Astronomy 1 Winter Quarter, 2014

Monday, Wednesday, Friday 2:00 - 2:50 in Broida 1610

To succeed in this class, you should attend both lecture and discussion section regularly, and keep up with the readings and assignments. The text book is Kaufman and Freedman, THE UNIVERSE 9^th edition , which is available in the UCSB bookstore. The website is http://bcs.whfreeman.com/universe9e/ . It is a great resource for you.

There are discussion sections on Monday and Thursday afternoons, which you need to attend regularly. You can sign up on GOLD. The sections are designed to give you a chance to practice what you learn in lecture and facilitate your understanding of the readings, including going over the problem sets, having group discussions, and possibly computer lab exercises.

Homework:

You can find the list of reading assignments HERE .

Homework policy:

• Homework is always due on WEDNESDAY (changed from Monday!) at the beginning of class in designated boxes at the FRONT of the room.
• The homework will consist of 10-12 questions, 3-4 problems, all taken from the questions at the end of each chapter.
• NO LATE HOMEWORK ACCEPTED. If you have a legitimate problem (illness or other emergency) please talk to Dr. van der Veen during office hours or after class.
• Homework will be graded as "done" or "zero". To receive full credit you must attempt all of the questions, problems, and do the observation.
• IT IS IN YOUR BEST INTEREST TO DO THE HOMEWORK BECAUSE YOU WILL RECOGNIZE QUESTIONS ON THE MIDTERMS FROM THE HOMEWORK. :-)

Homework assignments (9^th edition):

Lecture Slides

...will be posted here, usually the afternoon or evening after class. (Friday's lecture won't be posted until Sunday probably, because I teach another class from 3:10 to 6 PM on Fridays.) You need Adobe Reader, which you can download for free here.

Exams:

We will have two midterms and a final exam. These will be multiple choice. A formula sheet will be provided with the exam.
Bring with you for each exam:

1. A pink Parscore scantron (8 x 11) that you can purchase from the Bookstore or the Arbor;
2. A working calculator (I don't have any extras), a #2 pencil or two;
3. A photo ID;
4. You may bring ONE PAGE OF YOUR OWN NOTES. Must be on an 8 X 11 inch paper, and be your own, HAND WRITTEN notes. You may cover front and back.
   NO XEROXES OF THE BOOK OR SOMEONE ELSE'S NOTES.
   

   Midterm #1 with answers:

   1. Midterm 1, Version A
   2. Midterm 1, Version B
   3. Midterm 1, Version C
   4. Midterm 1, Version D

   Midterm #1 scores displayed with LAST four digits of your perm numbers

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   Extra Credit Observing Sessions:

   Astronomy is much more fun when you get to observe things in the heavens yourself! We will have one star party on the roof of Broida (the physics building) the evening of Wednesday, March 5^th at 8 PM . Depending on how many students want to come, we will hold multiple observing sessions, as I believe we have a maximum of 40-45 people allowed up there at one time. Sign ups will be taken in class.

   ABSOLUTELY NO FOOD OR DRINK ON THE ROOF, AND ABSOLUTELY NO ALCOHOL!!!

   In addition, the Santa Barbara Astronomical Unit has invited students from Astro 1 to attend one or more of their public star parties. The dates and times are:

   1. Saturday, February 15, 6 PM, Miro Lawn, Bacara Resort and Spa. LIMIT 20 STUDENTS AT THE BACARA.
   2. Friday, February 21, 7 PM, Westmont Public Telescope Night at their observatory by the baseball field.
   3. Saturday, February 22, 6 PM, Miro Lawn, Bacara Resort and Spa. LIMIT 20 STUDENTS AT THE BACARA.
   4. Friday, February 28, 6 PM, Miro Lawn, Bacara Resort and Spa. LIMIT 20 STUDENTS AT THE BACARA.
   5. Saturday, March 8, dusk to 10 PM, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History. $2 for non-members.

   NOTE: You MUST fill out a liability waiver and turn it in to me before you can attend any of these events.

   Note:

   For the Bacara events we are limited to 20 students, therefore you need to sign up IN CLASS ahead of time if you want to attend the Feb. 15 or 28 events. Also, if you don't want to deal with valet parking, please park in the beach access lot before reaching the hotel proper, and walk in along the trail. Telescopes will be set up on the Miro lawn, which is on a bluff overlooking the ocean at the SW corner of the hotel property, next to the Miro restaurant and adjacent to the main hotel parking lot. The hotel staff in the lobby should be able to direct anyone who can't find them.

   DIRECTIONS TO THE BACARAN

   At Westmont, the parking is in lots next to the track field and the baseball field. Entry to the campus is through the first Westmont entrance encountered on the left (west) side of Cold Springs Road. Westmont also has a phone number to check in case of iffy weather (805-565-6272).

   DIRECTIONS TO WESTMONT COLLEGE

   DIRECTIONS TO THE SANTA BARBARA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

   To get extra credit you must fill out an observing log (available in class or download HERE AND have it signed by me or one of the TAs. For the A.U. star paraties, your observing log must be signed by Mr. Chuck McPartlin or one of the other officers if I am not there.

   You are welcome to attend as many of the star parties as you wish, but you may only turn in a maximum of 3 extra credit observing logs. (In other words, you cannot get so much extra credit that you feel it is okay not to take the final exam!)

   WEAR WARM CLOTHING WHEN YOU GO OUT AT NIGHT!! BRING A FLASHLIGHT, TOO.

   
   

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   Grading:

   Your grade will be based on the following:

   Assignment	Frequency	Relative Weight
   Homework	1/week	20%
   Midterms	2	20% each
   Final exam	One	40%

   Grades will be assigned according to the traditional formula, give or take a few points:

   • A-/A/A+ 90 and above
   • B-/B/B+ 80 and above
   • C-/C/C+ 70 and above
   • D-/D/D+ 60 and above
   • F below 60%
   
   

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   There will be no make-up exams. Consultation with Prof. van der Veen may excuse you from a midterm for serious illness, or for other serious emergencies. If you miss a midterm with a valid excuse, your grade will be based on the remaining exams and homework. If you miss the final with a valid excuse you will receive an Incomplete for the course, and you can take the final exam the next time the course is taught. Whatever the case, do talk with me if any of these occur. If you simply don't show up for an exam, and have no valid excuse, you will receive a zero for that exam.
   

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   Other Information:

   
   
   1. Absolutely NO cell phones or texting in class! Laptops are permitted, if you are using them to take notes.
   2. You may eat in class as long as you pick up your own trash. If the lecture hall gets trashy, I will eliminate this privilege.
   3. The University policies regarding NO HARASSMENT of any kind and NO DISHONESTY will be upheld.
      See UCSB policies on no harassment of any kind
      See Academic Senate policies on no dishonesty of any kind
   
   

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   Some useful links:

   • Useful Animations and Simulations
   • The WorldWide Telescope An incredible tool from Microsoft
   • The Chromoscope See the Universe in multiple wavelengths
   • Aladin Sky Atlas Access a multitude of telescope data
   • News from the International Space Station
   • Women in Astronomy Blog
   • Planck Mission mapping the Oldest light of the universe
   
   

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