Syllabus
Printable syllabus (pdf)
ASTRONOMY 301
Introduction to Astronomy
Fall 2012 Unique No. 47715 | TTh 11:00-12:30 | WEL 3.502
Unique No. 47725 | TTh 12:30-2:00 | WEL 3.502
PROFESSOR
Don Winget
Office: RLM 16.236
Phone: (512) 471-3404 or Lab RLM 16.234, (512) 471-6417
Email: ast301don@astro.as.utexas.edu
Office Hours: Th 2-3, or by appt
TEACHING ASSISTANTS
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Gregory Mace |
Keaton Bell |
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Howie Marion |
TEXTBOOK
Required: We're Texas: Astronomy by Winget, Hermes, and Shawl et al.
LEVEL OF COURSE
This course is a descriptive survey of the field of astrophysics. I will not emphasize mathematics. However, an understanding of basic algebra will be helpful. The course will provide you with a perspective on the universe: its scale, structure, contents, and evolution. It will cover major scientific revolutions in human thought including special and general relativity, quantum mechanics, and our struggles understanding dark matter and energy.
EXAMS AND GRADES
There will be a total of four in-class exams. Your grade will be determined from the best three exam scores, weighted 25% each. Three homework assignments, equally weighted, will constitute 15% of your overall grade. An astronomical observing assignment will account for an additional 10%. You have the option to complete a semester project, on a topic of your choosing to replace your lowest exam score (it may not replace a 0). The TAs or I must approve the topic in advance of the topic deadline. As a result of this grading policy, we do not give make-up exams. This course is finished on Dec. 6; there will be no exam during the finals period.
OPTIONAL SEMESTER PROJECTS
The optional semester project is very open-ended, but should relate astronomy to something you are passionate about. This is a chance for you to be creative, and spend time researching and thinking about astronomy from a perspective that interests you. We want you to learn and enjoy the experience, mindful also that the optional project counts as much as an exam, so the work you put into it will be reflected in the grade you get out of it. The deadline for optional semester project approval is Thursday, 27 September 2012. Please double check with Keaton or Thomas to make sure that we have your topic written down and not just simply verbally approved. You may not work in groups for the optional project; all work must be your own. Stuck without an idea? Start with these questions: What is a major life interest—an academic major or a hobby? What do you enjoy creating or doing, and how can you connect it to astronomy? The firm deadline for turning in projects is Tuesday, 4 December 2012. You may turn projects in during class or during our office hours. You are free to submit your project earlier than the firm deadline.
The projects will take about a week to grade. Project grades will be posted on Blackboard, or you can email the TAs (be sure to include your UTEID). After they are graded, the projects will most likely end up in my office or the adjacent research lab for safekeeping. You can pick them up from us once the semester is complete.
DUMB QUESTIONS
There is no such thing as a dumb question. ASK!!
COURSE WEB SITE
Please visit the Blackboard page for this course to find regular updates. A link is at the course web page: https://www.as.utexas.edu/astronomy/education/fall12/winget/301.html.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES
Upon request, the University of Texas at Austin provides appropriate academic adjustments for qualified students with disabilities. You can find resources and contact information online at the web site for the Disability Resources Center: http://www.utexas.edu/disability.
TENTATIVE TEST SCHEDULE
The following is a tentative schedule of the four multiple-choice exams (it is subject to change). There will be a review held the evening before each exam, although not necessarily in the classroom.
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Exam 1 |
Sep. 20 |
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Exam 2 |
Oct. 11 |
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Exam 3 |
Nov. 8 |
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Exam 4 |
Dec. 6 |
TENTATIVE COURSE OUTLINE (WITH SUGGESTED READING)
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Week 1 (8/30) |
Course Introduction; A Tour of the Universe (Ch. 1,2) |
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Week 2 (9/4,6) |
The History of Astronomy; Basic Concepts (Ch. 3,4) |
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Week 3 (9/11,13) |
The Earth and Moon (Ch. 6) |
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Week 4 (9/18,20) |
The Earth and Moon (Ch.6) |
Exam 1 |
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Week 5 (9/25,27) |
The Terrestrial Planets (Ch. 7) |
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Week 6 (10/2,4) |
The Jovian Planets (Ch. 8) |
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Week 7 (10/9,11) |
Pluto; Comets; Solar System Formation (Ch. 5) |
Exam 2 |
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Week 8 (10/16,18) |
Light, Matter, and Energy (Ch. 9) |
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Week 9 (10/23,25) |
Light; Telescopes (Ch. 10) |
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Stars and Their Radiation (Ch. 11) |
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Week 11 (11/6,8) |
Stellar Classification (Ch. 12,13) |
Exam 3 |
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Week 12 (11/13,15) |
Star Formation; How Stars Shine (Ch. 14) |
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Week 13 (11/20,22) |
The Death of Stars; Black Holes; Star Clusters (Ch. 15,16) |
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Week 14 (11/27) |
Galaxies; Active Galactic Nuclei; Supermassive Black Holes (Ch. 17,18,19) |
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The Big Bang; Cosmology (Ch. 20) |
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Cat's Eye Nebula [STScI/AURA]
Professor
RLM 16.236 · (512) 471-3404 · email
Office Hours
Th 2-3, or by appt
TA
Thomas Gomez
TA
Keaton Bell
TA
James Hermes
TA
Hyunbae Park