Astronomy 109-02 (20297) Laboratory Syllabus

Fall 2015
Meeting Time:
Meeting Location:

Monday 2:00 PM 4:40 PM

PA 215

Instructor:
Office:
Contact Email:

Joanna Gore
PA-230
[email protected]

Office Hours:

Monday 1:00 PM 2:00 PM

Wednesday 1:00 PM 2:00 PM
PA-215

Class Website:

http://blackboard.sdsu.edu

Text: Astronomy 109 Lab Manual by Department of Astronomy, SDSU

Prerequisite: ASTR 101 (or currently enrolled)
Required Materials: Astronomy 109 Lab Manual (from SDSU bookstore, $30), scientific
calculator, paper, pencil, or pen (no red ink)
Course Description
Demonstration of astronomical principles through observations with astronomical instruments
and analysis of astronomical data. A nighttime field trip to Mount Laguna Observatory is
required.
Class
Every class meeting we will complete one lab from the Astronomy 109 Lab Manual. Before
meeting each class, you are required to read the lab introduction and background sections so you
are better prepared to complete the lab in a timely manner. The lab class will begin with an
introduction to the current lab, where any necessary information and mathematics will be
reviewed. Any general housekeeping issues concerning the lab will be addressed during this
time. The remaining time will be available for you to complete the lab exercise.
The Role of Astronomy 109 in San Diego State Universitys General Education Program
This course is one of nine courses that you will take in General Education Foundations.
Foundations courses cultivate skills in reading, writing, research, communication, computation,
information literacy, and use of technology. They furthermore introduce you to basic concepts,
theories and approaches in a variety of disciplines in order to provide the intellectual breadth
necessary to help you integrate the more specialized knowledge gathered in your major area of
study into a broader world picture.
This course is one of four Foundations courses that you will take in the area of Natural Sciences
and Quantitative Reasoning. Upon completing Natural Science Foundations courses in physical
sciences, life sciences, and a lab, you will be able to: 1) explain basic concepts and theories of

the natural sciences; 2) use logic and scientific methods to analyze the natural world and solve
problems; 3) argue from multiple perspectives about issues in natural science that have personal
and global relevance; 4) use technology in laboratory and field situations to connect concepts and
theories with real-world phenomena. Upon completing a Foundations course in Quantitative
Reasoning you will be able to: 1) apply appropriate computational skills and use basic
mathematical concepts to analyze problems in natural and social sciences; and 2) use methods of
quantitative reasoning to solve and communicate answers to real-world problems.
Lab Details and Format
While you are encouraged to complete your lab in groups, you must write your own lab report
using your own words. Follow the step-by-step instructions in the lab manual and write out your
work, including all calculations with units and your answers to the questions. You can either
write your lab on a separate sheet of paper, or directly in the lab manual and rip out the pages to
turn them in when you are done. If you work with others, limit your group to 2 or 3 people and
include the names of your group members on your lab sheet as well. Make sure your handwriting
is legible and all your calculations are included, otherwise you will not receive full credit. Some
questions require multiple answers and/or require a drawing, so be sure to read each question
carefully and answer it completely.
Once you have completed all the questions asked in the manual, I require a two or three
paragraph conclusion and summary, which will help me to determine the knowledge you gained
from this lab. This is your opportunity to briefly address the following questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.

What big questions did I answer in completing this lab?

How did I find those answers?
How did this lab contribute to my understanding of the universe?
Did my answers match what I expected? Why or why not?

Once you have completed your lab write-up, turn it in to me, and you are free to go! You should
easily be able to complete the lab during the allotted class time, however labs will be accepted
until the start of the next class.
Lab Grading
Each lab will be out of 50 points. 40 points will be composed of the lab questions, and 10 points
for your summary. The summary will be scored with two points per question and two points for
correct grammar and spelling. In addition to grading for correct answers I will also look for the
following when determining your score:
Show all steps to your calculations! Be sure to box your final answers.
Include units when writing your final answer (e.g. if the question asks what is the
distance to the Sun? dont just write 93 million but include the unit of
miles).
General neatness and organization.
In total, the class is out of 750 points. Your final grade in the course will be determined by the
following scale:
A 93%-100%
C+ 77%-79.9%

AB+
B
B-

90%-92.9%
87%-89.9%
83%-86.9%
80%-82.9%

C
CD+
D
F

73%-76.9%
70%-72.9%
67%-69.9%
60%-66.9%
0%-59.9%

Note: I will drop the lowest lab score.

Class Projects
Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD): NASA hosts a website that posts a different
astronomical picture every day. The image topics range from planets, stars, and eclipses, to star
clusters, large galaxies and planetary nebulae. For this project, you will choose one of these
images, research the image, write a paper about what you learned from your research (1000
words), and give a 5-minute presentation to the class, displaying the image and what you learned
about it. This project is worth 100 points: 50 points for the paper and 50 points for the
presentation. For more information on this project see Lab 10 in the Lab Manual (page 79). To
select a picture, visit the APOD site: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
Field Trip to Mount Laguna Observatory
Trip Information: As part of Astronomy 109, students are required to attend a field trip to San
Diego State Universitys Mount Laguna Observatory (MLO), a professional astronomical
observatory at which SDSUs faculty and students conduct astronomical research. MLO is
located in the Cleveland National Forest, about one hour east of SDSUs campus. Attending the
field trip is a requirement for the course, and students are responsible for their own
transportation. Participants are required to be registered SDSU students or appointed faculty or
staff. Prior to attending the field trip, all attendees must fill out and sign the Warning, Waiver,
and Release of Liability form contained in the back jacket of the Lab Manual, and turn it in to
the lab instructor. Additional information about the trip is contained in the Lab Manual, on the
form Mount Laguna Observatory Field Trip Potential Risks and Dangers that is tucked into the
back jacket of the manual.
Purpose of trip: While at MLO, students will have the unique opportunity to see deep space
objects through a large telescope, and observe the night sky from a very dark location.
Instructional outline of trip: Students assemble in the parking lot of MLO at the time and date
indicated by the lab instructor. A Teaching Associate will walk students up to the Visitors
Telescope, where they will be able to view deep-sky objects. There will be at least two Teaching
Associates available to assist students. While waiting to look through the telescope, additional
activities may be provided to students by the Teaching Associates (e.g., finding constellations,
identifying the Milky Way, observing planets, spotting satellites, etc.). At the conclusion of the
telescope viewing, all students will be escorted down to the parking lot by a Teaching Associate,
where they are to leave the Observatory. No students may remain at MLO after the Teaching
Associates have departed.
Health and safety instructions: MLO is considered an extension of the main SDSU campus;
hence, the SDSU Student Code of Conduct applies at MLO, and MLO is a drug and alcohol-free
workplace. Students are to bring a small flashlight, and are to remain on designated paths and
roads at all times. Personal injury from falls, or scrapes and cuts from tree limbs and brush, can
easily result from taking cross-country shortcuts. It can get quite chilly up at the Observatory in

the evenings, and so all students are advised to dress very warmly e.g., heavy jacket, long
pants, socks and shoes (open-toed shoes are strongly discouraged); gloves and a hat are also
recommended. Smoking and campfires are prohibited. Additional safety instructions are found in
the Mount Laguna Observatory Field Trip Potential Risks and Dangers form that is tucked into
the back jacket of the lab manual.
Emergency contact information: SDSU public safety (619) 594-1991.
Student Learning Objectives
Upon completing this course, students should be able to:
1. Explain the process by which humans first correctly deduced the size and shape of the
Earth.
2. Research an astronomical topic of your choice and display understanding of your topic
in both an oral presentation and a written paper.
3. Describe the phases of the moon, and explain why the moon cannot always be seen at
night.
4. Apply scientific problem solving abilities to other academic areas.
5. Determine their rough latitude on Earth's surface at any time through careful
observation of the nighttime sky.
6. Convince a fellow student who has never taken an astronomy class that it is possible to
determine the precise distance to a nearby star through the careful analysis of its location
in the sky over the course of a year.
7. Present the currently favored scientific theory for what the ultimate fate of our universe
will be, and outline the astronomical observations upon which the theory is based.
8. Read and comprehend articles concerning astronomy that appear in the popular press,
and participate in discussions about them.
9. Describe at least three major areas in which our astronomical knowledge is known to
be incomplete.
Attendance and Tardiness
Attendance is absolutely mandatory for all lab meetings. You will only be able to receive credit
for a lab if you are present at the class where it is performed. If you are absent for more than 3
classes, you will receive an automatic fail for the course. No credit will be given for missed or
late labs. I will take attendance with a sign-in sheet at the start of every lab. Be sure to sign-in
when you arrive so I know you were present each day. I will also keep track of tardiness and
will take off points if you are consistently late to class.
Cheating and Plagiarism Policy
Consistent with University policy, cheating and plagiarism are not tolerated in Astronomy 109.
As defined by SDSUs General Catalog, Plagiarism is formal work publicly misrepresented as
original. Plagiarism and cheating are theft. Remember: While you are encouraged to work
together on laboratory assignments, the words that you write in your lab reports must be your
own. If you copy more than 4 words in a row from any source (including any source on the
Internet, or your lab partner!) and do not properly reference that source (i.e., put the words in
quotes, with proper citation), you are committing plagiarism. If plagiarism or cheating is deemed
to have occurred on a lab report or project, the following steps will be taken:
1. A 0 will be recorded for the assignment grade.

2. An Academic Dishonesty Incident Report will be submitted to the Center for Student
Rights and Responsibilities. This action is required by Executive Order 1006, which
mandates faculty to report all incidents to the Center for Student Rights and
Responsibilities.
3. The incident will be investigated by the Student Conduct Administrator, who
determines whether it is appropriate to charge a student with violation of the Student
Conduct Code (from Executive Order No. 1043, of August 3, 2009). Details on the
judicial process (and the potential results, including severance from the University) can
be found at the Center for Student Right and Responsibilities web page:
http://csrr.sdsu.edu/index.html.
Students with Disabilities
If you are a student with a disability and believe you will need accommodations for this class, it
is your responsibility to contact Student Disability Services at (619) 594-6473. To avoid any
delay in the receipt of your accommodations, you should contact Student Disability Services as
soon as possible. Please note that accommodations are not retroactive, and that accommodations
based upon disability cannot be provided until you have presented your instructor with an
accommodation letter from Student Disability Services. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Final Exam
There is no final exam in this class! Hooray!
Questions?
Any and all are always welcome and encouraged. The best way to learn is to ask questions and
challenge what you are being taught. Feel free to talk to me before or after class, via email,
stopping by my office, or visiting my help room hours if you have any questions. If you are
confused about any aspect of the lab, I encourage you to ask for help. I hope you enjoy the
course!
Classroom Safety
For all information concerning safety in the classroom, please read the information contained at
San Diego State Universitys Emergency Preparedness website: http://bfa.sdsu.edu/emergency/
.
Lab Schedule
August 24
August 31
September 7
September 14
September 21
September 28
October 5
October 6
October 12

Lab 1: The Size of the Earth

Lab 2: The Rotation of the Sun; Lab 1 Due
Labor Day No Class
Lab 3: The Celestial Sphere; Lab 2 Due
Lab 4: Keplers First Law: The Elliptical Orbits of Planets; Lab 3 Due
Lab 5: Keplers Third Law and Jupiters Moons; Lab 4 Due
No class MLO Trip October 6
MLO Trip
Lab 6: Measuring Distances with Parallax; Lab 5 Due

October 19
October 26
November 2
November 9
November 16
November 23
November 30
December 7

Lab 7: An Exploration of the Properties of Light and Atoms; Lab 6 Due

Lab 8: A Universe of Galaxies and Dark Matter; Lab 7 Due
Email APOD photo chosen for final project
Lab 9: The Age of the Universe
Back Up MLO Trip Date
Lab 12: The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram; Lab 9 Due
Lab 14: Distances to Cepheid Variable Stars; Lab 12 Due
Movie Lab, Lab 14 Due
APOD Paper Due
Lab 15: The Moon
Last day of class! APOD Presentations