Astronomy 130: Introductory Astronomy II

Section 7, Spring 2021

Lecture: Monday and Wednesday

Location: RITA, room 387 and Online

Time: MW 5:30 pm - 6:45 pm

Instructor: Dr. George Chartas

Office: RITA 307

Office/Online hours: MW 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Phone: (843) 953-3609

Email: chartasg@cofc.edu

Pre-requisite: ASTR 129 and 129 lab; CO: ASTR 130L

A preliminary outline of the course can be found at the Schedule website. Some of this material is subject to change and this site will be constantly up-dated so please check it before each class.

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Syllabus

Required materials:

The textbook for the course is Bennett, J., Donahue, M., Schneider, N., and Voit, M., titled The Cosmic Perspective 9^th Edition.

Suggested options:

Cosmic Perspective, The, Loose-Leaf Edition ($101.32)

ISBN-13: 9780134990637
https://www.pearson.com/store/p/cosmic-perspective-the/P100001120237/9780134990637

Pearson eText Cosmic Perspective, The — Instant Access ($44.99)

ISBN-13: 9780135729458

https://www.pearson.com/store/p/cosmic-perspective-the/P100001120237/9780135729458

You will also need a scientific calculator capable of computing exponential functions.

Course Objectives:

One of the goals of this class is to reveal to you some of the wonders of our cosmos. Astronomy 130 will begin with an introduction to the nature of light and a description of the optics and telescopes used by scientists to collect electromagnetic radiation from objects in the Universe. The course will cover the birth, evolution and death of stars and the nature of galaxies including our own Galaxy the Milky Way. You will learn about exotic objects in our Universe such as neutron stars, black holes, quasars and active galactic nuclei. The course concludes with a description of the evolution of the Universe and a presentation summarizing ongoing searches for extraterrestrial life in our Universe.

I recommend that you review the material before it is presented in class. This will help you to better understand the concepts and enjoy the class. I expect your active participation in the class.

General Education Natural Science Learning Outcomes:

1. Students apply physical/natural principles to analyze and solve problems (This outcome will be assessed by writing a report of one of the labs. It will count as 7.5% of your final lab grade.)

2. Students explain how science impacts society (This outcome will be assessed in the lab class using an assignment involving writing a letter to a public official about an astronomy-related current event. It will count as 2.5% of your final lab grade.)

Outcome 1 will be assessed in a lab report and outcome 2 will be assessed in the lab via a signature assignment.

Course-specific Learning Outcomes

1. Students distinguish the nature and significance of the following: instruments used in astronomy, stars (binary, variable), star clusters, interstellar matter, galaxies and cosmology.

2. Students demonstrate how the measurement of light is used to interpret physical characteristics of the universe.

3. Students recognize the origins of astronomical objects.

4. Students apply physical laws to reveal the nature of astrophysical phenomena.

Astro-News:

Each class will contain a segment called Astro-News. Every student will be expected to give a 3-5 minute presentation during Astro-News (only one presentation per student over the entire course). The presentation may be in PowerPoint, keynote, overhead or blackboard. Astro-News will cover events that have been recently presented in a recognized astronomy media source.

Great sources of astronomy news include:

(a) the Science Section of the New York Times

(see http://www.nytimes.com/pages/science/index.html),

(b) the NASA News Website

(see http://www.nasa.gov/news/index.html),

(see http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/),

(d) the Sky and Telescope news site

(see http://www.skyandtelescope.com/news), and

(e) the spaceweather website

(see http://www.spaceweather.com/).

Syllabus Statement Regarding how the Covid-19 pandemic will affect ASTR 130 section 7 for the Spring 2021 Semester

All faculty and students must abide by public health guidelines that include practicing social distancing in the classroom and elsewhere on campus, following signage indicating the entrance, exit, and traffic flow in and around campus buildings, wearing a mask or cloth face covering while in the presence of others, washing or sanitizing hands frequently, sanitizing individual and shared learning and work spaces, and staying home when sick. These practices are mandatory.

Students will not be allowed to attend class without an appropriate face covering or when showing symptoms of illness.

Most lectures will be moved online with the exception of a few that will be done in-person. I will email you the dates of the in-person lectures. If for any reason you prefer not to attend in-person lectures you have the option to attend all lectures online with ZOOM. Online and in-person lectures will be provided synchronously on ZOOM and recorded.

Attendance will be taken by a short on-line quiz given during each lecture that you will need to complete and submit on OAKs by the end of each class.

All students must have access to a computer equipped with a web camera, microphone, and Internet access. Resources are available to provide students with these essential tools.

The College anticipates that some members of the community will fall ill or test positive for the coronavirus, and then be required to quarantine, thereby missing class, assignments, and assessments. I will provide reasonable accommodations for students who become ill or indicate a need to isolate themselves. To the extent possible, arrangements will be made for students with COVID-19 related absences to continue in the class.

Students that need to isolate may use the online recordings instructions and lecture notes provided on OAKs and my course website to complete assignments and will be granted an extension to submit their work.

However, students should be aware that missing to take the online midterm tests and/or final exam will result in a poor or failing grade.

If a student is absent (online or in-person) from class for an extended period, a withdrawal (W) before the deadline should be strongly considered.

Midterm Exams Homework and Quizzes:

There will be 3 midterm exams over the semester. Quizzes will be given online after each lecture. The quizzes will be based on material already presented in lectures. There will be a final exam that will cover most of the material presented in the lectures.

Grades

Your final grade will be calculated as follows:


Quizzes	20%
Astro-News	10%
Midterms	40%
Final	30%

Your number grade will be converted into a letter grade as follows.

>85%	A
80-84%	A-
76-80%	B+
72-76%	B
68-72%	B-
64-68%	C+
60-64%	C
56-60%	C-
52-56%	D+
48-52%	D
44-48%	D-
<44%	F

Special Needs

If you have any special needs or disabilities that might require special arrangements to be made for any aspect of this course, please let me know at the beginning of the semester or as soon as you become aware of them.

1. Any student eligible for and needing accommodations because of a disability is requested to speak with the professor during the first two weeks of class or as soon as the student has been approved for services so that reasonable accommodations can be arranged.

2. The College will make reasonable accommodations for persons with documented disabilities. Students should apply for services at the Center for Disability Services/SNAP located on the first floor of the Lightsey Center, Suite 104. Students approved for accommodations are responsible for notifying me as soon as possible and for contacting me one week before accommodation is needed.

3. This College abides by Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you have a documented disability that may have some impact on your work in this class and for which you may require accommodations, please see an administrator at the Center of Disability Services/SNAP, (843) 953-1431) or me so that such accommodation may be arranged.

Weather Closure of CofC

If the College of Charleston closes and members of the community are evacuated due to inclement weather, students are responsible for taking course materials with them in order to continue with course assignments consistent with instructions provided by faculty. In cases of extended periods of institution-wide closure where students have relocated, instructors may articulate a plan that allows for supplemental academic engagement despite these circumstances. If the College of Charleston closes and members of the community are evacuated due to inclement weather, students are responsible for taking course materials with them in order to continue with course assignments consistent with instructions provided by faculty. In cases of extended periods of institution-wide closure where students have relocated, instructors may articulate a plan that allows for supplemental academic engagement despite these circumstances.

Class and Attendance Policies:

Cellular technology: Please respect your class-mates and keep your cellular devices off. You are expected to attend all classes.

College of Charleston Honor Code and Academic Integrity:

Lying, cheating, attempted cheating, and plagiarism are violations of our Honor Code that, when identified, are investigated. Each incident will be examined to determine the degree of deception involved.

Incidents where the instructor determines the student-s actions are related more to a misunderstanding will be handled by the instructor. A written intervention designed to help prevent the student from repeating the error will be given to the student. The intervention, submitted by form and signed both by the instructor and the student, will be forwarded to the Dean of Students and placed in the student-s file.

Cases of suspected academic dishonesty will be reported directly by the instructor and/or others having knowledge of the incident to the Dean of Students. A student found responsible by the Honor Board for academic dishonesty will receive a XF in the course, indicating failure of the course due to academic dishonesty. This grade will appear on the student-s transcript for two years after which the student may petition for the X to be expunged. The F is permanent. The student may also be placed on disciplinary probation, suspended (temporary removal) or expelled (permanent removal) from the College by the Honor Board.

Students should be aware that unauthorized collaboration--working together without permission-- is a form of cheating. Unless the instructor specifies that students can work together on an assignment, quiz and/or test, no collaboration during the completion of the assignment is permitted. Other forms of cheating include possessing or using an unauthorized study aid (which could include accessing information via a cell phone or computer), copying from others- exams, fabricating data, and giving unauthorized assistance.

Research conducted and/or papers written for other classes cannot be used in whole or in part for any assignment in this class without obtaining prior permission from the instructor.

Students can find the complete Honor Code and all related processes in the Student Handbook at http://studentaffairs.cofc.edu/honor-system/studenthandbook/index.php