REVIEW SESSION for the final exam will be on Tuesday, May 3, at 7pm in the astronomy lab. See you there!
UPDATED on April 27 due to an error -- most grades are about 4 points HIGHER than originally posted -- sorry! Preliminary grades as of April 25, 2011, have been posted on masteringastronomy.com. There are still open extra credit opportunities, and the final exam, to raise your grade. In the event a low grade seems likely and you're interested in retaking ASTR 1050, it is being offered in the first summer session starting in May by one of the graduate students in our department.
Labs (you must print these out each week and bring them to lab!)
Lab #7 (week of 3/7). You will be working with data
from a real extrasolar planet: Here is the paper
that was published revealing the discovery of this planet if you are interested (you don't need to print the
paper for lab).
EVENING OBSERVING IS CANCELLED THIS WEEK: ATTEND YOUR NORMAL LAB TIME AND PLACE! Don't forget to print your lab: Lab #10. Also print this figure. (week of 4/4).
NO EVENING OBSERVING AGAIN THIS WEEK, ATTEND YOUR NORMAL LAB TIME AND PLACE! Don't forget to print your lab: Lab #11. Also print this
figure. (week of 4/11).
NO OBSERVING LAB THIS WEEK, INSTEAD WE WILL HAVE MAKEUP LABS AT YOUR NORMAL LAB TIME AND PLACE! Don't
forget to print it out: Make-Up Lab. (week of 4/18)
NO LAB THIS WEEK, GOOD LUCK ON YOUR FINAL! (week of 4/25)
Exam Related Information
The final exam is not comprehensive and will be of similar length as previous exams, although you will have the full standard final exam period to take it. Wednesday May 4, 1:15 to 3:15pm, regular classroom. Bring a caculator, bluesheet, etc., as normal.
Friday February 11. Exam #1 is 50 questions multiple choice covering chapters 1-5 of the textbook. Constants and equations will be provided. Bring your own BLUE 5 ANSWER answer sheet and a calculator. There is a practice text on masteringastronomy.com. There will be a review session in the astronomy lab room Wednesday evening at 7pm.
UPDATE: Exam scores posted on masteringastronomy.com. Average was 75%, which is very good. You guys rock! Exam 1 Answer Key (pdf).
Exam 2 scores posted on masteringastronomy.com. There is a 3 point curve included there. Exam 2 Answer Key (pdf).
Extra Credit Activities
NEW: Twice per semester, due by the last class day: read and write a report about a story at Diamonds in the Sky. I prefer hardcopies, but email will do in a pinch. I am looking for about 1 page written, commenting on the sciecne in the story, and how you liked it (or not). I suggest only doing stories for which we've covered the material in class so far, but that's only a suggestion.
UPDATE: Last show of the year is Friday April 29!!! There is still time. Planetarium shows are Friday nights, 7pm, under the Physical Sciences Building. Go to one show during the semester, turn in a receipt to me with your name on it, and earn the equivalent of 25 homework points (about 1 homework assignment).
Once per semester, find a youtube video from a movie or a tv show (not a documentary) that includes some astronomy. Email me the link and write a short paragraph explaining the astronomy in the clip and whether or not it was correct.
A previous student pointed out this webpage that helps illustrate the phases of the moon. This will be useful very soon. Note that if you click on the demos link on top, there are other demos concerning Kepler's Laws, retrograde motion, and other topics in upcoming chapters.
Mastering Astronomy for homeworks, grades, etc. You will need the code "ASTR1050SPRING2011" to find the course.
