General Astronomy 29:061 Fall 2006

Course Goals and Subject Matter. This course is an introductory survey of the major ideas in current solar system astronomical research, with some additional material introducing stars and the Sun. Since it impossible to cover all the important ideas in this large field in one-semester course, we will survey a selected subset of astronomical knowledge of the solar system. The learning goals include some essential factual knowledge, but I will emphasize understanding concepts and ideas rather than memorizing facts. The major topics covered include a discussion of the historical development of our modern understanding of the solar system and the Earth's place. We will then survey the physical principles and concepts relevant to the solar system, as well as a survey of the solar system objects itself, including the planets, asteroids, comets, and the Sun. During the second semester (General Astronomy 29:62, Spring 2007) we will cover other areas of astronomy, such as stellar evolution, galaxies, black holes, and cosmology.

Focus Topics. We will focus on four themes with more in-depth coverage, using outside reading materials and other media, such as films:

• The night sky. The wonders of the night sky will be with all of us our entire lives, we would be remiss not to study and memorize some of the major constellations, stars, and solar system objects. See Observing Requirement below.
• Moon to Mars and Beyond . In January 2004 President Bush outlined the most ambitious (and expensive) space exploration initiative ever proposed: A program to send astronauts to explore Mars. The 'Moon to Mars' program involves first sending teams to the Moon (by 2015), followed by a robotic and eventually manned missions to Mars. What are the prospects for success, and what scientific and technical challenges must be met to attain this goal? Is the program worth the cost and expense or has 'manned' space flight become obsolete as Professor Van Allen has recently suggested?
• Cassini mission to Saturn. The Cassini-Huygens spacecraft, one of the most sophisticated scientific spacecraft ever flown, is now in orbit around Saturn. On Christmas day 2004 the Huygens 'daughter ship' was launched and arrived on the surface of the moon Titan three weeks later. When we discuss Saturn, we will focus on the Cassini mission, including the University of Iowa's experiment , the radio plasma wave system (RPWS).
• Search for planets and life in the universe. This exciting topic is the subject of much discussion in the popular press as well as in professional meetings. We will examine relevant astronomical ideas in the 1997 movie Contact as part of this unit.

Mathematics Level. This course is designed for primarily for science majors or those with a strong mathematics background and ability. (The introductory course Solar SystemAstronomy, 29:52, is recommended if you are not so inclined.) I will assume you are conversant in high school algebra and geometry, and have either taken first-year calculus or are co-enrolled. I will use some calculus in the course, but will review these tools as they are needed.

Observing Test (required). Every student registered in General Astronomy is required to pass an Observer's test. There is a list of required and optional objects on the Observing List web page.

PRS (Personal Response System). I will be using a student feedback technology called PRS during lectures. Each student will be issued a PRS transmitter (looks like a TV remote) with an individual code. We will use these for (almost) weekly quizzes, which are a required part of the course. The PRS units can be purchased at the IMU bookstore (Electronics Dept.)

Grading. The course grade (letter grade will include +/- grading) will be determined by the sum of points accumulated during the semester. The total possible points are given in the table below.

 

 

Department information and Student Responsibility Information.

• DEO contact info: Prof. T. Boggess, 203 VAN, 335-1689
• This is a 4 semester hour course.
• Students are expected to spend two hours preparation for each registered semester hour.
• Procedure for student complaints is described in Chapter 5 of the College of Liberal Arts Student Academic Handbook (CLAS Handbook).
• Collegiate policy on plagiarism and cheating is also found in the CLAS handbook.
• Students rights and responsibilities (from CLAS handbook):

"Your responsibilities to this class - and to your education as a whole-include attendance and participation. You are also expected to be honest and honorable in your fulfillment of assignments and in test-taking situations (the College's policy on plagiarism and cheating is on-line in the College's Student Academic Handbook.) You have a responsibility to the rest of the class-and to the instructor-to help create a classroom environment where all may learn. At the most basic level, this means that you will respect the other members of the class and the instructor, and treat them with the courtesy you hope to receive in turn."

Update: July 028 2006

 

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robert-mutel AT uiowa.edu