Dr. Mary Lou West, 244 Richardson Hall, 973-655-7266
Office hours: W9 AM, R1 PM, R4 PM,and by appointment
e-mail:westm@mail.montclair.edu http://www.csam.montclair.edu/~west
Department of Math Sci / Physics, Montclair State University, 973-655-5132

DESCRIPTIVE ASTRONOMY (PHYS-180): Fall 2005, 3 sh


TR 11:30-12:45 in RI-261
Textbook: "The Cosmos" by J. Pasachoff and A. Filippenko

Astronomy Before Telescopes

Week Monday Topic and Reading Special Activity (usually Thursday)
1 R, Sep 8 Prehistoric, Ch. 1, 4 Background quiz
2 Sep 12 Historic, Ch.5, Ursa Major Myths , Pleiades Myths Ex 1: Changes in the sky (spheres)
3 Sep 19 Orbits and Gravity, Ch. 5 Ex 2: Computer Constellations in RI-103 (9/22)
4Sep 26Review Test 1, Sep 29 (Ch. 1, 4, 5, bring pencil, starmap)

The Solar System

5 Oct 3 Earth, Moon, Ch. 6,
6 Oct 10 Mercury,Venus,Mars, Ch. 6 Ex. 3: APOD presentation
7 Oct 17 Outer planets, Ch. 7 Solar System model
8 Oct 24 Origin of solar system, p 86-88 Ex 4: Grouping Planets
9 Oct 31 Review Test 2 (Ch. 5, 6, 7, bring pencil, starmap)

Deep Space

10 Nov 7 Light, Sun, Ch. 2, 9
11 Nov 14 Life of Stars, Ch. 10, 12 Ex. 5: Spectra
12 Nov 21 Black Holes, Milky Way, Ch.14, 15 Paper (2000 words) due 11/22, Thanksgiving Break
13 Nov 28 Galaxies, Ch. 16 Ex. 6: Hubble's law
14 Dec 5 Cosmology, Ch. 18, 19
15 Dec 12 Review for exam

Exam (Cumulative, but mainly since last test, bring a pencil, starmap)
Tuesday, December 20, 1-3 PM

Dates may change due to unforeseen circumstances. Changes will be announced, and it is the responsibility of the student to keep informed.

PUBLIC TELESCOPE NIGHTS: 8-9 PM on clear Thursdays on the plaza in front of Richardson Hall: September 8 to December 15 (except November 24). Come to observe the moon, Mars, nebulae and constellations. The moon will be featured on September 15, October 13, November 10, and December 8, 15. Mars will be featured in November and December. On Friday October 28 we will view the sky at Riker Hill Art Park in Livingston, 8-11 PM. Directions: Garden State Parkway exit 145 or NJ Turnpike exit 15W, Route 280 west, exit 4 to Eisenhower Parkway south, go through the light, go across the railroad tracks and up the hill, turn left onto Beaufort Ave., bear right to continue on Beaufort, turn left at the sign for "Riker Hill Art Park." At the stop sign go straight, bear right at the fork, park at the top of the hill. There will be NO telescope night if it is cloudy, or extremely cold or windy. (It is "clear" if you can see the moon or 10 stars clearly.)

COURSE REQUIREMENTS: 2 tests (September 29, November 3), final exam (December 20), six exercises, a 2000 word astronomical paper (due November 22), and one quick look through a telescope.

Your course grade is composed of 20% each test, 19% exercises and class participation, 1% telescope observation, 20% paper, and 20% final exam. The test questions will be true/false, multiple choice (buy a pencil right away), and essay. Makeup tests are given only in case of emergency. (Call me within 24 hours to explain, please.) Cheating will not be tolerated and will result in failing the course.

Goals for this course:

  1. Students should understand the scientific process; how scientific knowledge is obtained and varified.
  2. Students should understand our place in the universe in time and space.
  3. Students should understand and be able to evaluate discussions of astronomy in popular literature such as newspapers, magazines, and TV (critical thinking skills).
  4. Students should appreciate the beauty of the night sky and be able to name some of the objects there and describe their motions.

The night sky is beautiful, it follows laws, and our understanding grows in scope and elegance every year. Let's explore the universe together!

This page is www.csam.montclair.edu/~west/ast180/ast180outline.html