ASTRONOMY 101 CLASS NEWS AND INFORMATION
Feb 9:
Here is an old, previous studyguide for the exam. Use it to help you,
but realize it is not the final version for this semester. The final
version will be posted on Monday next week.
Preliminary hints for Exam #1.
Feb 8:
- If the weather clears up, try to see the waning gibbous moon rising
in the east about an hour or so after sunset. On Feb 9, the Moon
will be close to the planet Mars.
- Try to answer all the multiple choice questions at the end of each
chapter. If you have any trouble, come to the Astronomy Help Room or
office hours.
Feb 6:
- The first exam will cover all the class notes, and all the homework
assignments (including any web pages you were asked to read and the
"Observe the Sky" assignments). In the textbook, you are responsible for
knowing chapters 1-5.
- I strongly suggest you do all the multiple choice questions in Ch 5 as
pratice. Questions 42, 44, and 45 are particularly important.
Feb 5:
- Reminder: This is the last week for planetarium shows.
- I will post a study guide for Exam #1 late this week; the exam is on
Wednesday Feb 22. We will use the big pink "ParSCORE Enrollment" form for
all exams.
- If you have any trouble with the course, please ask or go to the Astronomy
Help Room! We want you to do well - let us help you.
- Please put enough effort into the homework - it counts as much as the
each exam! You should spend a minimum of several hours on the homework
(3-5 hours). There are only 3 or 4 assignments all semester - please don't
lose any chances of getting an A or B grade in the course by not putting
enough time into doing the homework. It isn't hard, but it isn't easy either.
Remember that proper English is important.
Feb 1:
- Are you a good note taker? Interested in helping out a fellow student,
and maybe earning some extra credit too? Send me an email and let's talk
about such an opportunity.
- Please try to attend a planetarium show. The last planetarium show is
on Fri Feb 10th. When you sign in for the planetarium show, be sure your
name is legible and also state that you are in Dr. Welsh's Astr 101
section.
- If you are having any difficulty with the observational homework
questions, or if you just want more information, please make use
of the links under the "What's Visible in the Heavens tonight?" section of
the main class web page. You'll find up-to-date material and much better
quality star charts than what is given in the textbook.
Even better, use the planetarium software that comes with the
textbook.
- Note: In high school, students spend ~35 hours a week in school and only
a few hours a week studying on their own. In college, students are in
class for about 15 hr/week and complete their education on their
own time. They are much more responsible for their own learning.
College students should spend 2 additional hours per unit per
week for every hour that they spend in class. For 15 units, that means an
additional 30 hours a week outside of class. This is what is recommended,
and this is what many professors are expecting. If you do this, you are
very much more likely to earn excellent grades.
- Opportunity for extra credit:
Using the link on the class website, run the Java applet (by R. Scharein)
on the phases of the inner planets in the Ptolemic vs Copernican system.
Print out the webpage (or do a screen capture) showing the orbits, then
attach (staple) this to your homework assignment. That's all you need to
do!
Jan 30:
- Please don't forget to attend a planetarium show.
- The planetarium software that comes with the textbook can be a very
useful resource. Give it a try. If you don't have it, then there are
several good planetarium software packages you can find on the
web for free.
- If you are having trouble finding the constellations and/or stars, then
maybe this guide from Sky & Telescope magazine will help. It is a
10-page guide to getting started in observing the heavens, in .pdf format.
It includes a Moon map and star charts for different times of the year, as
seen from the Northern hemisphere.
Sky & Telescope: Getting Started (.pdf);
See the web page
Getting Started in Astronomy PDFs for more info.
Copyright 2003 Sky Publishing Corp.
- When using star charts, remember that they are only valid for certain
dates and times. Don't just assume the Jan-March chart is correct for
all hours of the night. Check the times at the bottom of the chart
too see the time that the chart is accurate for.
Jan 24:
Solar storm continues! Solar flares and coronal mass ejections
are causing excellent aurora displays. See the
spaceweather.com website.
The storms are generally harmless to us because of the protective
atmosphere and Earth's magnetic field, but it could potentially damage
some high-altitude satellites.
(And some other strange events could occur, like an SDSU Astronomer
talking about solar storms on
Fox 5 TV News (www.fox5sandiego.com at 10 pm tonight...)
Jan 22:
- Planetarium Shows
To help Astr 101 students with celestial sphere concepts, the Astronomy
Department is offering a series of 45-minute planetarium shows:
Tuesday, January 31 : 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Wednesday, February 1 : 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Thursday, February 2 : 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Friday, February 3 : 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM AND 1:00 - 2:00 PM
Monday, February 6 : 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday, February 7 : 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Wednesday, February 8 : 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Thursday, February 9 : 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Friday, February 10 : 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM AND 1:00 - 2:00 PM
Sign-up sheets will be posted on the planetarium door on Monday
afternoon (Jan 23th).
Because there is a strict limit to the number of students that can fit
into the planetarium, you must sign up for the show ahead of time
and reserve a seat. A role call may be taken to confirm attendance.
The planetarium is in the Physics and Astronomy building, room PA-209
(second floor, at the rounded corner at the south-west end of the
building; entrance near the windows).
Do NOT attempt to enter the planetarium if the door is closed! It would
ruin the show and everyone's night vision adaptation. Do not be late.
Jan 21:
I will have to cut office hours short on Wed Jan 25; ooffice hours end
at 3:55 pm.
Jan 19:
- Here are notes on the metric (SI) system
and some reference temperatures, lengths, and velocities (in .pdf
format).
- When looking at the sky, here's an easy way to determine which
direction is approximately south. Notice where the Sun sets. Then
extend your right arm out from your side toward the direction where the
Sun set. You'll then be facing southward, roughly. Your right side will
be oriented towards the west, and your left side towards the east; behind
you will be north.
- When trying to observe Orion, here's a check to be sure
you're looking at the right stars: Using Orion's belt as a guide,
follow the 3 stars toward the southeast (to the left if you're facing
south) to the very bright star Sirius. Sirius (the "dog star"
in the constellation Canis Major) is the brightest star in the sky.
Orion should be close to the meridian around 9 pm.
Hints for doing well on the homework:
(i) Be sure to answer the right question! This is a very common mistake.
(ii) Read the question: it often says show all work. You can
earn no credit if you just write down the answer.
(iii) You don't learn anything by looking up the answer in the back of the
book (or on the web).
(iv) Go the Astronomy Help room if you are unsure about something.
The purpose of the homework is to help you learn the material. It is not
so get some grade. If you just copy the answer out of the book you defeat
the purpose, and you cheat yourself out of an education.
Finally, don't forget that the homework counts as a substantial part of
your final grade. Please put effort into earning a good score on the
homework.
Astronomy Help Room Hours for Spring 2012
The *free* Astronomy Help Room is located in the Physics &
Astronomy Bldg, Room PA-215.
SAFETY ISSUES
The CSU takes the issue of classroom and campus safety very seriously.
To find information about San Diego State University's emergency
preparedness plan and opportunities for training on many aspects of the
classroom/workplace see:
SDSU Emergency Preparedness.
SDSU Campus Safety
- Be aware of your surroundings.
- If you see something suspicious, report it!
- If you have an emergency, call 911 from any phone on campus.
- Other incidents, call Campus Dispatch at 4-1911.
- In the evening, call Campus Escort if you would like an escort
to your vehicle or campus dorm.
Classroom Safety
- If there is an emergency, stay calm, and follow the procedure
in the flip book.
- Follow the Evacuation Route if you need to evacuate.
- ``Shelter in place'' is usually called when a person that is carrying a
weapon on campus has become violent and has injured others, or is
threatening to injure others. If directed to shelter in place:
1. Stay inside the building or find a safe place.
2. If you are in a room with a door, make sure the door is closed.
3. Due to the varying age of campus buildings, doors may lock manually,
remotely or not at all. If applicable and time permits, lock doors.
4. If you are in a room with a window, make sure the window is closed.
5. Remain where you are until further direction from emergency personnel.
Note that during any emergency, students should not use their cell
phones. The lines of communication are critical to keep open for
emergency information. Only Staff and Faculty should keep
their cell phones on, and only receive calls if the situation
calls for it.
Nota Bene
This most recent major update of the page was on 2012 Feb 1.