AST 2010: Descriptive Astronomy

	AST 2010: Descriptive Astronomy
	Winter 2004

	Tuesday, 6:00 - 10:00 PM Harper Woods Center

Objective:

To survey astronomy for non-physical science majors with a minimum of mathematics. Topics include: the planets; their moons; the sun; the birth, life and death of stars; black holes; the big bang and the physical principles that govern all the events in the Universe.

Professor:

Boris Nadgorny (389 Physics), 313-577-2757.

Office Hours:

Monday 4-6 PM or by arrangement.

Text:

Voyages Through the Universe , Fraknoi, Morrison and Wolff, Third Edition, Saunders College Publishing.

Reading Quiz:

I will assign a weekly reading quiz (about 20 minutes) on the material to be covered in class that day. They will consist of relatively simple questions to check that you have read the assigned materials. Quizzes will only take place on days with no exam. The lowest two quizzes will be dropped.

Bonus 1:

I will assign one "thought question" on the material that has been covered previously. You will be able to discuss these questions in groups before you write the answer. These questions will only take place on days with no exam. They will be similar to the thought questions you can find by the end of each book chapter. You can earn up to 80 total points towards your final grade.

Bonus 2:

You can write up to 5 short (no more than 350 words) summaries of an original piece (e.g. from newspaper article, internet, etc) related to astronomy (10 point each). You will need to attach a copy of original piece to your summary to receive this credit (50 points total).

Bonus 3:

If you get 75% or better in all three in-class exams you will receive 30 extra points.

Exams:

The will be three in-class exams and one final. There will be no make up in-class exams.
If you anticipate missing the final exam due to a work-related situation, contact me (by telephone or better by email) more than one week before the exam for an excused absence in order to make up the scheduled exam.

Grades:

Your grade will be determined by your performance on the quizzes plus four exams, and whatever bonus points you receive. The lowest of the three in-class exams(exams 1, 2 and 3) will be dropped.

Quizzes 240 points 24%

Best Exam 200 points 20%

2nd Best Exam 200 points 20%

Final Exam 350 points 35%

Bonus 1 80 points 20%

Bonus 2 50 points 20%

Bonus 3 50 points 20%

Total 1150 points 115%

Grading Scale:

A	91 - 100	%	C-	55 - 59	%
A-	85 - 90	%	D+	50 - 54	%
B+	80 - 84	%	D	45 - 49	%
B-	70 - 74	%	E	0 - 39	%
C+	65 - 69	%
C	60 - 64	%

Laboratory:

AST 2011 (1 credit) meets General Education Laboratory Requirement when taken concurrently with AST 2010. Lab includes at least three late evening viewing sessions. Contact Prof. Scott Payson at 313-577-3280.

Date	Activity	Lecture Topic	Chapters
1/13		The Universe: An Introduction Scientific Notation The Celestial Sphere, Rotation Of The Earth Constellations, Models Of The Solar System	Prologue 1
1/20	Quiz	Gravity, Planetary Motion, Orbits Kepler and Newton Longitude, Latitude Seasons, Phases Of The Moon	2 3.1-3.2 3.5-3.7
1/27	Quiz	Radiation And Spectroscopy Atoms, Doppler Effect Telescopes And Detectors	4 5
2/3	Exam	Overview Of The Solar System: Composition And Age Exam 1: Chapters 1-5	6 exam at 8 pm
2/10	Quiz	Earth: Interior, Crust, Atmosphere Cratered Worlds: Moon, Mercury	7 8
2/17	Quiz	Earth-Like Planets: Venus And Mars Giant Planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune	9 10
2/24	Quiz	Rings, Moons And Pluto Comets and Asteroids	11, 12
3/2	Exam	The Sun: Features, Activity, Sunspots Exam 2: Chapters 6-12	14 exam at 8 pm
3/9	Quiz	The Sun: Nuclear Energy Stars: Brightness, Color, Spectral Types	15, 16
3/16		NO CLASS - Spring Break
3/23	Quiz	Celestial Census Stellar Masses And Diameters Celestial Distances, Parallax, Variable Stars	17, 18
3/30	Quiz	Gas And Dust In Space Birth of Stars, Search for Planets	19, 20
4/6	Exam	Lives of Stars Main sequence, Red Giants, Clusters Exam 3: Chapters 14-20	21 exam at 8 pm
4/13	Quiz	Death of Stars: White Dwarves, Planetary Nebulae Neutron Stars, Supernovae Black holes	22 23.5, 23.6, 23.3
4/20	Quiz	Galaxies, Expanding Universe Cosmology, the Big Bang Review	24, 25.5 28
5/4	Final Exam	Final: Cumulative	6:00-8:30 pm