission form, submit an article (from a newspaper, magazine, etc.) on any astronomical topic and a brief summary/discussion. Total of ten articles required. This assignment counts the same as a test grade. You may hand in all ten at once, or submit them weekly, BUT, you must have handed in at least five articles by the midterm. After the midterm, no more than a total of five will be accepted for the rest of the semester.

Grading Practices

The following grading practices will be adhered to throughout the semester:

• All homework assignments and lab reports must be handed in on time. Any that are handed one class session late will receive a grade 20 points lower than it would have received had it been handed in on time, while two sessions late will result in a deduction of 30 points. After that, an assignment will receive a grade of 0. 

• Neatness counts! You are required to type your homework. Sloppy assignments will be rejected.

• The lowest grade received on a homework/lab assignment will be dropped when calculating a student's final grade.

• No make-up tests will be allowed except for extraordinary circumstances, to be judged on an individual basis.

• All tests are "closed book, closed notes" and will be based on class lectures, exercises, videos, and reading assignments.

Your grade will be determined as follows:
 

Extra Credit: Between 1 and 4 extra-credit points per activity will be allowed for the following (a maximum of 10 points extra credit per student will be permitted):

• Attend a planetarium show (such as at the Hayden Planetarium in Manhattan) and submit an extra credit report describing the show's content.  You must attach your admission ticket to your report to receive credit.

  • Extra credit report form (PDF file)

• Attend an astronomy lecture, such as at the monthly open house at Suffolk County Community College, State University at Stony Brook, Montauk Observatory, Custer Institute, Amateur Observer's Society, or Astronomical Society of Long Island. Submit of an extra credit report telling of the lecture's content afterwards.  Click on the links to view each institution's home page and schedule.

• Listen to a podcast of any of the 30 astronomy lectures available here: http://www.astrosociety.org/education/podcast  Same rules apply as above.  You must fill out an extra credit report telling of the lecture's content afterwards. 

• Watch a video of any lecture listed in the Harvard Center for Astrophysics' Observatory Night Video Archive.  Check their listing from past years, as well as the current year's offerings.  Again, same rules apply.  You must fill out an extra credit report telling of the lecture's content afterwards.

• Take a walking tour of the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City near the Nassau Coliseum and complete this worksheet.  You must attach your admission ticket to your report to receive credit.

• Short report on a book dealing with astronomy or related topic. Requires prior approval by instructor.

• Try your luck at astrophotography by photographing the Moon, a planet, or the stars. See instructor for information.

Class does not meet on February 20, April 2, April 4, or May 14.

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