Instructor: Dr. Jason Pinkney
Office hours in 111 Science Annex at these
times .
Email j-pinkney@onu.edu or call
419-772-2740.
Observatory Phone: 419-772-4028
Instructor's Home page:
http://www2.onu.edu/~j-pinkney/
Class time and place:
Touch bases with me at 111 Sci Annex: Tues
5:00 pm.
1st observing attempt: Tues 8:00-9:30 pm.
2nd observing attempt: Wed, Thu, or Fri
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NEW STUFF
(The place for any additions.)
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Lab:
This is the lab associated with Physics 1061, Stars and Galaxies
Astronomy. There is only 1 section, since only astronomy minors really
have to take this lab. You will have an informational meeting with me
on the first week where you will be assigned your first lab.
Notebook: No textbook is required. (Handouts will be provided for some labs while others will be computer-based.) However, you should have a notebook for the lab. Use it to record notes on our weekly meetings, and to write out a description of the computer-based labs.
Course Description:
Astronomy labs requiring math at the algebra level. The course
combines indoor, computer based labs with observing sessions
at the ONU Observatory. The outdoor sessions intend to give you
practice in finding your way in the night sky, and also
give you experience in using telescopes and CCD detectors
for imaging.
Here is a link to the ONU Observatory web site (including maps):
http://www2.onu.edu/~j-pinkney/astro/ONUObservatory.html
Grading:
| Telescope Certification (if applicable) | Telescope test and sky quiz | 10% |
| Labs | Indoor and outdoor labs (see schedule) | 90% |
| Total | 100% |
Your final letter grade is calculated roughly as follows:
|
<55
|
55-70
|
70-80
|
80-90
|
90-100
|
|
F
|
D
|
C
|
B
|
A
|
I will not grade any "harder" than the above.
Grading is based primarily on completion of the required indoor
and outdoor labs. The labs are weighted by the number
of weeks required to finish it. A 1-week indoor lab is worth
about the same as a 1-week outdoor lab, but a 2-week outdoor
lab would be worth twice as much. I will review the labs with a
"quality control" mindset, asking you to redo parts which
should be done differently, and to fix mistakes.
Course Policies
Attendance is essential for labs.
Quizzes may be given occasionally. They will consist of multiple choice/short answer questions.
Calculators. I encourage you to have a calculator in this lab.
| Week of | Indoor Lab (if cloudy) | Outdoor lab (if clear) |
| W1 (1/14/13) | I choose a meeting time. Provide
syllabus. |
Choose meeting time. |
| W2 | "Plan an observing run."
(Use field guides,
planetarium programs, celestial globe, star locators to choose objects.) |
Telescope intro. Using star atlases; Messier & Caldwell catalogs. |
| W3 |
"Plan an observing
run" |
Creating & using finder charts |
| W4 |
VAL Unit 14. Stellar Parallax |
Imaging star clusters (color CCD) |
| W5 |
VAL Unit 15. Proper Motion of Stars |
Imaging star clusters (B&W CCD) |
| W6 |
VAL Unit 17. Visual Binary Stars |
"Observ Run" objects |
| W7 2/25 |
VAL Unit 21. HR Diagram | "Observ Run" objects |
| W8 3/11 |
VAL Unit 21. HR Diagram | Digital camera astrophotography |
| W9 (3/18) |
VAL Unit 19. Cepheid Variable Stars | Imaging nebulae (color CCD) |
| W10 |
VAL Unit 19. Cepheid Variable Stars | Imaging nebulae (color CCD). |
| W11 |
Distribution of Mass in a Galaxy (VAL Unit 25) | Supernovae & SN remnants |
| W12 |
Distribution of Mass in a Galaxy (VAL Unit 25) | CCD imaging of galaxies. |
| W13 |
Galactic Speeds and Hubble's Law (VAL Unit 23) | CCD imaging of galaxies. |
| W14 |
Galactic Speeds and Hubble's Law (VAL Unit 23) | Certification: telescope practice |
| W15 |
Certification: sky quiz (done on computer) |
Certification: telescope set up. |
| (Finals week) Finish certification if not done. | Finish Certification if not done. | |
Independent stargazing: the goal here is to become
familiar
with the night sky. (If you ever find yourself
in an astronomy graduate assistantship, you will probably have to find
planets and constellations to undergraduates.)
Since there are less than 5 of us, we will try to meet by the softball
dugout on as many clear nights as possible. However, since
weather is usually poor, practice learning the constellations
on your own during non-lab nights. You can also learn
constellations with a computer planetarium program, but a flat computer
screen does not truly represent a sky that wraps around you.
Practice up for the ...
Telescope certification or Constellation quiz: be able
to point out 5
constellations, and
the 5 brightest objects (stars or planets) visible.
Be able to find the north celestial pole, the zenith, and the celestial
equator. If we don't get a clear night during the last week, I
will test you using a planetarium program.
Doing labs: the indoor labs are usually computer-based. Therefore, you will have the option to complete the lab at any time, not just the usually meeting time. However, you should be present at the begining of the class period to get instructions. (The above schedule is VERY tentative -- you can't be assured that the scheduled lab will occur. I also hope to take you out when weather conditions are good. In general, if the weather is good we will go out.
Plan an "observing run": use star maps, a celestial
sphere,
or a planetarium program to find interesting objects to observe with a
small (~5-inch) telescope. Write out a detailed schedule so that
you
can observe for about 1-2 hours on a clear night during this
quarter.
You must be sure that your object will be accessible at the scheduled
time!
| Cool astronomy Links | Pinkney's Homepage | The ONU Physics Homepage |