DEPARTMENT OF PHYSICS

ASTRONOMY 1010L

 

SOLAR SYSTEM LABORATORY

 

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:  (1 hour) Co-requisite: ASTR 1010.  Laboratory to accompany ASTR 1010. Laboratory exercises will involve the student in observing stars and planets with the 3 to 16 inch telescopes of the college observatory. One, 2-hour laboratory per week.

 

GENERAL LAB INFORMATION FOR SUMMER 2016
 

LAB INSTRUCTORS:

 

Dr. Joseph H. Jones
Office: 101 Rogers Hall 234 H&NS	Office hours:  1040-1140 F - Rogers, 1315-1415 MTW - Planetarium (note:  open door policy - other hours anytime if available, best by appointment, hours in bold = most available for this class)
Office phone: 706-864-1510	Planetarium phone (info announcements): 706-864-1471 Observatory phone (info announcements): 706-864-8642 Observatory Facebook, like us for opening status posts:
E-mail: jjones@ung.edu	Web: http://faculty.ung.edu/jjones/joneshome/jjones.html

 

 

LAB SECTIONS:

 
SECTION A (CRN 1061) 1105-1315 MW, H&NS 234 (Planetarium), Jones
SECTION B (CRN 1062) 1105-1315 TR, H&NS 234 (Planetarium), Jones

 

Lab packets are required and may be purchased at the Book Store.  You are encouraged to retain all lab work for future reference. The following materials are required or strongly recommended for labs:

• flashlight with red filter (for night labs & planetarium labs) required

• scientific calculator with trig. functions (useful for some lecture exams as well) required

• clipboard (useful for observing labs) recommended

• clear plastic millimeter ruler (useful for some labs) recommended

 

METHOD OF EVALUATION:

 

• You must attend and participate in lab during the lab period for credit on the lab. Labs will be reviewed and corrected during the lab period such that all participating students should know their approximate lab score when they leave the lab.
  
•  You must complete a minimum of 6 exo-class labs.  Use the following Exo-class labs submission deadline schedule: (Due to the limited time-span of the short sessions, there is only the final deadline of the last day of classes: 27 Jun 2016
   
  Deadline 1:  F, Jan. 29
  Deadline 2:  F, Feb. 12
  Deadline 3:  F, Feb. 26
  Deadline 4:  F, Mar. 11
  Deadline 5:  F, Mar. 25
  Deadline 6:  F, Apr. 8
  Deadline 7:  F, Apr. 22 Final Deadline    
  
  PLEASE NOTE:  The "exo-class" labs are NOT optional.  You are required to do  at least 6 "exo-class" labs, completing 6 "exo-class" labs + 6 "worksheet" labs for a total of 12 labs in all. 
  
• The “worksheet” labs and “exo-class” labs are graded on a 10 point scale, averaged and converted to a 100 point scale.  You cannot substitute "worksheet" labs for "extro-class" labs or vice-versa.  However, some "exo-class" labs have significant extra points possible.
  Letter grade as follows:
  A = 90 to 100; B = 80 to 89; C = 70 to 79; D = 60 to 69; F < 60
  
  UNG Integrity Code:  On my honor, I will not lie, cheat, steal, plagiarize, evade the truth or tolerate those who do.
  
  Penalty for cheatiing will be a grade of F for the class.  Lesser penalties may be applied at the discrestion of the professor.
  

  Class Evaluations:  Class evaluations at NGCSU are now conducted on-line through Banner. Evaluation of the class is considered a component of the course and students will not be permitted to access their course grade until the evaluation has been completed. The evaluations will be accessible beginning one week prior to Final Exam week.

  Disability Services:  This university is committed to equal access to its programs, services, and activities, and welcomes otherwise qualified students with disabilities.  Students who require accommodations and services must register with Disability Services and submit supporting documentation. Disability Services provides accommodation memos for eligible students to give to their instructors.  Students are responsible for making arrangements with instructors, and must give reasonable prior notice of the need for accommodation.
  
  Check out the SUPPLEMENTAL SYLLABUS PAGE for more info about Disability Services, Academic Integrity Policies, On-line class evaluations, and more.

LAB EXERCISES:
 

Each student is required to complete 6 out of 7 "worksheet" labs and 6 out of 9+ (or more) "exo-class" or special “exo-class" labs for a total of 12 labs. The "worksheet" labs will analyze previously obtained data or use the planetarium's simulated night sky to make measurements. The "exo-class" labs will involve observing astronomical or astronomically related objects/events/places either with the unaided eye or with astronomical instrumentation. Occasionally special exo-class labs are available depending on astronomical events during the semester.  Weather permitting, the observatory will be open M-F through June 27^th.  The last public planetarium show will be Friday, June 24^th. 

Exo-class labs should be attempted beginning at the start of the semester and are due by the submission deadlines (see above).  All exo-class and special exo-class labs MUST BE turned in by Monday, June 27^nd.  THIS IS A HARD DEADLINE.

 

(P = Planetarium [H&NS 234], O = Observatory, Note times below: EST ends, EDT begins Sunday, Mar. 13, 2016)

 

Exo-class:

1. Colors of Stars Lab (take-home) Any Location - evening sky
   (This lab is NOT specifically required for A1010L)
2. Moon Phases & Motion Lab (take-home) Any Location - about 30 m after sunset     (1 opportunities this semester, This lab IS NOT specifically required for summer   
3. Observing Lab 1 O - 2130 EDT (1930 EST)
4. Observing Lab 2 O - 2130 EDT (1930 EST)
5. Small Telescope Lab O - 2130 EDT (1930 EST)
6. Solar System Scale Model Walk Lab Gainesville Square – daytime
7. Planetarium Show Lab P - 2000 (8 p.m.) Fridays
8. Artificial Satellite Observing Lab Any Location - after sunset or before sunrise
9. Cell Phone Camera Imaging Lab O - 2130 EDT (1930 EST)
10. Sunset Watch Any Location - sunset (Best Loc.:  Parking Deck bridge near HNS)
    
    Possible Labs (Now available - see packet):
    
11. Fireball Camera Lab O (Watch for meteors while at the obervatory)
12. NERT Solar Transit Lab Submit to instructor (radio observations done by TO at Observatory)

 

Worksheet: 

1. The Current Evening Sky & Extro-class Lab Briefing P
2. Star Charts, Celestial Coordinates and Sidereal Time Lab P
3. Mars Retrograde Observing Lab - Retrograde Motion of Mars P
4. Scale of the Inferior Planets Lab - Surveying the Inner Solar System P
5. Kepler's Laws of Planetary Motion Lab - Orbits P
6. Crater Counts Lab - The Age of Planetary Surfaces P
7. Lunar Topography Lab - Image Analysis of Planetary Surface Features P
   
   Not Used:
   
8. Calculator Lab - Units, Significant Figures, Scientific Notation and Using a Calculator P (possible 2nd make-up)
9. Rocket Competition Lab P + east lawn of H&NS building (N/A)

 

Special Exo-class:

1. Len Foote Hike Inn Astro-monument 5 mile hike from Amicalola Falls State Park (10 mile round trip!) - any time (NOTE: By prior permission from instructor ONLY.)
2. Zodiacal Light Lab O (best) or Any Dark Sky Location – after end of evening twilight, see dates in lab packet  Not available in summer

 

Special Exo-class Summer 2016:

1. ----
   

Special Events/Exercises Summer 2016:

1. Paper Sundial Exercise Any Location - during daylight (not a lab, counts as extra points in lab)