Requirements

You are expected to fulfill the following six general requirements:

1. ATTEND ALL LABS: With the exception of class cancellation, there will be NO make-up labs. The order of the labs is already set. If you know ahead of time that you will miss a lab, you can sometimes make arrangements with me to attend a different lab section that week. The earlier I know, the better for both of us! Because the different sections of 110 do the labs in different orders, most likely your only make up option will be the other sections attached to the lecture but simply showing up to those sections will not count as a make-up unless you have asked me in advance. If you miss a lab altogether, you cannot make up your lab later. Since emergencies and illnesses do occur, your lowest lab grade will be dropped. Please make the utmost effort to attend ALL labs, since you will be tested on ALL of the material taught during this course. Also I have a low tolerance for unexcused absences even at the end of the semester. The labs offer the perfect opportunity to apply what was taught in class, which is often an essential part of learning the material. You must have the Lab Manual and bring it to each class. You may print from the PDF version of the Lab Manual from the class website. Do not print the HTML version.

2. COMPLETE LAB PROJECTS: All in-class labs are due the next time your lab meets, usually the next week. Keep in mind that each lab is worth 100 points which includes a summary that is usually worth 35 points. Note that the Lab Manual lists how many points each exercise is worth.

3. WRITE SUMMARIES: A summary of the lab from each person is due with the lab. Summaries are a way for each of you to solidify what you have learned in lab and should be completed independently of the lab group. Summaries which are identical or nearly identical to those of your team mates will merit zero or nearly zero points. They should be at least 1 page, typed, proofread, and written in a scientific style. There are summary questions at the end of each lab but I may announce during lab other questions that are either in addition or in place of the Lab Manual questions.

4. PREPARE FOR LAB: To be adequately prepared, you need to read over the lab we will be doing before coming to class. Scientific calculators are mandatory. Scientific calculators have trig, log, ln, and e function capability. They are available in the bookstore for less than $20. Rulers are highly recommended.

5. PARTICIPATE: You are encouraged to ask questions at any point during the lab about anything that is related to the material being covered. If I am not looking at you please make noise at me to get my attention. Remember, you are in this class to learn about astronomy, not to just finish the labs (or so we like to think). Participating in class is not only a good way to help you learn, but it also helps others in the class.

6. OBSERVE: A significant and mandatory part of this lab is one night time visit to the observatory each month. (Two observing sessions in the semester to be exact.) In the back of the Lab Manual are a set of observatory worksheets. You will need four of these on each visit to the observatory. The TAs there will give you instructions on the use of the telescopes. It is vital that you get each sheet stamped at the observatory. Observatory notebooks without stamps on each observatory worksheet page will not be given credit.