Instructor: Michael
Brotherton
Office: 217 Physical Sciences
Phone: 766-5402
E-mail: mbrother@uwyo.edu
Websites: http://physics.uwyo.edu/~mbrother (course materials here!)
http://www.uwyo.edu/ctl/webct (WebCT for HW, etc)
Office Hours: MW 10:00 AM
to
Lectures: MWF
Text: Horizons: Exploring the Universe, Michael
Seeds, 8th Edition
Contemporary
Activities in Astronomy, Hoff, 5th Edition (for Lab)
Astronomy is the study of
everything beyond the Earth, the entire universe in fact! Topics will include the sky, planets, stars,
galaxies, and more. We won't just take
census of the amazing things in the universe; understanding how we know what we know is equally
important. Science is the most powerful
method of deriving new knowledge ever developed, and understanding science is key to understanding our increasingly complex,
technologically driven civilization.
Science often relies on math, and astronomy is no exception. We will use simple geometry, trigonometry,
and algebra and useful math tools like logarithms and scientific notation. We'll only pull out the math when we need it,
and we'll spend whatever time it takes to make its application clear. I sincerely hope you all complete the course
with a deepened sense of wonder about the universe and an appreciation for the
science that has revealed that wonder.
Attendance at lecture is
strongly encouraged, but not required. I
expect the assigned reading to be completed before
class. The lectures will not necessarily
cover all the topics in the reading and should not be viewed as a substitute
for the reading. Lecture slides can be
found on the course webpage -- you may wish to print these before class. Lectures are an opportunity to address the
more challenging concepts and to explore material beyond the text. Please bring questions to class and be
prepared to discuss concepts. Please
also bring a scientific calculator to class (should have at least a
"log" button and support scientific notation, does not have to be expensive or fancy). We
will sometimes work problems in class.
Attendance at lab is required. Jim Verley is your
dedicated lab instructor and will have his own lab syllabus. Lab meets for the first time the week of Jan.
26--30 (next week). A few labs will involve nighttime observing
with a telescope and you will be able to sign up for a night of the week that
will work for you for these.
In addition to the reading,
weekly homework assignments will be posted on-line via the University's WebCT system and due as indicated (typically a week
later). The procedures for
self-registration are explained at http://www.uwyo.edu/ctl/webct (this is also
the login site). Additional course
information will be available on WebCT. Please
see me if you have difficulties with WebCT -- they
are usually easy to solve. Not doing the
homework can hurt your grade!
There will be four in-class
exams during the semester. There will be
no final! While the exams will not be
comprehensive in general, the material in the course does build on itself and
several topics reappear in different forms.
Each in-class exam will cover several chapters of material and consist
of multiple choice problems. Bring a
GREEN 10 ANSWER SCAN FORM and your CALCULATOR!
The exams will be closed-book, but formulas and physical constants will
be provided and need not be memorized. Exam
dates are Feb 6, Mar 12, Apr 19, and May 7 (last class day!).
There will be several
chances for extra credit this semester. On
Fridays we will discuss news articles about astronomy -- you can earn extra
credit (equivalent to about one homework) for bringing
in an article once. You can also get extra
credit (equivalent to about one homework ) for
attending a planetarium show this semester (bring your ticket stub or other
evidence of attendence to me at the start or end of
class). There may be other opportunities
announced during the semester.
The grading scheme will be:
A = 85-100%
B = 75-85%
C = 65-75%
D = 55-65%
F < 55%
I tend to round up, and I
reserve the right to adjust the scheme in your favor if the score distributions
are lower than expected (for instance, because of an unintendedly
difficult exam). You will not
automatically fail the course for missing lab, but if two or more labs are
missed you will lose a letter grade. The
components of the course are weighted:
Laboratory = 25%
Exams = 60%
Quizzes/Homework = 15%
Please let me know if you
have a disability that requires special accommodations. Procedures exist to address such needs through
Disability Support Services (766-6189; udss@uwyo.edu).
I am an observational
astronomer specializing in the study of quasars and other types of active
galaxies thought to be powered by super-massive black holes. I received my PhD from the
I love astronomy and look
forward to sharing the wonders of the universe with you!
Course Schedule and
Reading Assignments (subject to change)
Week Dates Topics Textbook
1 Jan 21, 23 Scales, the Night Sky Ch. 1, 2
2 Jan 26, 28,
30 Motions
in the Sky, History Ch.
3, 4
3 Feb 2, 4, Astronomical Tools
Feb 6 Exam #1 on the Sky+ Ch. 1-5
4 Feb 9, 11,
13 Atoms & Sunlight, The Sun
5 Feb 16, 18,
20 Properties of Stars
6 Feb 23, 25,
27 Formation and Structure of
Stars
7 Mar 1, 3, 5, Deaths of Stars
8 Mar 8, 10 Neutron Stars and Black
Holes
Mar. 12 Exam #2 on Sun & Stars
9 Mar 22, 24,
26 Milky Way Ch.
12
10 Mar 29, 31,
Apr 2 Milky Way, Galaxies
11 Apr 5, 7 Quasars,
Cosmology Ch.
14-15
12 Apr 12, 14,
16 Cosmology Ch.
15
Apr 19 Exam #3 on Galaxies +
Cosmology Ch. 12-15
13 Apr 21 23 Begin Solar System
14 Apr 26, 28,
30 Solar System &
Terrestrial Planets
15 May 3, 5 Jovian
Planets and "Debris"
May 7 Exam #4 on Solar System Ch. 16-19
I encourage you to read
Chapter 20, "Life on Other Worlds," but will not hold you responsible
for it on an exam.
I will be absent for
research-related reasons a few times this semester: Feb. 6, Feb 20. There will be an exam or substitute lecturer
on these days.