Welcome to Intro Astronomy AST 1001 107108 Dr

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Welcome to Intro Astronomy AST 1001 -107/108 Dr. Dan Caton Lab: Dr. Jon Saken

Welcome to Intro Astronomy AST 1001 -107/108 Dr. Dan Caton Lab: Dr. Jon Saken

What we will do today… u Background info u Go over course syllabus u

What we will do today… u Background info u Go over course syllabus u Discuss course objectives u Why study astronomy?

Astronomy at ASU u ~10 -20 majors and a few grad students (prospective majors

Astronomy at ASU u ~10 -20 majors and a few grad students (prospective majors need to meet with department advisors) u I am one of 4 Ph. D. astronomers here u Me: BA & MA, USF; Ph. D. Univ. Fla.

Syllabus u We will go over but not on paper – all online on

Syllabus u We will go over but not on paper – all online on Web. CT

Office Hours… Around more than this … My. Door link on Web. CT

Office Hours… Around more than this … My. Door link on Web. CT

Telecommunication u 262‑ 2446 (fax -2049) u e-mail: catondb@appstate. edu (I check my e-mail

Telecommunication u 262‑ 2446 (fax -2049) u e-mail: catondb@appstate. edu (I check my e-mail all day (M-F) and will reply) u Read or forward your ASU email! u Messengers: AIM: Buddy Daniel. BCaton, MSN: Add contact by searching for Dans. Desktop@hotmail. com (I do not use the Hotmail email, so do not send messages there) u My homepage: www. Dan. Caton. name u WWW page for this course: found on the Web. CT system u Dr. Jon Saken (lab) sakenjm@appstate. edu

Textbooks u The Cosmos: Astronomy in the New Millennium, 2 nd Ed. , Pasachoff

Textbooks u The Cosmos: Astronomy in the New Millennium, 2 nd Ed. , Pasachoff and Filippenko, 2004. This is a paperback issued to you at the bookstore under the lease plan. Note that there is a different text used by the other sections of AST 1001! Make sure you get the right book! u Demon Haunted World, Carl Sagan, paperback, $15 u Introductory Astronomy Lab Manual, sold in the bookstore. You will be given a 3 -ring binder in lab.

Where and when… u. Lecture: CAP 150, 3: 30‑ 4: 45 Tuesday & Thursday.

Where and when… u. Lecture: CAP 150, 3: 30‑ 4: 45 Tuesday & Thursday. u. Lab: S 306 Rankin South (not 354 as in schedule), Thursday night as scheduled. Starting this week. (May swap early/late on Thursday) u. The story on lab this year …

Description This course is the first of a two‑semester sequence that satisfies the Core

Description This course is the first of a two‑semester sequence that satisfies the Core Curriculum Natural Science requirement. It is also an ND (Numerical Data) course. This course usually covers solar system astronomy‑‑planets, the moon, comets, meteors, and some basics‑‑light, optics, and telescopes. We may elect to deviate from this approach somewhat, based on items of current or topical interest. This course is a prerequisite for AST 1002, which covers solar, stellar and galactic astronomy.

Attendance… u “ 80% of success is just showing up” (Woody Allen) u Lecture

Attendance… u “ 80% of success is just showing up” (Woody Allen) u Lecture Attendance: Lecture attendance is expected since exams are based primarily on lecture material. Attendance will also be checked with randomly given pop quizzes. Students missing lecture classes are responsible for finding out from their classmates whethere were any announced lab schedule changes. u Lab Attendance: 3 strikes and you are out, miss two outdoor labs and you are out (as well as required Intro to Telescope lab)

Exams u. Two one-hour exams u. The Final Exam is part “Exam 3” and

Exams u. Two one-hour exams u. The Final Exam is part “Exam 3” and part comprehensive, and is scheduled for 3: 00 pm - 5: 30 pm, on Wednesday, December 14, 2005, here in CAP 150

Special Needs Students with special disabilities are invited to disclose special needs to the

Special Needs Students with special disabilities are invited to disclose special needs to the instructor.

Homework exercises are to be done first on scratch paper and then neatly copied,

Homework exercises are to be done first on scratch paper and then neatly copied, in pencil, onto the paper provided, and turned in at the beginning of the class session on the due date. Messy work or folded/wrinkled/crumpled papers will receive a reduced grade. Homework grading includes grammar, spelling, and correct use of math and significant figures. No credit will be given for homework turned in after it has been graded and returned.

Grades u See syllabus on Web. CT for weighting of grades u + one

Grades u See syllabus on Web. CT for weighting of grades u + one letter based on participation, positive or negative (that’s life…). Positive: discussion, etc. Negative: interruptions, rude entry/exit, cells, etc. u Grades will be posted (Web. CT) u Seniors do not have to graduate… u Projected grade scale … nominal

Extra Credit Extra credit work is not assigned or accepted. This is because such

Extra Credit Extra credit work is not assigned or accepted. This is because such work is usually done in lieu of the required work that has been assigned as part of a logically thought-out curriculum, and is thus illogical

Schedule u First eight chapters in Pasachoff (shorter book) – no detailed schedule u

Schedule u First eight chapters in Pasachoff (shorter book) – no detailed schedule u Half of Sagan (may pick and choose) u Side discussions as news develops (example: Sun ejected Coronal Mass Ejections yesterday—aurora tonight and tomorrow night? ) u We will cover the basics From Statesville Space. Weather. com for info…

Style(s) u Power. Point (posted on Web. CT). u “Chalk-talk” (though may be digital

Style(s) u Power. Point (posted on Web. CT). u “Chalk-talk” (though may be digital pen and posted on web) u Demonstrations (exciting and dangerous!) u Videos u Web exploration u Impromptu discussions

Caffeine / nicotine break 3 rd floor outside

Caffeine / nicotine break 3 rd floor outside

Objective #1: Scientific Method vs. Pseudoscience This will be the topic of discussion of

Objective #1: Scientific Method vs. Pseudoscience This will be the topic of discussion of Sagan’s book. For now…

Which one of these is real science? u Astrology (horoscopes) u Homeopathic medicine u

Which one of these is real science? u Astrology (horoscopes) u Homeopathic medicine u Dowsing for water u Faith healing u None of these Take a minute to discuss …

Popular Astro. Pseudoscience u UFOs/Conspiracy Theory (maybe historical? ) u Related (? ): Brown

Popular Astro. Pseudoscience u UFOs/Conspiracy Theory (maybe historical? ) u Related (? ): Brown Mountain Lights u Crop Circles, Christmas trees u Astrology … Let’s do a test

Exceptions? u. Skewing computer statistics u. Children recalling past lives u. Reading thoughts projected

Exceptions? u. Skewing computer statistics u. Children recalling past lives u. Reading thoughts projected at you… Sagan, p. 302

Scientific Method u Develop a hypothesis and make predictions based on it. u Test

Scientific Method u Develop a hypothesis and make predictions based on it. u Test the predictions by experiment or, in astronomy, by observation. (Problem with UFOs) u Modify hypothesis and repeat as needed until it may develop into a substantial theory. u Theories that seem so well established that they are unlikely to be wrong are sometimes called facts. Some agreed upon, others debated (gravitation, human evolution).

Occams Razor is a principle that says that given alternative explanations or theories that

Occams Razor is a principle that says that given alternative explanations or theories that explain a phenomenon, the simplest is most likely to be true.

Objective #2: Numbers u. Measure, record data u. Treatment of numbers (significant figures) u.

Objective #2: Numbers u. Measure, record data u. Treatment of numbers (significant figures) u. Computer simulations u. Systems, theories and models u. Theory and data match + errors

Objective #3: Language u. The language of science: astronomical terms u. Scientific publications

Objective #3: Language u. The language of science: astronomical terms u. Scientific publications

Objective #4: The Web u Resources (. gov, . edu …) u Evaluating a

Objective #4: The Web u Resources (. gov, . edu …) u Evaluating a Web site – how easy it is to publish (. org, . com …)

Objective #5: Science as a Human Activity u Environment u Global warming u Nuclear

Objective #5: Science as a Human Activity u Environment u Global warming u Nuclear waste u End of oil era u Big Science $ u Science & military u “Intelligent Design” u Science in the media (have already posted some items)

Importance of Astronomy? u. Most noble: the quest to just know! u. Fight Pseudoscience

Importance of Astronomy? u. Most noble: the quest to just know! u. Fight Pseudoscience and the waste of lives (James Randi story; UFOlogy) u. Practical? Spinoffs, maybe. u. More essential…

Deep Impact? “Back of envelope” calculation (Sagan, p. xiv)

Deep Impact? “Back of envelope” calculation (Sagan, p. xiv)

Our Sun: The Maunder Minimum

Our Sun: The Maunder Minimum

Are We Alone?

Are We Alone?

Our general plan this semester u Overview: appearance of the sky, distance scale of

Our general plan this semester u Overview: appearance of the sky, distance scale of the universe u Light: production and focusing u The Changing sky: motions apparent and real u Gravitation and motion u The planets: ours and exoplanets u Construction debris

For next time u Read Pasachoff, Preface and Ch. 1 u Start Sagan, Preface

For next time u Read Pasachoff, Preface and Ch. 1 u Start Sagan, Preface and Chapter 1 u Will have lab details Thursday, but get your lab manual as soon as you can. u Turn in your horoscope forms as you leave…