ASTRO 1050: Survey of Astronomy

1. ASTRO 1050: Survey of Astronomy Prof. Mike Brotherton TAs: Mike DiPompeo, Shawn Staudaher, Inge Heyer All the Course Info is available from my website: http://physics.uwyo.edu/~mbrother

4. Introduction • Course goals • Course overview • Course information

5. Introductions - I’ll go first

6. Your turn… Introduce yourself to 2 neighbors Trade names, hometowns, interests, etc. Why are you taking this course? Trade info about parties this weekend I’ll try to get to know some of you throughout the semester and you can help by… Asking questions Answering questions Coming to see me, or your T.A.s during office hours

7. Course Goals • To develop a broad view of what we know about our universe • To understand the forces that shape things we see in space • To help you understand how we figured all this out • To learn about an evidence-based scientific world view

8. Course Overview:What we will study • Vast range of SIZES and SCALES: Understanding our place in the universe

10. How does our position here on Earth affect us and what we see? • Celestial Motions • Eclipses • Seasons • Moon Phases

11. Why is Earth so different than Jupiter?

12. Why is there abundant life on Earth but no apparent life on Mars or Venus?

13. Why is there a debate about whether Pluto is a planet?

14. In What Ways Are Other Solar Systems Likely To Be Similar To And/Or Different From Ours?

15. What are other stars like? How are they born, live, and die?

16. How do stars group themselves into galaxies? How are galaxies born and evolve over time?

17. What about the whole frakking UNIVERSE?

18. How did we come to know all that?

19. Energy, Gravity, Motion

20. LIGHTElectromagnetic Radiation • What is light? • What are the different forms in which we see it? • How do we use it to find out what things are made of?

21. 500 years ago the universe was the image of our mythology superstitions and a good reflection of how little we knew

22. Today the universe is the image of our Evidence based world view and a picture of the profound journey to knowledge that changed humanity forever.

23. Is the world better/safer today then in the past? evidence based world view

25. Who should take this course? • No prerequisites, aimed at non-science majors (USP SE course) • Folks wanting to learn about the universe we live in! Venus in the UV

26. Will this course have MATH?!?!? • YES, but only in small amount • Algebraic Manipultion • Scientific Notation • Significant Figures • Areas • Volumes • Exponents

28. Course Webpage http://physics.uwyo.edu/~mbrother/a1050s11/a1050s11.html You can find announcements, lecture notes, syllabus and other useful things there Grades will be shown on masteringastronomy.com website

29. Required Text The Cosmic Perspective by Bennett et al., 2010, 6th ed Includes: Access to textbook website www.masteringastronomy.com, Lecture Tutorials, Ebook, and SkyGazer planetarium software. You will need your own “masteringastronomy” account!15% of your grade is using this online system

30. Mastering Astronomy Registration (see instructions in Scholar) • Go to www.masteringastronomy.com and click here • On the next page… • Click Yes, I have an access code to sign up for the first time using the access code in your book… • …orNo, I need to purchase access online now if you bought a used book with no access code • Complete the registration process and LOGIN • You’ll then be asked for a class code and student ID. Our class code is ASTR1050SPRING2011(no spaces in the code.)

31. More on • Uses a tutorial method in which you are guided to the solution of a multi-step problem • Wrong-answer feedback • On-demand hints (use them if you need them!) • Scores automatically submitted (if you see a grade, we see the grade too!) If you have questions of difficulty registering or getting started, asking in lab is a quick way to get some help.

32. What about Lab? Lab starts THIS week, today for some of you. There will be a lab syllabus given to you by your TA. Labs will be available to be printed from the course website after this week.

33. Important classroom policies • COURTESY!! • Show up on time, don’t pack up early • Don’t use your cell phones • Laptop use in the classroom is discouraged • For reasons pertaining to this class, ok… • I’ll end class on time • I’ll do my best to treat you fairly and as adults

34. How to succeed in this course • PUT IN THE TIME: • 4 credits at UW = 8-12 hours outside of the classroom • Read the textbook sections (before class) • Get to know your classmates to study with • Use MasteringAstronomy • See us during office hours • Do NOT wait until the last few weeks of the semester!

35. How to Find Me • Prof. Brotherton’s office hours: • Mon 3-4pm, Wed 2-3pm, Fri 3-4pm, or by appointment (mbrother@uwyo.edu) • Physical Sciences 217 • Your Lab instructor will have their own contact information and office hours. • I’m usually on the planet pictured above.

36. Extra credit • There will be several chances to earn extra credit in this class. The first online homework is extra credit. Attending a planetarium show will be another. There will also be chances to report on astronomy-related stories.

37. Grades Lab: 25%(mandatory, last week for make-up) Online Homework assignments: 15% 3 exams (multiple choice): 3 x 20% February 11, March 11, and Wednesday, May 4 1:15 pm - 3:15 pm (finals week) Extra credit is extra!

38. For next class meeting, read: • Syllabus! • Chapter 1 • Register for MasteringAstronomy! And by next Wed. Jan. 19 at 1:10 PM: • complete Introduction Assignments (extra credit) You can get a copy of lecture slides from the course website Some people think this makes lecture redundant. Maybe. I suggest you print the slides and take notes on top of them. We will do some demonstrations and other fun things in class.

39. Until Next Time • And don’t forget lab!!!