ASTRO 1050: Survey of Astronomy ASTRO 1050: Survey of Astronomy

Prof. Mike BrothertonProf. Mike BrothertonTAs: Mike DiPompeo, Shawn Staudaher, Inge TAs: Mike DiPompeo, Shawn Staudaher, Inge

HeyerHeyer

All the Course Info is available from my website:All the Course Info is available from my website:http://physics.uwyo.edu/~mbrotherhttp://physics.uwyo.edu/~mbrother

IntroductionIntroduction• Course goalsCourse goals• Course Course

overviewoverview• Course Course

informationinformation

Introductions - Introductions - I’ll go firstI’ll go first

Your turn…Your turn…

•Introduce yourself to 2 neighborsIntroduce yourself to 2 neighbors–Trade names, hometowns, interests, etc.Trade names, hometowns, interests, etc.–Why are you taking this course?Why are you taking this course?

–Trade info about parties this weekendTrade info about parties this weekend•I’ll try to get to know some of you I’ll try to get to know some of you throughout the semester and you can help throughout the semester and you can help by…by…

–Asking questionsAsking questions–Answering questionsAnswering questions

–Coming to see me, or your T.A.s during Coming to see me, or your T.A.s during office hoursoffice hours

Course GoalsCourse Goals• To develop a To develop a broad viewbroad view of of

what we know about our what we know about our universeuniverse

• To understand To understand the forces the forces that shape things we see that shape things we see in spacein space

• To help you understand To help you understand how we figured all this outhow we figured all this out

• To learn about an To learn about an

evidence-based evidence-based scientific world view scientific world view

Course Overview:Course Overview: What we will studyWhat we will study

• Vast range of Vast range of SIZES and SCALESSIZES and SCALES: : Understanding our place in the universeUnderstanding our place in the universe

How does our position here on How does our position here on Earth affect us and what we see?Earth affect us and what we see?

• Celestial Celestial MotionsMotions

• EclipsesEclipses• SeasonsSeasons• Moon Moon

PhasesPhases

Why is Earth so Why is Earth so different than different than

Jupiter?Jupiter?

Why is there abundant Why is there abundant life on Earth but no life on Earth but no

apparent life on Mars apparent life on Mars or Venus?or Venus?

Why is there a Why is there a debate about debate about

whether Pluto is whether Pluto is a planet?a planet?

In What Ways Are Other Solar In What Ways Are Other Solar Systems Likely To Be Similar To Systems Likely To Be Similar To

And/Or Different From Ours?And/Or Different From Ours?

What are other stars like? How are What are other stars like? How are they born, live, and die?they born, live, and die?

How do stars group themselves into How do stars group themselves into galaxies? How are galaxies born galaxies? How are galaxies born

and evolve over time?and evolve over time?

What about the whole frakking What about the whole frakking UNIVERSE?UNIVERSE?

How did we come to know all that?How did we come to know all that?

Energy, Energy, Gravity, Gravity, MotionMotion

LIGHTLIGHTElectromagnetic RadiationElectromagnetic Radiation

• What is lightWhat is light??

• What are the What are the different forms in different forms in which we see it?which we see it?

• How do How do we use itwe use it to to find out what things find out what things are made of?are made of?

500 years ago the universe was the image of our mythology 500 years ago the universe was the image of our mythology superstitions and a good reflection of how little we knewsuperstitions and a good reflection of how little we knew

Today the universe is the image of our Today the universe is the image of our Evidence based world viewEvidence based world view and a and a picture of the profound journey to knowledge that changed humanity forever. picture of the profound journey to knowledge that changed humanity forever.

evidence based world viewevidence based world viewIs the world better/safer today then in the past?

Who should take this course?Who should take this course?• No prerequisites, No prerequisites,

aimed at aimed at non-science non-science majors (USP SE majors (USP SE course)course)

• Folks wanting to Folks wanting to learn about the learn about the universe we live in!universe we live in!

Venus in the UVVenus in the UV

Will this course have MATH?!?!?Will this course have MATH?!?!?• YES, but only in small amountYES, but only in small amount

• Algebraic ManipultionAlgebraic Manipultion• Scientific NotationScientific Notation• Significant FiguresSignificant Figures• AreasAreas• VolumesVolumes• ExponentsExponents

Course WebpageCourse Webpagehttp://physics.uwyo.edu/~mbrother/a1050s11/a1050s11.htmlYou can find You can find announcements, lecture announcements, lecture notes, syllabus and other notes, syllabus and other useful things thereuseful things there

GradesGrades will be shown on will be shown on masteringastronomy.com masteringastronomy.com websitewebsite

Required TextRequired TextThe Cosmic PerspectiveThe Cosmic Perspective by Bennett et al., 2010, 6th edby Bennett et al., 2010, 6th ed

Includes:Includes:Access to textbook website Access to textbook website www.masteringastronomy.comwww.masteringastronomy.com,,Lecture Tutorials, Ebook, and Lecture Tutorials, Ebook, and SkyGazer planetarium software.SkyGazer planetarium software.

You will need your You will need your ownown “masteringastronomy” account“masteringastronomy” account!! 15% of your grade is using this 15% of your grade is using this online systemonline system

Go to www.masteringastronomy.com and click here

On the next page…

•Click Yes, I have an access code to sign up for the first time using the access code in your book…

•…or No, I need to purchase access online now if you bought a used book with no access code

•Complete the registration process and LOGIN

You’ll then be asked for a class code and student ID. Our class code is ASTR1050SPRING2011 (no spaces in the code.)

Mastering Astronomy Registration (see instructions in Scholar)

More on More on

• Uses a tutorial method in which you are Uses a tutorial method in which you are guided to the solution of a multi-step guided to the solution of a multi-step problemproblem– Wrong-answer feedback Wrong-answer feedback – On-demand hints (use them if you need On-demand hints (use them if you need

them!)them!)– Scores automatically submitted (if you see Scores automatically submitted (if you see

a grade, we see the grade too!)a grade, we see the grade too!)

If you have questions of difficulty registering If you have questions of difficulty registering or getting started, asking in lab is a quick or getting started, asking in lab is a quick way to get some help.way to get some help.

Lab starts THIS week, Lab starts THIS week, today today for some of for some of you. you.

There will be a lab syllabus given to you There will be a lab syllabus given to you by your TA.by your TA.

Labs will be available to be printed from Labs will be available to be printed from the course website after this week.the course website after this week.

What about Lab?What about Lab?

Important classroom policiesImportant classroom policies

• COURTESY!!COURTESY!!– Show up on time, don’t pack up earlyShow up on time, don’t pack up early– Don’t use your cell phonesDon’t use your cell phones– Laptop use in the classroom is discouragedLaptop use in the classroom is discouraged

• For reasons pertaining to For reasons pertaining to this class, ok…this class, ok…

– I’ll end class on timeI’ll end class on time– I’ll do my best to treat you fairly and as adultsI’ll do my best to treat you fairly and as adults

How to succeed in this courseHow to succeed in this course

• PUT IN THE TIME: PUT IN THE TIME: – 4 credits at UW = 8-12 4 credits at UW = 8-12

hours outside of the hours outside of the classroomclassroom

• Read the textbook Read the textbook sections (before class)sections (before class)

• Get to know your Get to know your classmates to study withclassmates to study with

• Use MasteringAstronomyUse MasteringAstronomy

• See us during office hoursSee us during office hours– Do Do NOTNOT wait until the last wait until the last

few weeks of the semester!few weeks of the semester!

How to Find MeHow to Find Me• Prof. Brotherton’s Prof. Brotherton’s

office hoursoffice hours::– Mon 3-4pm, Wed 2-Mon 3-4pm, Wed 2-

3pm, Fri 3-4pm, or by 3pm, Fri 3-4pm, or by appointment appointment (mbrother@uwyo.edu) (mbrother@uwyo.edu)

– Physical Sciences 217Physical Sciences 217

• Your Lab instructor will Your Lab instructor will have their own contact have their own contact information and office information and office hours.hours.

• I’m usually on the planet I’m usually on the planet pictured above.pictured above.

Extra creditExtra credit

• There will be several There will be several chances to earn extra chances to earn extra credit in this class. credit in this class. The first online The first online homework is extra homework is extra credit. Attending a credit. Attending a planetarium show will planetarium show will be another. There will be another. There will also be chances to also be chances to report on astronomy-report on astronomy-related stories.related stories.

GradesGrades

LabLab: : 25%25% (mandatory, last week for make-up)(mandatory, last week for make-up)

OnlineOnline Homework assignments Homework assignments: : 15%15%

3 exams3 exams (multiple choice): (multiple choice): 3 x 20%3 x 20% February 11, March 11, and February 11, March 11, and

Wednesday, May 4 1:15 pm - 3:15 pm (finals week)Wednesday, May 4 1:15 pm - 3:15 pm (finals week)

Extra credit is Extra credit is extra!extra!

For next class meeting, read:For next class meeting, read:• Syllabus!Syllabus!

• Chapter 1Chapter 1

• RegisterRegister for MasteringAstronomy! for MasteringAstronomy!

And by next Wed. Jan. 19 at 1:10 PM:And by next Wed. Jan. 19 at 1:10 PM:

– complete Introduction Assignments (extra credit)complete Introduction Assignments (extra credit)

You can get a copy of lecture You can get a copy of lecture slides from the course websiteslides from the course website

Some people think this makes lecture redundant. Maybe.Some people think this makes lecture redundant. Maybe.I suggest you print the slides and take notes on top of them.I suggest you print the slides and take notes on top of them.

We will do some demonstrations and other fun things in class.We will do some demonstrations and other fun things in class.

Until Next TimeUntil Next Time• And don’t forget lab!!!And don’t forget lab!!!