Instructor: Professor Rogier A. Windhorst.
Location and Time: PSF-173; TuTh 9:15--10:30 am.
Office hours: 10:40-11:40 pm on Tuesdays, Thursdays,
and Fridays, all in room PSF-246. Messages for me can also be left in my
mailbox in room PSF-470. Please ask the person at the front-desk to put it in
my mailbox.
TA: Mr. Steven Dwyer. The TA's office hours are: TuTh 2:00--3:30 pm, in
room PSF-272 or PSF-274 (Tel. 480 965 0664 or 965 0518). The TA can also help
you with questions about lectures, exams, and homework, and will grade the
homework. The TA's Email is Steven.Dwyer@asu.edu .
Other Help: Help may also be obtained from the TA's
that teach the AST-Labs during their office hours. Their office hours and rooms
will be posted on the door of room PSH-563. We can also help you find a tutor,
if needed.
Textbook: Astronomy, Journey to the Cosmic Frontier'', by John D. Fix,
3rd Edition (New York: McGraw-Hill Higher Education Publishers; ISBN
0-07-283302-5 or 0-07-299697-8 with CD's). Older editions do not suffice.
Available for about $ 87 (new) or $ 65 (used, if available) at the ASU
Bookstore and other bookstores around campus. Check
http://www.university-bookstore.com
and http://www.amazon.com for better deals.
AST 112 covers chapters 1-7 and 16-26, plus Appendices.
Syllabus: An outline for AST 112 is given in the
attached syllabus. We will follow this schedule in principle, but some changes
may be announced later. I strongly urge you to read the chapter of the book (on
the day) before the corresponding lecture will be given.
Class Web Page: The Class Web Page will be at:
http://phyastweb.la.asu.edu/ast112-windhorst
WARNING: This site is under development, and we may update it during the semester. The Web-version of this syllabus thus supersedes the printed version, although I will likely not change the exam dates. A printed list of relevant Web address is attached to the syllabus.
Lecture notes and voluntary reading: You are strongly
advised to make your own notes. During my lectures, I will regularly give
examples of what kind of questions may be asked at the exams. A PDF file
of lecture notes from previous years made by Prof. Burstein is still available
on:
http://phyastweb.la.asu.edu/ast112-windhorst/ast112notes.pdf (read with Adobe Acroread).
Prerequisites: Knowledge of elementary high school
algebra and geometry is required, although I will briefly explain the relevant
math in class. I will keep the use of formulae to a minimum, but expect you to
learn not to be "scared" of simple math.
WWW pages relevant to AST 111/112: Since a stunning
number of NASA images relevant to AST 111/112 has become available in recent
years, I will continue to teach with an overhead projector connected to a PC
that can show real-time WWW pages. Please be patient with the sometimes rather
slow Net-speed. The WWW pages relevant to AST 111/112 will be given to you on a
separate hand-out, and are also posted on the class Web-site. Since I often
receive over 100 Emails a day, I apologize that I cannot answer all Emails
individually. But if you have a question, please come to my office hours, or
ask questions in class after it starts, so that all can benefit.
Interaction: Despite the fact that this large lecture
hall might be intimidating, I invite you to ask questions about the material.
I like to have interaction with the class, and will give plenty opportunity to
ask questions. The first few minutes after class starts am will be set aside for
questions in particular. The 15 min immediately before class are strictly
off-limits for questions, since I need this time to setup and store away the
audiovisuals. My office hours are available if you need individual help.
Please feel free to raise your hand during class-time if you have a question,
and when I call your question, please speak up loudly, so that everyone can
hear it. The TA will be available to pass around a microphone in this large
classroom.
Planetarium shows: You will benefit from attending one
of the Planetarium shows in room PSB-350 (the building West of the PSF-wing).
These are organized by Mr. Dan Matlaga (Room PSB-350, tel. 965-6891 or 3561).
Planetarium attendance will yield 10 extra credit points, provided you give me
your original attendance card that Mr. Matlaga issues during the
Planetarium show before Mar 15. You must write your name and ASU
ID number on it this card. No extra credit will be given for the
Planetarium show under any other conditions. (Social Security numbers are no
longer used as ID numbers at ASU. Instead please use the Affiliate ID number on
your ASU Suncard, which usually starts with 1000).
Planetarium Shows for AST 112 Spring 2005, all in room PSB-350:
We Jan 19 12:40 pm Tu Feb 22 10:40 am
Tu Jan 25 10:40 am Tu Mar 01 12:00 noon
Th Feb 03 12:40 pm Tu Mar 08 12:40 pm
We Feb 16 12:40 pm Th Mar 10 10:40 am
Exams: There will be three midterm exams, each
consisting of 50 questions, and one final comprehensive exam of 100 questions.
All questions are multiple choice with 4 or 5 alternatives, worth 1 point each.
Midterms will be given on February 15, March 22, and April 19. These are held
during regular class time.
These exams cover roughly the first, second, and third 25-30% of the material, respectively. For each midterm exam, you need to study between about 90 and 130 new pages of the book, as indicated in the syllabus. The final comprehensive exam is scheduled for Wednesday Thursday May 5, at 7:40-9:30 am, and covers Chapters 1-7 plus 16-26. NOTE ASU DEMANDS THIS EARLIER THAN NORMAL EXAM TIME! This is not my preference and I cannot change this time. Late arrivers will not be accommodated, since this room is needed right afterwards for the next exam.
All exams will be held in this room and are closed book. You should bring a sharp, soft (No. 2) pencil with eraser. Scantron forms filled out with ink-pens cannot be scanned or graded. Exam questions are based for about 65% on material in the book and for 35% on material discussed in my lectures. The exams require knowledge of all material from the chapters in the book as indicated in the syllabus, except for several sections pointed out during my lectures (a separate list of these will not be given). In addition, you need to study your own notes from all my lectures.
Open Notes: In previous years, I experimented with open notes or open book exams. I found that if I allow exams with open book or notes, students always study less and perform worse on the exams, because they spend all their time searching for issues they didn't study. I will therefore no longer allow open book exams, but I am willing to consider the following: As long as the class attendance remains consistently above 80%, the exams will be open notes, not open book. This is a right you collectively earn as a class by attending consistently. The TA will take an attendance count every class, and as soon as the attendance drops below 80% just once, this right will be permanently revoked for that semester.
IMPORTANT: YOU MUST BRING YOUR VALID ASU PICTURE ID
TO EACH EXAM. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN ZERO POINTS FOR THAT EXAM ! ASU
requires me to verify your ASU Affiliate ID number on your Suncard before I
can give you credit.
Grading: Your final grade will be determined from your
total score over the exams, plus optional Planetarium show. It is allowed
to drop your worst semester test, but NOT the final exam. No make-up
tests will therefore be given. Absence from an exam will result in zero points
for that exam, and may result in a final grade of D or E. The total possible
score is 200 points (excluding a maximum of 10 extra credit points for
the Planetarium show). Your final grade will be determined "on the curve".
Usually, this means that about 10% of the students with the lowest scores
(i.e., less than 80-100 points out of 200) will receive a D or an E. The true
numbers depend on the final shape of the curve. The exams are graded by
computer, and the results will be posted within a week on the bulletin board
across from the elevators on the second floor of the PSF-wing. Please consult
this bulletin board before asking us about your grade. Because it is illegal, I
will not give out any grades over the phone or by Email. I will not
engage in negotiations about scores.
Cheating: If different exams of alternating color are
given, you are not allowed to make the same color exam as you neighbor.
Doing so, or copying from neighbors, allowing others to copy, the presence of
books and cell-phones, talking, and any other suspicious behavior during the
exams will all be considered cheating and result in an E for the course.
No exceptions. Your wrong answers will be correlated by computer against those
of everyone else, and students with exams suspiciously similar to those of who
they were sitting close to will be investigated for cheating.
AST Labs: The labs that go with AST 111 and 112 are AST
113 and AST 114, respectively. Contact the instructor of these labs, who may be
able to give some overrides if you need one. Some ASU Colleges require that you
take Lab AST 113 only with Lecture AST 111, and Lab AST 114 only with Lecture
AST 112. We will let you take Lab AST 113 with Lecture AST 112, or AST 114 with
AST 111, as long as you keep the book used in the Lectures while you are doing
the Lab. During my office hours, I can provide you with a supporting memo to
this effect, should someone require our permission in writing. All questions
re. the AST 113/114 Labs need to be directed to the Lab instructor, which is:
Name: Will, Lisa Phone: (480)965-5732
Title: Instructor Dept: Physics & Astronomy
Bldg: PSF Room: 417 Mail code: 1504
E-mail: lisa.will@asu.edu
Public Viewing Nights: Interested students may want to
go to the ASU Public Viewing Nights. These are held during the last Friday of
each month -- starting in January or September -- on the roof of the PSH-wing.
This may be useful to those students who are not taking the AST Labs. You can
also go to public viewing nights at the Kitt Peak National Observatories near
Tucson (to make a reservation, call 1 520 318 8000 or 8600). There is no extra
credit for these activities.
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SYLLABUS --- INTRODUCTION TO ASTRONOMY II --- AST 112 --- Spring 2005
No. Date Planned topics (Tentative!) Chapters
01 Tu Jan. 18 Introduction of the course 1
The scientific method. Astronomy as a science 1
Review of the Cosmos. Size scales in the Universe 1
The celestial sphere and coordinate systems 1
02 Th Jan. 20 Daily motions in the sky. Motion of the Sun 2
The motions and phases of the Moon 2
Motions of the Planets. 2
The origin of the seasons. Precession 2
Astronomical time and calendars 2
03 Tu Jan. 25 Ancient astronomy. Constellations 3
Early Greek Astronomy 3
Late Greek Astronomy 3
A brief history of astronomical observations 3
Eclipses of the Moon and the Sun 3
04 Th Jan. 27 Astronomy after Ptolemy 4
Copernicus' heliocentric world model 4
Tycho Brahe's observations of the solar system 4
Kepler the theoretician and his three laws 4
Galileo and the first telescope 4
05 Tu Feb. 01 Galileo's and Kepler's work before Newton 5
Newton's three laws of Mechanics 5
The universal law of gravity. Mass and weight 5
Concepts of mechanics: mass, density, angular momentum 5
Orbits of planets, satellites, interplanetary spacecraft 5
Origin of the tides. Consequences of tidal interaction 5
06 Th Feb. 03 The finite speed of light. Light as waves and particles 6
The Doppler effect of sound and light 6
The observable electromagnetic spectrum. Temperature 6,7.3
The law of Wien and colors of the stars 7.3
The laws of Planck and Stefan-Boltzmann 7.3
07 Tu Feb. 08 Kirchoff's laws of spectroscopy. Atoms and ions 7.4
Sub-atomic particles. Spectrum of Hydrogen 7.4
The inverse-square law 6
Introduction to optics: Reflection and refraction 6
Breeds of optical telescopes; telescope mounts 6
08 Th Feb. 10 Optical cameras, spectrographs and detectors 6
Major optical observatories; atmospheric limitations 6
Space Observatories: IR, Optical, UV, X-ray, gamma-ray 6
The future of ground-based and space-astronomy 6
Radio astronomy and interferometry 6
REVIEW FOR FIRST EXAM 1-6+7.3-7.4
09 Tu Feb. 15 FIRST EXAM (pg. 1-119 + 127-133 = 126 pages) 1-6+7.3-7.4
10 Th Feb. 17 DISCUSSION OF FIRST EXAM 1-6+7.3-7.4
Star names 16
Measuring astronomical distances and velocities 16
Proper motions and radial velocities 16
Stellar brightness: apparent and Absolute magnitudes 16
11 Tu Feb. 22 The luminosity function. Stellar luminosity classes 16
Stellar spectra. Classification, temperature, pressure 16
Stellar atmospheres: gravity, composition, rotation 16
The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram: Colors, temperatures 16
Mass and Size determination. Mass-luminosity relation 16
12 Th Feb. 24 The Sun as a star 17
Stellar engine. Gravitational collapse. Thermal energy 17
The Sun's energy: nuclear fusion 17
Interior, photosphere, chromosphere, corona. Solar wind 17
13 Tu Mar. 01 The Solar Cycle: Sunspots, Flares, Magnetic fields 17
The solar interior. Solar neutrino's 17
Interstellar gas. HI and HII regions. Molecules. 18
Star formation: Giant molecular clouds and young stars 18
14 Th Mar. 03 Protostars. Disks. Gas Ejection. T-Tauri stars 18
Gravitational collapse. Hayashi tracks 18
The formation/evolution of stars and planetary systems 18
Supernovae and star-formation. The "swiss cheese" model 18
Stellar evolution. The trip through the HR diagram 19
15 Tu Mar. 08 Models of Stars. The Russell-Vogt theorem 19
Evolution of star clusters: Ages and distances 19
Star clusters: Globular and Open clusters, Associations 19
Main sequence stars 19
After the Main sequence: Red giants, Supergiants, etc 19
Variable stars: Cepheids and RR-Lyrae stars 19
16 Th Mar. 10 Endpoints of stellar evolution: the death of stars 19
Planetary nebulae and mass loss 19
White dwarfs. Origin and Evolution 20
Neutron stars, pulsars, and relativistic jets 20
Supernovae and supernova remnants. SN 1987A 20
REVIEW FOR SECOND EXAM 16-20.2
Mar. 13-20 Spring Break. No classes all week.
17 Tu Mar. 22 SECOND EXAM (pg. 360-468=109 pages) 16-20.2
18 Th Mar. 24 DISCUSSION OF SECOND EXAM 16-20.2
Neutrino's and gravity waves 20.3
Properties of black holes: Mass and rotation 20.3
Relativity in a nutshell. The constant speed of light 20.3
Special Relativity: time dilation; contraction; E=mc$^2$ 20.3
19 Tu Mar. 29 Einstein's relativity: A revised theory of gravity 20.3
Binary stars: Visual, spectroscopic, eclipsing binaries 21
The formation of binary stars 21
Evolution of close binaries: Mass transfer 21
20 Th Mar. 31 Binaries with compact objects: Accretion phenomena. Novae 21
The interstellar medium: Interstellar gas and dust 22
Extinction, reddening, and reflection 22
Stellar populations: The brightest and nearest stars 22
21 Tu Apr. 05 Distribution of stars in our Galaxy. Solar neighborhood 22
Galactic rotation. The Sun's orbit 22
Spiral structure: Density waves and star-formation 22
Halo, bulge, nucleus, disk and interstellar matter 22
22 Th Apr. 07 The central Monster. Magnetism, synchrotron radiation 22
The mass of our Galaxy. The missing mass. Dark matter 22
The Extragalactic Distance Scale 23
External Galaxies. The Realm of the Nebulae 23
23 Tu Apr. 12 Hubble sequence: Ellipticals, S0's, Spirals, Irregulars 23
The origin and evolution of galaxies 23
Double galaxies. Masses of galaxies. Dark matter 23
The zoo of active galaxies. The energy problem 24
Radio galaxies and quasars. Superluminal motions 24
24 Th Apr. 14 QSO's and Seyfert galaxies. Supermassive black holes 24
How to feed the central Monster. Accretion disks 24
Quasars: Evolution. Relation to galaxy formation 24
REVIEW FOR THIRD EXAM 20.3-24
25 Tu Apr. 19 THIRD EXAM (pg. 469-579 = 111 pages) 20.3-24
26 Th Apr. 21 DISCUSSION OF THIRD EXAM 20.3-24
Galaxy collisions: Interaction, merging and cannibalism 25
Groups, clusters, and superclusters of galaxies 25
Topology of the Universe: Filaments, sheets, and voids. 25
The formation and evolution of large scale structure 25
The role of dark matter in galaxy and cluster formation 25
27 Tu Apr. 26 The Universal expansion. Hubble's law. Age of Universe 26
Cosmological models: Friedman models. Space Curvature 26
The standard hot Big Bang. The deceleration parameter 26
The Universe's ultimate fate: Big Crunch or Infinity? 26
The Cosmological Constant. Einstein's biggest mistake? 26
The Cosmic Background Radiation. Recombination. 26
28 Th Apr. 28 The first three minutes. Element production. Neutrinos 26
Creation of matter and anti-matter. 26
The four fundamental forces. Elementary particles 26
Inflationary cosmology. The Grand Unified Theory 26
Cosmic strings, Super-gravity, the Beginning (Planck time) 26
29 Tu May 03 Afterword on "Life in the Universe?" 27
REVIEW of all lecture material 1-6+16-26
30 Th May 05 FINAL COMPREHENSIVE EXAM 7:40-9:30 am (STARTS EARLIER!) 1-6+7.3-7.4
in PSF-173 (p. 1-119 + 360-641=401 total; 62 new pages) +16-26
Includes Ch. 1-6 + 7.3-7.4 + 16-26 + all lecture material
Tu May 10 Final grades posted on PSF-2nd floor across from elevators
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WWW addresses used in AST 111 / AST 112 (Windhorst)
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(This list): http://phyastweb.la.asu.edu/ast112-windhorst/
(NASA Trips through SS): http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/
(Nice page for all SS bodies) http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/billa/tnp/
(Latest Mars Pathfinder): http://mpfwww.jpl.nasa.gov/missions/past/pathfinder.html
(General Mars pages): http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/welcome/mars.htm
(General comet page): http://encke.jpl.nasa.gov/
(Shoemaker-Levy 9): http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/sl9/sl9.html
(First Exo-planet found): http://www.eso.org/outreach/press-rel/pr-2004/pr-23-04.html#note2
(NASA HQ home page): http://www.nasa.gov/
(All NASA missions): http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/
(General Space Science News): http://science.msfc.nasa.gov/
(NASA Human Space Flights): http://www.hq.nasa.gov/osf/flights.html
(Launch calendar): http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/schedule/schedule.htm
(Intl' Space Station): http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/
(NASA Educational Site): http://spacelink.nasa.gov/index.html
(A Web page for children): http://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/StarChild.html
(Satellite Weather images): http://weather.unisys.com/satellite/index.html
(General Astronomy topics): http://www.windows.umich.edu/windows2.html
(Doomsday Asteroid Quiz): http://www.skycalendar.com/skycal/index.html
(Astro Picture Of the Day): http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
(Faint Blue Galaxy Mystery): http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap950907.html
http://hubblesite.org/news/1995/08
(Galaxy Building Blocks): http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap960905.html
http://hubblesite.org/news/1996/29
(Ultraviolet Galaxies): http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap010117.html
http://hubblesite.org/news/2001/04
http://hubblesite.org/news/2001/37
(End of the Dark Ages): http://hubblesite.org/news/2003/05
(Dawn of Galaxy Formation): http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap040929.html
http://hubblesite.org/news/2004/28
http://hubblesite.org/news/2004/07
(Space Telescope Science Institute): http://www.stsci.edu/
(Space Telescope Science Institute): http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/hst/index.html
(Best of Hubble Space Telescope): http://www.seds.org/hst/hst.html
(Detailed list of Hubble images): http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/edugroup/educational-activities.html#resources
http://www.stsci.edu/exined/picturebooks.html
(Trip through Universe): http://anzwers.org/free/universe/universe.html
(Sky and Telescope site): http://skyandtelescope.com/
(Astron. Soc. Pacific materials): http://www.astrosociety.org/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/edugroup/educational-activities.html#resources
http://www.stsci.edu/exined/picturebooks.html
(Hubble Press releases occur every week, so list below is not updated!)
The Hubble Space Telescope has been the most successful science instrument in
astronomy since Galileo. The Administration and NASA have decided to no longer
service it, which is a major setback for science. For details please see:
http://www.astro.washington.edu/balick/hubble_repair.html
If you are concerned about this, please consider sending your opinions to:
president@whitehouse.gov and vice.president@whitehouse.gov
You can also contact your Senators and House Representatives on:
http://www.senate.gov and http://www.house.gov
(Hubble Space Telescope images relevant to AST 111 can be found on):
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/solar%20system/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/solar%20system/venus/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/solar%20system/mars/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/solar%20system/jupiter/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/solar%20system/saturn/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/solar%20system/uranus/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/solar%20system/neptune/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/solar%20system/pluto/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/solar%20system/planetary%20moon/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/solar%20system/planetary%20ring/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/solar%20system/weather_atmosphere/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/solar%20system/minor%20body/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/solar%20system/minor%20body/asteroid/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/solar%20system/minor%20body/comet/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/solar%20system/minor%20body/kuiper%20belt%20object/
(Hubble Space Telescope images relevant to AST 112 can be found on):
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/star/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/nebula/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/nebula/planetary/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/nebula/reflection/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/star%20cluster/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/galaxy/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/galaxy/dwarf/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/galaxy/elliptical/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/galaxy/interacting/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/galaxy/irregular/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/galaxy/magellanic%20cloud/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/galaxy/spiral/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/galaxy/quasar_active%20nucleus/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/exotic/black%20hole/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/galaxy/cluster/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/cosmology/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/cosmology/distant%20galaxies/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/cosmology/universe%3A%20age_size/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/exotic/dark%20matter/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/exotic/gamma%20ray%20burst/
http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/category/exotic/gravitational%20lens/
(Back to top of this list): http://phyastweb.la.asu.edu/ast112-windhorst/index.html
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