This document provides information about an astronomy lab course taught by Shahriar Abachi. The course involves hands-on laboratory exercises and measurements relating to topics in astronomy. It will meet twice a week for 3 hours and 45 minutes. Students will perform experiments detailed in the required textbook and materials. Grades will be based on lab reports, a final exam, and quizzes at the start of each lab session. Students must attend all 11 scheduled labs, arrive on time, participate fully, and submit lab reports for all but two sessions. Academic honesty is strictly enforced. The course aims to help students understand how scientific knowledge about the universe is obtained through measurement and analysis of astronomical data.
This document provides information about an astronomy lab course taught by Shahriar Abachi. The course involves hands-on laboratory exercises and measurements relating to topics in astronomy. It will meet twice a week for 3 hours and 45 minutes. Students will perform experiments detailed in the required textbook and materials. Grades will be based on lab reports, a final exam, and quizzes at the start of each lab session. Students must attend all 11 scheduled labs, arrive on time, participate fully, and submit lab reports for all but two sessions. Academic honesty is strictly enforced. The course aims to help students understand how scientific knowledge about the universe is obtained through measurement and analysis of astronomical data.
This document provides information about an astronomy lab course taught by Shahriar Abachi. The course involves hands-on laboratory exercises and measurements relating to topics in astronomy. It will meet twice a week for 3 hours and 45 minutes. Students will perform experiments detailed in the required textbook and materials. Grades will be based on lab reports, a final exam, and quizzes at the start of each lab session. Students must attend all 11 scheduled labs, arrive on time, participate fully, and submit lab reports for all but two sessions. Academic honesty is strictly enforced. The course aims to help students understand how scientific knowledge about the universe is obtained through measurement and analysis of astronomical data.
This document provides information about an astronomy lab course taught by Shahriar Abachi. The course involves hands-on laboratory exercises and measurements relating to topics in astronomy. It will meet twice a week for 3 hours and 45 minutes. Students will perform experiments detailed in the required textbook and materials. Grades will be based on lab reports, a final exam, and quizzes at the start of each lab session. Students must attend all 11 scheduled labs, arrive on time, participate fully, and submit lab reports for all but two sessions. Academic honesty is strictly enforced. The course aims to help students understand how scientific knowledge about the universe is obtained through measurement and analysis of astronomical data.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course comprises an introduction to techniques of Astronomical measurement and analysis of Astronomical data. Emphasis will be on understanding how scientific knowledge is constructed, i.e. answering the question: how do we know about the universe? Students will perform hands-on measurements, observations, and exercises in data analysis relating to the solar system, stars, galaxies, large-scale structure of the universe, and cosmology. REQUIRED TEXT: Astronomy Lab Manual, Kim Gordon, 4th edition REQUIRED MATERIALS: Notebook, Scantron forms (882E, ES), scientific calculator GRADES: The following provides the areas that grades will be assigned for the class: Each Lab Reports Final exam Quizzes
20 points for a total of 240 points
80 points consisting of 1530 multiple choice questions 50 points
Grand Total
370 points
LETTER GRADES:
A(330370),
B(300329),
C(270299),
D(240269)
QUIZZES: A Quiz is given at the beginning of each session asking you about the Lab of that day. GENERAL RULES: Eleven Lab sessions are planned. Preparation, on-time arrival, presence, participation, and lab reports are required. Late arrival or lack of participation may result in a 10%50% reduction in grade or a zero for that lab or even more serious consequences. Students are expected to show up in the lab well prepared. Preparation consists of carefully reading the lab manual and understanding all the aspects of the scheduled lab so that you can participate fully. You will be tested for your preparation by the quizzes. Each lab group should consist of two students. One or three in a group are undesirable, but may be permitted by the instructor. No communications between different lab group members are allowed. All other communications should be about the lab contents. Refrain from any personal talks. There are no makeup Labs, however if you have a substantiated real emergency, you can visit another lab with same session content with permission of both instructors; or based on the judgment of your instructor a project or other plans may be devised to help you for a real emergency You can miss no more than two lab reports! Missing more than two lab reports means you automatically do not pass the course. MATH SKILLS: Study the Math Review in your lab manual carefully, so that when the instructor goes over any mathematical methods used for the class you can understand better.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS: In order to successfully complete the course, the following rules and guidelines must be followed for the course: 1. Attend all labs. If you miss more two labs you will fail the lab. (Note: it is your responsibility to drop the course if you want to withdraw). 2. Attending the lab on time and participating in the activities are important in this class. Tardiness and leaving early are rude and disruptive and will be dealt with as described. 3. Respect the instructor and your classmates. Do not carry on conversations during the lab. You will be asked to leave if you do so. 4. Eat and drink before or after the class, not during the lecture. NO FOOD OR DRINK IS ALLOWED. 5. Turn off phones and pagers before the lecture/lab starts. 6. BE HONEST! CHEATING OF ANY FORM WILL NOT BE TOLERATED! If caught there is zero tolerance. The full force of the College rules on cheating will be enforced.
EXAM: I will add to your grade your average lab grade for any scheduled lab that may not occur due to special or unforeseen circumstances; such as holidays or instructor emergencies, etc. For the Final exam, a self prepared hand written one-sided note/formula sheet (8 11) is allowed. A calculator is allowed and a scantron form 882-E should be brought along. No cell phones or other electronics is allowed in the possession. There must be documentation for any excuse given for the possible allowance of a make-up exam. Note: It is within the authority of the instructor to change the schedule, format and requirements of the exam. All students must work alone during exams. ABSOLUTELY NO TALKING DURING EXAMS, ANY WILL RESULT IN THE EXAM BEING TAKEN BACK AND A FAILURE FOR THAT EXAM. REPORTS: Each group provides one report same day of the lab. The instructor can change the format, due date, and content of the reports. SAFETY: Safety always comes first in any laboratory! UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES IS FOOD OR DRINK ALLOWED IN THE LABORATORY! THERE ARE NO EXCEPTIONS TO THIS SAFETY RULE. If in doubt about any procedure or if it seems unsafe to you, do not continue. Ask your lab instructor for help. Some safety and emergency dealings are posted on the course website. Please read those. STATEMENT OF ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: Cheating, plagiarism, and other types of academic dishonesty will not be tolerated. For details on student responsibilities concerning academic integrity and plagiarism, please consult the CSULB University Catalog. WITHDRAWAL POLICY: The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics Withdrawal Policy is posted on our course website on the BeachBoard and a copy is posted on our course website. No instructor or office staff can add or change a class for you. Only YOU, THE STUDENT, can add or change classes in YOUR schedule. You may either add classes on-line through your MyCSULB account or in person at Enrollment Services during the registration period.
ACCOMMODATION OF A DISABILITY: If you have a disability, it is your responsibility to notify your
instructor in advance of your need for accommodation of that disability that has been verified by the university. STUDY SUGGESTIONS FOR SUCCESS: You should perform the following in order to have the greatest possibility for success and to receive a high score. 1. Read the assigned material. YOU HAVE NO HOPE IF YOU DO NOT READ! 2. Look over all material content in each lab and learn it! 3. Get prepared for the quiz and be on time. 4. Participate fully while in lab. TENTATIVE LAB SCHEDULE* Week (Dates)
Topics
Approx. Pages
Orientation and Safety Forms
The Sidereal Day
16 28
The Star Chart & Celestial Coordinates (Part 1)
29 44
The Star Chart & Celestial (Parts 2&3)
44 54
Kepplers Law & the Moon Mass
95 110
The Moons Sidereal Period
111 117
Spectroscopy, Online Version
62 69
Spectroscopy Hardware Version
70 76
Distance to Pleiades & Cluster Age
79 87 & 88 94
10
Arcturus & Earths Revolution
118 127
11
Hubbles Law and the Age of the Universe
128 137
12
Quasar 3C 273
138 142
13
Valles Marineris; Skydiving on Mars
143 152
14
Review
15
Final Exam
* The instructor reserves the right to change the schedule of experiments from what is shown above. Students will be informed of any changes to the schedule from this tentative schedule. Finally: Remember you can be confident that I am here to help you. I want you to succeed and will help! If you are struggling, come see me. Well figure out together what you need to do to succeed!
