ASTRONOMY 001

Ticket Number 3118

7:00 – 10:10 P.M. Thursday                                                                                              Room: Inst-2001

 

Instructor.................. Professor Charles Mallory

 

Email......................... charles.mallory@ieee.org

 

Web Address........... http://home.ca.rr.com/profmallory/

This location will contain old quizzes, test, handouts and grades

 

Office Hours............. Wednesday 6:00-7:00 PM and by arrangement

 

Text........................... Horizons Exploring the Universe, by Michael A. Seeds, 10th edition

 

Class Description:  This is an introductory course in the general principles of astronomy.  Topics included are the sun, planets, and other members of the solar system; stars, their motions, composition, and evolution; novae, pulsars, quasars and galaxies.

 

Attendance will be taken each class meeting and will count for 5% of your final grade.  It is your responsibility to drop the class if you do not want to take the class, I will not drop you.

 

Quizzes will be given each class meeting, and will count for 20% of your final grade.  The quiz questions will primarily come from the previous class lecture along with some questions from the book.  The quizzes may consist of True/False, Multiple Choice, Fill in the Blank, Matching and Short Answer questions.

 

Tests will be given up to five times during the semester and will count for 30% of your final grade.  The midterm questions will ONLY be taken from the quizzes.  Tests will not be cumulative and will only consist of quiz questions since the previous test.

 

Final will count for 45% of your final grade.  The final questions will ONLY be taken from the tests.  The final will be cumulative and cover all tests and the last quiz.  Failure to take the final exam will result in an automatic fail in the course.

 

Grading will be done on a semi-modified curve.  The grade you will earn will be based on the following scale:

A         90% - 100%

B         75% -  89%

C         60% -  74%

D         45% -  59%

F         0%   -  44%

 

I guarantee that you will receive at least the above grade if not higher due to modifications of the curve to fit the class performance.

 

Grade Breakdown:                           Attendance        5%

                                                            Quizzes           20%

                                                            Tests               30%

                                                            Final Exam      45%

 

 

Anyone found cheating WILL receive an “F” grade.

 

 

 

 


Tentative Lecture Schedule

Date

Day

Chapt.

Material

Pages

February 7, 2008

Thursday

Intro

Introduction, Class Description, Syllabus Review

--

1

The Scale of the Cosmos

1-8 (8)

February 14, 2008

Thursday

2

The Sky

9-19 (10)

3

Cycles of the Sky

20-41 (21)

February 19, 2008

Tuesday

Last Day to Add a Class

February 21, 2008

Thursday

4

The Origin of Modern Astronomy

42-67 (25)

February 28, 2008

Thursday

5

Astronomical Tools

68-91 (23)

March 4, 2008

Monday

Last Day to Drop without a “W”

March 6, 2008

Thursday

--

Test 1 – Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 and Introduction

--

6

Atoms and Starlight

92-109 (17)

--

Take Home Quiz, Chapter 5

--

March 13, 2008

Thursday

7

The Sun – Our Star

110-131 (21)

8

Properties of Stars

132-155 (23)

March 20, 2008

Thursday

9

The Formation and Structure of Stars

156-181 (25)

10

The Death of Stars

182-206 (24)

11

Neutron Stars and Black Holes

207-227(20)

March 27, 2008

Thursday

Spring Break – (college closed)

 

April 3, 2008

Thursday

--

Test 2 – Chapters 5, 6, 7, 8

--

12

The Milky Way Galaxy

228-253 (25)

--

Take Home Quiz, Chapter 9, 10 & 11

--

April 10, 2008

Thursday

13

Galaxies

254-275 (21)

14

Galaxies with Active Nuclei

276-294 (18)

April 17, 2008

Thursday

15

Cosmology

295-321 (26)

16

The Origin of the Solar System

322-344 (22)

April 24, 2008

Thursday

--

Test 3 - Chapters 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 &14

--

17

The Earthlike Planets

345-379 (34)

--

Take Home Quiz, Chapter 15 & 16

--

May 1, 2008

Thursday

17

The Earthlike Planets

345-379 (34)

May 5, 2008

Monday

Last Day to Drop without a “W”

May 8, 2008

Thursday

18

Worlds of the Outer Solar System

380-410 (30)

May 15, 2008

Thursday

18

Worlds of the Outer Solar System

380-410 (30)

May 22, 2008

Thursday

19

Meteorites, Asteroids and Comets

411-429 (18)

20

Life on Other Worlds

430-450 (20)

--

Test 4 – Chapters 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 & 20

--

May 29, 2008

Thursday

1-20

Final Exam