Notes
Slide Show
Outline
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Astro 1050
Survey of Astronomy
  • Michael Brotherton
    • Office:  Physical Sciences 217
    • Phone:  766-5402
    • E-Mail:  mbrother@uwyo.edu
    • Office Hours:
      • Monday 10:00 AM – Noon
      • Wednesday 10:00 AM – Noon
      • Also by Appointment
  • Lab Instructor
    • Jim Verley Physical Sciences Rm 117
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The Difference Between Astronomy and Astrology
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The Difference Between Astronomy and Astrology
  • lots and lots of math
  • (and when is the course drop date anyway?)
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Highlights of the Syllabus
  • Course Content: the What AND How of Astronomy


  • Lectures:  Reading done in advance, may be quizzed


  • Laboratory:  Starts NEXT week, Attendance Required!


  • Homework: on WebCT, Assigned/Due on Mondays


  • Exams: 3 in-class plus a comprehensive final


  • Grading


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Feedback Questionnaire

  • Anonymous (if you wish)


  • Help me help you


  • Your Expectations


  • Math/Science Background
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The Scale of the Cosmos
    •   “Space is big. Really big. You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-bogglingly big it is. I mean, you may think it's a long way down the road to the chemist, but that's just peanuts to space.”
    • -- Douglas Adams, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, 1979
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Powers of Ten
  • Original “Powers of Ten” Movie


  • “Cosmic Voyages” video, narrated by Morgan Freeman (Imax version at Smithsonian Institute)


  • First five minutes of the 1997 film Contact
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Units or “Dimensions”
  • Distance meters, miles, etc.
  • Time seconds, hours, days, years


  • Combined quantities
    • velocity miles/hour meters/second


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Reading (in Seeds)
    • By Friday
      • Chapter 1  The Scale of the Cosmos   (pg. 1-   8)
      • Chapter 2  The Sky                                    (pg.   9 - 20)
      • Appendix A  Units and Astronomical Data   (pg. 441-443)


    • By Monday
      • Chapter 3  Cycles of the Sky  (pg. 21 – 40)


    • Pay special attention to the Review: Critical Inquiry and By the Numbers boxes.  Also, make sure you understand the diagrams shown in the various figures.


    • At the end of each chapter study the Summary, New Terms, and Review Questions