Observatory Lab 2020

Welcome to Observational Laboratory 1, Fall 2020 Edition!

Please refer to this web page for most up-to-date information on the course. Test dates, tests and homeworks in pdf format and all other information will be made available in due time.

This course is mandatory for all of you Astrophysics majors. Please feel free to bring friends! This will be lots of fun!

If you prefer a syllabus in a pdf format, here it is.

Covered topics:

Homework assignments:

Tests

Lab assignments:

Important Villanova instrument values:

Course content:

No astronomer is complete without an understanding of spherical triangles, equatorial coordinates (right ascension and declination), hour angles, precession, nutation, etc. No, clicking around Starry Night Pro does not count. We will first learn all the basics necessary to build a planetarium program, and acquire bragging rights to predicting when and where a certain object will be on the sky without any computers or calculators, accurately to about 15 minutes. Once we have mastered celestial astronomy, we will learn about the techniques of astrometry, photometry and spectroscopy. Is there a more noble pursuit in all of the sciences than learning how to imprison unsuspecting photons just trying to make their way through the universe, and then force them to tell us something we don’t know? The answer is no. No, there isn’t! You’ll use all three telescopes available in the Student Research Observatory. And who knows, before the class is through, you might even start using them well! Then you’ll learn how to wring every last bit of science from the data you’ve gathered… an all-around glorious ObLab experience.

Course Material:

• W. M. Smart's Spherical Astronomy (4th Edition pdf)
• Several problems from spherical astronomy, with solutions: html.
• Sidereal Greenwich Mean Time at 0h from the 2016 Nautical Almanac: pdf
• IRAF manuals, freely available from here.

Course work and grading:

Your final grade will reflect your effort, homeworks, test and the data assignments. For the course you are required to do the following:

• every week there will be a homework assigned that is required for everyone. Every homework has 5 questions, with an additional question for extra credit. Each question is worth 10 points, 50 points total + 10 points for extra credit;
• there will be one 1.5-hour test on celestial astronomy. The test will have 3 questions, with an additional question for extra credit. Each question is worth 150 points, 450 points total + 150 points for extra credit;
• there will be 5 data gathering and analysis assignments, and their [official, research-grade] write-ups, each worth 150 points + 25 points for extra credit;
• occasionally there will be other opportunities given for extra credit, such as an in-depth presentation of research topics and homework. Priority will be given to students who demonstrated genuine interest and contribute to in-class discussion. Please see us to find out more about these opportunities.

If you do the math, you will see that homework carries 14% of the grade, the test carries 34% of the grade, and the assignments carry 52% of the grade. The grading will be done according to the following breakdown:

Yes, looks scary. But remember: work hard, work consistently, seize all the extra credit opportunities, and there should be no reason for concern. Ultimately, the grade you earn is yours alone, we are just scribes.

Attendance:

Regular attendance is essential for uninterrupted understanding of course material. Since this course covers a significant amount of content in a not-so-significant amount of time, each missed class will hurt. Really hurt. The topic is not trivial and continuous work is required to remain on top of things.

Please do not miss turning in homeworks and taking the test. If you must miss a test, you must inform me of that in advance, and you must have a written notice excusing your absence. Provided that you follow these rules, I will provide you with a makeup opportunity for the test. Verbal excuses and call-the-health-center-and-you'll-see-I-was-sick-on-the-day-of-the-quiz/test are not admissible. There will be no exceptions. If you do not turn your homework in on time, you can still turn it in within 1 week, but the penalty for late homework will be a 30% grade deduction. In other words: don't miss homeworks. Do them, they really help.

The etiquette for using laptops and cell phones in class:

We have no issues with using computers (in fact, you will need them for the second part of the lab). However, it will be very detrimental for you if you try to use them for celestial astronomy part. You will be publicly flogged and/or burned at the stake if caught using cell phones in class for texting, facebooking or web surfing.

Academic integrity and Special needs:

Finally, here goes the standard blurb: any violation of the Code of ethics will be grounds for failing the course. Any cheating, copying, duplication of work, etc, will get you into trouble. If you have any concerns whatsoever, come talk to me and I'm sure we'll be able to sort everything out.

It is the policy of Villanova University to make reasonable academic accommodations for qualified individuals with special needs. If you are a person with a special need please contact me after class or during office hours and make arrangements to register with the Learning Support Office by contacting 610-519-5636 or at nancy.mott@villanova.edu as soon as possible. Services for students with physical disabilities are provided by the Division of Student Life (http://www.villanova.edu/studentlife).