Astronomy 195: Observational Astronomy Fall: 3 Credits Limited to 28 Students This course provides a “hands-on” introduction to observational astronomy intended for liberal arts students at the freshman or sophomore level. High school mathematics is assumed, but there are no formal prerequisites. The course objective is to teach how we know what we know about the Universe. The course is set up with 2 lectures and 1 evening laboratory per week. Not all of the evening sessions will be used – it is likely that we will have 11 labs, and one review session in the 14 available slots. Planned exercises include 6 or 7 observational labs (star gazing with binoculars and small telescopes, telescopic observations of star clusters, nebulae, and the planets, solar observations, lunar photography, stellar spectroscopy), plus a selection of exercises from the following: construction and use of simple instruments such as optical spectroscopes; laboratory spectroscopy, experiments with optics; collection and study of micrometeorites; classification of stellar spectra, analysis of planetary and lunar images obtained by the class, analysis of solar images obtained by the class, or measuring the diameter of the Earth. Meeting Time and Places: Tuesday and Thursday 1:25 - 2:15 in Space Sciences 105 for Lectures Wednesday Evening 7:30 - 10:00 in Clark 132 or at Fuertes Observatory for Labs

ASTRONOMY 195: OBSERVATIONAL ASTRONOMY Professor Gordon Stacey Fall 2016 SYLABUS

DATE Aug. 23

TOPIC Astronomy without a Telescope 1

READING Ch. 1

HOMEWORK HW #1: Math Due Aug. 30

Aug. 24

LAB 1 - Observing Session #1: Constellations/Saturn/Moon Astronomy without a Telescope 2

Ch. 2

HW #2: The Moon Due Nov. 10

Aug. 25 Aug. 30 Aug. 31 Sept. 1 Sept. 5 Sept. 6

Sept. 7 Sept. 12 Sept. 13 Sept. 14 Sept. 19 Sept. 20 Sept. 21 Sept. 27 Sept. 28 Sept. 29 Oct. 4 Oct. 5 Oct. 6

Telescopes 1: Light, Light Gathering Power, Resolving Power, Magnification LAB 2 – Telescopes: Image Size and Focal Length Telescopes 2: The 8” Meades and telescopes of the world. Solar System Motions LAB 2 – Obs. #2: Setting up Meade 8” Telescopes: Field of View, Saturn, M13, Fuertes: Lunar Photography Coordinate Systems

Ch. 5

Ch. 5

HW #3: Sky and telescope Due Sept. 12

Ch. 3

Blackbodies: Wien’s Law, Stephan-Bolzmann Ch. 6 HW #4: Light, blackbodies Law, Luminosity, Inverse Square Law Due Sept. 21 LAB 4 – Obs. #3: Meade 8” telescopes: Moon, Star Clusters; Fuertes: M13, M57 Stellar Spectra: Bohr Model, Kirchoff’s Laws Stars 1: Classification, & Magnitudes Ch. 13.1-13.3 HW #5: Latitude Due Sept. 27 LAB 5 – Obs. #4: Fuertes - Lunar Photography, Meades: Moon, M11, M15 Stars 2: H-R Diagrams, Luminosity Classes Ch. 13.4-13.6 Sizes Stars 3: Binary Stars, Teeter-totter Equation, Ch. 4.3 HW #6: Stellar Properties Kepler’s Laws Due October 4 LAB 6 – Laboratory Spectroscopy: The Colors and Spectra of Stars The Sun & Solar Observing 1 Ch. 7 The Sun and Solar Observing 2 HW #7: Earth Radius, Due October 20 LAB 7: Review Session MID-SEMESTER EXAM

Oct. 11

FALL BREAK

Take Sun Elevation Measurements

Oct. 12 Oct. 13 Oct. 18 Oct. 19 Oct. 20

LAB 8 – Obs. #5: Andromeda, star clusters Stars 4: Mass-Luminosity and Star Clusters Star Formation LAB 9 – Solar Properties Stellar Structure 1

Oct. 25 Oct. 26 Oct. 27 Nov. 1 Nov. 2 Nov. 3

Stellar Structure 2 LAB 10 – Lunar Features Stellar Evolution 1 Stellar Evolution 2 LAB 11 – Micrometeorites White Dwarfs

Ch. 14.5

Nov. 8 Nov. 9 Nov. 10 Nov. 15 Nov. 16 Nov. 17

Supernovae LAB 12 – Obs. #6 – Mount Pleasant Neutron Stars and Pulsars Black Holes LAB 13 – Flexible Time The Galaxy

Ch. 15.4

Nov. 22 Nov. 23 Nov. 24 Nov. 29 Nov. 30 Dec. 1

Cosmology 1: The Expanding Universe Thanksgiving Break

Ch. 19.1-19.2

Cosmology 2: The Big Bang LAB 14 – Flexible Time Cosmology 3: Inflation and Dark Energy

Ch. 19.3

Ch. 14.1-14.3 Ch. 14.4

HW # 8 Stellar Structure & Evolution Due Nov. 3

Ch. 15.1 Ch. 15.2 Ch. 15.3

HW #9: Stellar Endstates Due Nov. 17

Ch. 16.1 Ch. 16.2 Ch. 17

HW #10: The Galaxy & Cosmology Due Dec. 1 RELAX

Ch. 19.4

OBSERVING LABS WITH OPTICAL TELESCOPES: GOALS Observing Lab #1 Observing Lab #2 Observing Lab #3 Observing Lab #4 Observing Lab #5 Observing Lab #6

Star Finder, Constellations Fuertes: Mars, Saturn, Moon Meade: FOV, Saturn, Mars, M13 Fuertes: M17 Fuertes: Lunar Photography Meade: Moon, M11, M15 Meade: M13, M22, M92, Albireo Fuertes: M13, M57,  Lyrae Fuertes: Uranus/Neptune Meade: M31, h &  Perseus, M34, M15 Meteors, Galaxies, M45 (the Pleiades), M42

Fuertes 12”, Binoculars Fuertes 12”, 8” Meades Fuertes 12”, 8” Meades Fuertes 12”, 8” Meades, Fuertes 12”, 8” Meades Mount Pleasant, Meades,

Observing Lab #7

(Orion Nebula), M27 Solar Observations

and Photographic Cameras 8” Meades

ASTRONOMY 195: OBSERVATIONAL ASTRONOMY Fall 2015 Professor:

Gordon J. Stacey 212 Space Sciences [email protected] 255-5900 (work)

Office Hours Monday: Tuesday: Thursday: T.A.:

2:30 – 3:30 11:00 – 12:00 11:00 – 12:00

Daisy Leung 111 Space Sciences [email protected]

Office Hours Tuesday: Friday:

2:45 – 3:45 2:00 – 3:00

Class Requirements Lecture: Lab:

Tuesday/Thursday Wednesday

1:25 – 2:15 SS 105 7:30 – 10:00 Clark 132 or Fuertes Observatory

Total number of labs will be 10 to 12, depending on number of clear nights. Course Prerequisites: Grades: Homework and lab policy: Text:

None S/U or Letter Grade Option Available 20% penalty for 1 week late, not accepted after 2 weeks. Universe: Solar Systems, Stars, and Galaxies 7th edition Michael Seeds and Dana Backman NOTE: This book is not required, others are acceptable.

Course Grade Based on: Homework Labs Class participation Midsem Exam Final Exam

25% 25% 5% 15% 30%