Astronomy 105: The Planets
(MWF 12:30 to 1:20, Hardman 104)
Homepage: http:/astronomy.nmsu.edu/tharriso/ast110/ast105.html
Instructor: Tom Harrison/Stefanie Japel
Office: Astronomy Building, room 103 (TH), 106 (JP)
Office hours: 2 pm to 3 pm MWF, or by appt.
Phone: 646-3628
Email: tharriso@nmsu.edu,
TAs: Cat Wu (catwu@nmsu.edu), Sean Lindsay (slindsay@nmsu.edu), and Malynda Chizek (mchizek@nmsu.edu)
Text: "Cosmic Perspective: The Solar System", Authors: Bennett, Donahue, Schneider & Voit
Objectives: To learn about the the planets in our solar system, and the geology, chemistry and physics needed to understand the planets, the Sun, and the other components of our Solar System.
Attendance: As with most college courses, the pace is fast, and your attendance will be necessary to achieve a good grade. If you are unable to attend because of illness or a family emergency, please contact the instructor (phone or email) before class so that allowances can be made for missed quizzes or homework assignments. If the absence is unexcused, no make-up work will be given. If a student has five or more unexcused absences, an automatic withdraw form will be issued. Note that the last date for withdrawing from class (to receive a "W") is March 10th. The final exam is currently scheduled for Friday, May 9, 1:00pm to 3:00 pm.
Student Evaluation (January to March):
Exam: 15%
Laboratory work: 25%
Unannounced quizzes: 15%
Homework exercises: 25%
In order to receive a grade of "S", the student must have a minimum of a "C" grade. Grade scale will be the normal one: 90 and Above = "A", 80 to 90 = "B", 70 to 80 = "C", 60 to 70 = "D", below 60 = "F". Plagiarism will not be tolerated.
Late/Make-up Assignment policy: Late homework assignments will not be accepted without prior arrangement with the instructor. Make-up quizzes and exams will be arranged for excused absences only.
Lab Class: Note that Astronomy 105 also has a weekly laboratory session associated with the lecture section to help fortify your classroom experience, as well as to give you hands-on experience in some of the techniques of modern astronomy. There are four specific lab sections that are directly associated with this lecture class, they are Astronomy 105 M1A, M1B, M1C, and M1D. You MUST register for and attend one of these sections! These laboratory classes are held in Walden Hall room 232. M1A meets Tuesdays 2:30-4:30, M1B is 4:30 to 6:30 Tu, M1C meets Th 2:30-4:30 and M1D meets Th 4:30-6:30.
Program Evaluation: Students will be asked to participate in a course evaluation at the end of the semester.
What is General Education Core Curriculum?
This course has been certified as one in New Mexico State University's General Education Core Curriculum (GECC). The GECC attempts to foster intelligent inquiry, abstract logical thinking, critical analysis, and the integration and synthesis of knowledge; it strives for literacy in writing, reading, speaking and listening; it teaches mathematical structures; acquainting students with precise abstract thought about numbers and space; it encourages an understanding of science and scientific inquiry; it provides a historical consciousness, including an understanding of one's own heritage as well as respect for other peoples and cultures; it includes an examination of values and stresses te importance of a carefully considered values system; it fosters an appreciation of the arts; and general education provides the breadth necessary to have a familiarity with the various branches of human understanding.
Special note:
If you have, or believe you have, a disability that you wish to self-identify, you can do so by providing documentation to the Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD) office located in Garcia Annex (646-6840). If you are already registered with the SSD office, and need accommodations, please provide your "Accommodation Memo" from the SSD within the first 2 weeks of class. If you have a condition which may affect your ability to exit from the premises in case of an emergency, you are encouraged to discuss this with your instructor (or SSD Coordinator). If you have general questions about the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) call 646-3333.
Tentative Schedule:
(The instructors reserve the right to alter this schedule as necessary!)
January 16 and 18: Course overview, organization, and introduction. The sizes of things, scientific notation, the origin of Astronomy (Ch 1, 2, 3). Lab: No labs this week
January 23 and 25: The origin of Astronomy: "Skywatching", time, calendars (Ch. 2 and 5). Lab #1: Introductory skill lab.
Week of January 28th: The motion of the Sun and Moon: Days, Months and Years. The motions of planets: the Geocentric (Ptolemaic) System. Phases of the Moon, and Lunar and Solar Eclipses (Ch. 2). Lab #2: Phases of the Moon
Week of February 4th: Copernicus, Tycho, Kepler, and Galileo: the proper understanding of planetary motion (heliocentric system). Gravity, Newton's laws (Ch 4 and 5). Lab #3: Orbit of Mercury
Week of February 11th: The Earth as a planet. Structure, history, and geological processes (Ch 9). Lab#4: Kepler's laws
Week of February 18th: The Earth-Moon system. Nature of the Moon, its formation, and processes that shaped its surface (Ch. 10). Lab #5: Size of the Solar System (Aggie Memorial Stadium)
Week of February 25th: Light, atomic structure and astronomical tools (Ch. 6, 7). Lab #6: Density Lab
February 29th: Exam #1. (Time to change instructors!)
Week of March 3rd: Terrestrial planets: Mercury and Venus. Craters, volcanism, etc. (Ch 9 and 10). Lab #7: Earthquake lab
Week of March 10th: Mars: characteristics, history, exploration and the possibility of life (Ch 9 and 10). Lab #8: Surface of the Moon
Week of March 17th: Jovian Planets: Jupiter and Saturn (Ch 11). (March 21st is a holiday). Exam #2 (date TBD). Lab #9: Earth Density
Week of March 24th: Spring Break
Week of March 31st: Uranus and Neptune, the "ice giants". Moons of giant planets (Ch. 11). Lab #10: Water on Mars
Week of April 7th: Pluto; planetary ring systems (Ch 11 and 12). Lab #11: Mystery lab.
Week of April 14th: Comets and Asteroids, and other small components of the solar system. (Ch. 12). Lab #12: Io Volcanism
Week of April 21st: Extrasolar planets: planets elsewhere in the Galaxy. Origin of Solar system (Ch. 8 and 13). Lab #13: Comets
Week of April 28th: The Sun: "Our star", the heart and glue of the solar system; physical characteristics, power production, history and fate (Ch. 14). Course review. Lab #14: Review
May 9: Final Exam 1:00pm to 3:00pm