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Introduction to the Solar System

Astronomy 101

Fall 2013

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Info:

  • Time & Place: Mondays and Wednesdays, 4:00-6:30, room 23, TOCC new campus
  • Instructors: Dr. Colette Salyk and Dr. Katy Garmany
  • Email: csalyk at noao.edu, garmany at noao.edu
  • Class text: Lecture Tutorials for Introductory Astronomy, 3rd edition
  • Additional reference textbooks are located in the library, in the reserve section
  • Other class materials: Ipads are required. These can be checked out of the library
  • Midterm and Final: will be held on Wed Oct 16 and Monday Dec 9
  • Dates for Kitt Peak field trips: Monday October 14 and Wednesday November 13. Program runs from 4:40-9 PM.
  • Grades will be based on the following: Attendance: 15%, Class Participation: 20%, Homework: 20%, Midterm: 20%, Final: 25%

    • Documents:

  • Syllabus

    • Classroom powerpoint presentations:

  • Welcome to AST101
  • Introduction to the Universe
  • The life cycle of stars
  • Celestial motions
  • Planetary motions
  • Seasons
  • Kepler's laws
  • Kepler's and Newton's laws

    • Classroom Lecture Tutorials:

  • What is your cosmic address?
  • The colors of astronomical images
  • The life cycle of stars

    • Homework Assignments:

  • Homework 1 , due Wednesday Sep 4
  • Homework 2 , due Monday Sep 9
  • Homework 3 , due Monday Sep 16
  • Homework 4 and accompanying reading , due Monday Sep 16
  • Homework 5 , due Wednesday Sep 18
  • Homework 6 , due Monday Sep 23
  • Homework 7 , due Wednesday Sep 25
  • Homework 8 and accompanying reading , due Monday Oct 7
  • If interested, there will be a Q&A with "Pluto-killer" Mike Brown, Wed Oct 2 at 1 PM, here . You can also submit your own questions ahead of time.

    • Recommended Reference Web Pages:

  • The National Optical Astronomy Observatory
  • NASA Planetary Webpages
  • The Nine Planets
  • Astronomy Picture of the Day
  • Ask an Astronomer, Cornell astronomy page
  • Astronomy Cafe

    • Recommended Sites for current events in Astronomy:

  • Astronomy Magazine
  • Space.com
  • Jet Propulsion Laboratory News