Astronomy 101 The Solar System Summer 2011

Online Course Course Number: ASTR 10181N

Instructor: Justin Mason Jmason50@ivytech.edu

Course Catalog Description It is a Survey of the history of astronomy, astronomical cycles and phenomena, astronomical instruments, formation and evolution of the planets and their satellites, comparative palaeontology, asteroids, comets, meteors, the sun, origin of the solar system and its place in the galaxy and the universe. A100 The Solar System, is an introductory course in astronomy with an emphasis on our own Solar System. Topics covered include the celestial sphere, constellations, apparent motions of celestial objects, eclipses, introductory physics to understand astronomy, history of astronomy, the Earth as a planet, the Moon, the planets and their satellites, comets, meteors, and the origin of the solar system. This course is intended for non-science majors This class has been designed with several goals in mind. These include: (1) understanding how science works and how scientific ideas and methodology have changed over time, (2) developing scientific literacy, (3) refining critical thinking and problem solving skills, (4) enabling you to understand the visible sky, (5) providing you with a fundamental framework in which to understand our local neighborhood in space, and (6) exploring the physical processes at play in the formation and evolution of the solar system. The course will have weekly discussion board areas in Blackboard as well as other assignments. Students will be expected to submit material regularly throughout the semester on a timely basis. ____________________________________________________________________________ Text Book: The Cosmic Perspective, sixth edition, by Bennett, Donahue, Schneider and Voit. This comes bundled with Voyager: Skygazer (College Edition), vers. 4.0, and the Astronomy Media Workbook, sixth edition. These will be needed.

Course Activities Schedule: There will be readings due each week. There will be discussion board questions for each of week along the way. The discussion board will open the weekend prior to the week of the readings, and will stay open a few days after the deadline. Once a submission area is closed, it will not be reopened, so be sure to submit things on a timely basis.

There will also be lab portions done via the Voyager: Skygazer software. Your Astronomy Media Workbook will detail the Skygazer activities you are expected to complete. We will have 12 required lab components from this (the ones in bold): VOYAGER: SKYGAZER ACTIVITIES 1 Introducing SkyGazer 2 Motions of the Stars 3 The Celestial Sphere 4 Motions of the Sun 5 The Ecliptic 6 Seasonal Constellations 7 The Seasons 8 Precession 9 Proper Motion 10 Phases of the Moon 11 Solar Eclipses 12 Lunar Eclipses 13 The Inferior Planets 14 The Superior Planets 15 Observing the Planets 16 Asteroids, Comets, and Meteors 17 The Solar SystemPlanets, Moons, and Rings 18 Stars and the H-R Diagram 19 GalaxiesThe Milky Way 20 The UniverseHubbles Law 21 Extra Activity: Space Exploration Extra labs might be done for extra credit along the way. 2 11 19 27 35 43 51 58 64 69 76 83 89 97 104 110 119 127 134 142 151

Grades: Quizzes Attendance/Discussion Board Midterm exam Final project Twelve Labs Total A B C D F 1000 900 points 899 800 points 799 700 points 699 600 points 599 or below 200 points 150 points (~20 points per week) 200 points 200 points 250 points (20 points each, with a few at 25) 1000 points

There may be occasional extra-credit possibilities as well. The Computer Help Desk can give information on setting up and accessing email accounts and the Blackboard area of the class. Participation in discussion boards, quizzes, and labs counts as attendance. Doing things late will not give you attendance points and you will not receive any points at all for that assignment. Attendance is NOT an optional element in class.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________ Academic Honesty Statement: The College is committed to academic integrity in all its practices. The faculty value intellectual integrity and a high standard of academic conduct, and are expected to demonstrate this in their own courses. Activities that violate academic integrity undermine the quality and diminish the value of educational achievement. Cheating on papers, tests or other academic works is a violation of College rules. No student shall engage in behavior that, in the judgment of the instructor of the class, may be construed as cheating. This may include, but is not limited to, plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty such as the acquisition without permission of tests or other academic materials and/or distribution of these materials and other academic work. This includes students who aid and abet as well as those who attempt such behavior. The instructor reserves the right to use the resources of the College to check student work for plagiarism; beginning summer 2005, instructors will use the software, Turnitin.com. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Copyright Statement: Students shall adhere to the laws governing the use of copyrighted materials. They must ensure that their activities comply with fair use and in no way infringe on the copyright or other proprietary rights of others and that the materials used and developed at Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana contain nothing unlawful, unethical, or libelous, and do not constitute any violation of any right of privacy. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ ADA Statement: Ivy Tech State College seeks to provide effective services and accommodations for qualified individuals with documented disabilities. If you need an accommodation because of a documented disability, please contact the Office of Disability Support Services. If you will require assistance during an emergency evacuation, notify your instructor immediately. Look for evacuation procedures posted in your classroom. _______________________________________________________________________________________________ Student Behavior Statement: Students should always conduct themselves in a respectful manner. No conduct will be tolerated that might endanger or threaten anyone in the class. Disruptive behavior, substance abuse, downgrading or disparaging remarks, and any other behavior that shows a lack of respect for the instructor or other students, will not be tolerated. At the instructor's discretion, a student causing problems may be asked to leave the class for the session. If a student persists in causing problems, further disciplinary action may be taken, up to and including dismissal from class and/or the College. _______________________________________________________________________________________________

This syllabus is tentative. Point totals may be altered if necessary. BE AWARE THAT THIS IS A SUMMER COURSE. This course is designed to teach a full semester worth of material in a limited time frame. Please budget your time accordingly and plan ahead for upcoming labs, quizzes, etc. It is my goal to present an interesting and enjoyable class. I hope that all of you find it a positive experience. Please do not hesitate to talk with me if you have any problems, questions, or comments. Youre paying for your education, so feel free to ask questions and get the most that you can.