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Instructor: Professor Douglas Whittet
Office:
Science Center 1C34
Phone:
x8413; Email: whittd@rpi.edu
Office hours by
appointment (send me an email)
Professor Whittet's Web Page
Overview
Observational
Astronomy is a 4-credit, 400-level course designed to provide
an introduction to astronomical observing techniques and instrumentation.
The primary aims of the course are:
1) To learn the
basics of observational astronomy, both with the unaided eye and
through telescopic observation using various instruments.
2) To gain an
understanding of the physical principals that underlie the detection
and analysis of radiation from astronomical sources.
3) To consider
the Earth as an astronomical body and discover what can be learned
by studying the Earth from space.
Note that the
class runs concurrently with the descriptive, non-technical class
Earth and Sky (ASTR-2120). The syllabus is essentially the same,
but students taking Observational Astronomy will be expected to
carry out numerical calculations and achieve a higher level of
technical discussion in their course work and laboratory work.
Lectures:
Lectures are held
on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 12:00 to 12:50 pm. Regular attendance is strongly
encouraged. Various modes
of presentation will be used in class, including videos, powerpoint
lectures,
and computer demonstrations with planetarium software (see below).
Lecture slides can be downloaded by logging into
LMS.
Required text:
The following text is required for the course -- it will be used to set
weekly reading assignments and end-of-chapter homework problems:
To Measure the Sky - An Introduction to Observational Astronomy
by Frederick R. Chromey (Cambridge University Press, 2010).
Planetarium software:
Extensive use will be made of planetarium software such as the
commercially available Starry Night. Some
students may wish to consider purchasing it (this is not
a requirement for the class).
A
good freeware alternative is
Stellarium.
Homework and
Evening Labs:
You will be assigned weekly homework. Typically, you will be asked to read
sections from the text and attempt the associated problems. You will
also have a weekly evening
laboratory
class, beginning
mid-September.
Click
here
for further details. Note that attendance at evening labs is a requirement of the course.
Examinations:
There will be
a total of four 1-hour exams, to be held during normal class hours.
Grading:
The final grade
will typically be based on the following scheme:
Homework 25%
Laboratories 40%
Exams 35%
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