AST 102-1B Astronomy of Stellar Systems -- Spring 2010
| Instructor: |
Dr. Perry Gerakines
Email - gerak@uab.edu ("AST102" in the subject line & your name in the message)
Telephone - 205-934-8064
Office - Campbell Hall, room 383
Office Hours - Tues, Thurs; 1:00-2:00 PM, or by appointment - Feel free to stop by!
|
| Class Meets: |
Mon, Wed, Fri, 9:00-9:50 AM in HHB 102 |
| Co-requisite: |
AST 112 - Astronomy of Stellar Systems Laboratory (if AST102 to be taken as a core requirement - check with your adviser if you are unsure) |
| Last Day to Withdraw: |
The last day to withdraw from this course with a grade of "W" is Jan 13. |
- Course Topics:
- Methods and technologies used to observe the stars
- How the properties of stars are deduced from the observations
- Stars and their lifecycles
- Galaxies as systems of stars
- Course Objectives:
- Understand the processes involved with making an observation in
astronomy.
- Understand how to identify the physical properties of stars.
- Conceptual understandings of: stars and their properties, galaxies,
light.
- Related UAB QL Core Learning Outcomes:
- Demonstrate the ability to interpret graphical information.
- Demonstrate how to use quantitative evidence as a basis for
reasoning, problem-solving, and argument.
- Demonstrate how to communicate quantitative information using
numbers and words appropriate to the audience.
- Textbook:
- REQUIRED - On-line AstroPortal
Online AstroPortal for Discovering the Universe, 8th ed, by Comins and Kaufmann. All materials, including required readings, figures, and homework questions, are available on this site. All HW will be submitted electronically on the AstroPortal. The AstroPortal also features many interactive study guides, topic exploration tools, and web links not available in the printed version. Please take some time and explore the many tools available to you on this site.
Access codes may be purchased directly from the publisher's website or at the UAB Bookstore. Each student must purchase their own access code. Access codes will allow 4 semesters of use over a 4-year span.
- OPTIONAL - Printed Textbook + On-line AstroPortal
Since all information from the printed textbook (and more) can be found on the on-line AstroPortal, purchasing the hardcopy, printed textbook is not required for this course. However, the UAB Bookstore is selling a specially-priced package that contains BOTH the on-line portal and the printed textbook. If you would like the printed text in addition to the required on-line access, this option is less expensive than purchasing each item individually.
- Homework:
- There will be required readings and homework assignments each week.
- All HW must be submitted through the AstroPortal site under the ASSIGNMENTS tab.
- Each HW will be made up of multiple-choice and short-answer questions (requiring fewer than 200 words).
- HW will become accessible on the AstroPortal site at least 1 week before the due date.
- No HW will be accepted afted the listed due date and time. Please login early and make sure you can access the HW assignment.
- FOR TECHNICAL PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE ASTROPORTAL- call the technical support line at 1-800-936-6899 (9:00 AM – 3:00 AM Monday-Friday, Saturday and Sunday 11:30 AM - 8:00 PM EST). Please do not conact me- I really cannot help with those issues.
- Exams:
- There will be 3 in-class Exams and 1 cumulative Final Exam (closed notes, closed book).
- Each in-class exams will contain 40-50 multiple-choice questions. Please be on-time and ready to begin at 9:00AM. Exams will end prompty at 9:50AM.
- Exam 1 will be held Monday, February 8th.
- Exam 2 will be held Friday, March 12th.
- Exam 3 will be held Wednesday, April 21st.
- Each Exam will each cover all materials since the previous Exam.
- The Final Exam will contain about 75 multiple-choice questions that cover randomly-selected topics across the enitre semester.
- The Final Exam will be given Monday, May 3rd, 8:00-10:30 AM in HHB 102.
- Make-up Exam Policies:
- There will be no make-up exams without a verifiable life-or-death emergency. If an emergency does occur, someone must contact me within 12 hours of the scheduled Exam time and provide documentation of your emergency.
- Athletes and other personas traveling on UAB business are required to submit travel schedules to me during the first week of the semester so that we may work out dates to take conflicting exams early.
- Grades:
- HW Avg = % of all HW points earned compared to the total number of possible HW points.
- Exam Avg = average of 3 in-class Exam % grades.
- Course grade = (0.35 × HW Avg) + (0.45 × Exam Avg) + (0.20 × Final Exam % grade).
- All grades will be rounded to the nearest 0.1%.
- Letter grades: A=89.5% or above, B=79.5-89.4%, C=69.5-79.4%, D=59.5-69.4%, F=below 59.5%.
- Your grades will be accessible on the Blackboard Vista website and only to you. For the protection of your privacy, I will not give out grades to anyone by telephone or email.
- No extra-credits will be given. Please plan ahead and seek help early if you need it! If you require a certain grade in this class, then please come see me as soon as possible (the earlier the better!) if you are having trouble reaching your goal.
- Lecture Notes: Lecture notes will be posted on the Blackboard Vista website as they become available. It is highly recommended that you print them out and bring them to class in order to follow the lectures.
- Attendance Policy: Attendance will not be taken in class, but you may be tested on anything discussed in any lecture, whether you are present or not.
- Students with disabilities: Every effort will be made to accommodate students with disabilities in this class. All requests must be made through the office of Disability Support Services (dss@uab.edu; 934-4205).
- Mutual Respect: Class time will run smoothly as long as we all remember to show respect for everyone in the room. This means, among other things, you must:
- Please be quiet when others are speaking in class.
- Please turn off your CELL PHONES, MP3 PLAYERS, PAGERS, and any other electronic device before class starts. THEY WILL NOT BE TOLERATED IN CLASS FOR ANY REASON. If your cell phone does ring during class, turn it OFF immediately without answering it.
- Laptops may be used for note taking.
- See UAB's Official Policy on the appropriate use of technology in the classroom for more information.
- Note that any disruptions that require my intervention will result in a 1% penalty from your final course grade.
- Academic Honesty: You are are expected to have read and to adhere to the UAB Academic Honor Code as listed in the student handbook and undergraduate catalog. Any acts that are deemed by your instructor to violate the UAB Honor Code will result in an immediate failing grade for this course and possible expulsion from UAB.
- Suggested Reading:
- The New York Times "Science Times" weekly section every Tuesday
- Sky & Telescope monthly magazine; may be found in the UAB Sterne Library.
- The Whole Shebang, by Timothy Ferris. (Popular science)
- Ring, by Stephen Baxter. (Science Fiction)
- Web: www.nasa.gov;
www.space.com;
SkyAndTelescope.com;
www.nytimes.com