MCTC Astronomy ASTR1100

Dr. Korey Haynes

On your way

in please

grab:

• Syllabus

• Activity

sheet

NASA,/ESA/J. Hester

and A. Loll (ASU)

Today:

• Getting to

know the

teacher

• Getting to know the

class/syllabus• Starting to grasp

our place in the

universe

• Getting

to

know

each

other

About

Korey

How much math will we do in

Astronomy?

Basic Algebra – helps to remember this!

• Scientific notation 3.2 X 105

• Dividing numbers (scale models)

• Dimensional Analysis & Significant Figures

• Changing units. For example: miles per hour

(mi/h) to kilometers per second (km/s).

ASTR1100

• 4 credits, meet 3 times total per week

• Includes Lecture

– Meets twice per week in S3400

– 6:00 to 7:15pm Tuesdays and Thursdays

• And Includes Lab

– Meets once per week in S2200

– 3 different options (Tuesday 7:30pm,

Thursday 12:00pm, or Thursday 7:30pm)

– Only go to your registered section of lab

Astronomy Lab

Lab –

Come to your scheduled section this week.

We will meet for about 30 minutes.

You only need to come to lab once per week.

Recommended Textbook

https://openstax.org/books/astronomy/

Tips for This Course

• Budget and manage your time

carefully – especially Observation

Projects.

• Pay attention to class

communications.

• Come to lab every week.

Useful Resources

D2L has all the materials you need!

https://minneapolis.learn.minnstate.edu/d2l/

home/

• Calendar & Test Dates

• Syllabus

• Observations & Due Dates

• Slideshows (PowerPoint pdf for each lecture)

• Homework & Observation Assignments

• Weekly Quizzes – repeatable

Study Points(STUDY POINTS will be listed near the beginning of each day’s slideshow. I

want you to know these or be able to do these for exams. If the following are

not covered in class, look them up in a text, in the notes and/or on the web.

One good study technique is to make flashcards for these.)

• *Define moon, planet, star, solar system, galaxy and universe. (Look these

up in your text or online, then make and study a flashcard for each.)

• *List the 3 hallmarks of science. Distinguish science from non-science.

(flashcards good here too)

Astronomy or Astrology?

Astronomy is a science.

*Science:

1. Uses natural explanations (not supernatural)

2. Requires testable, repeatable evidence

3. Uses the simplest explanation

*Three Hallmarks of Science

Astronomy

The study of objects & processes in the universe

(with emphasis on collections of matter like

planets, stars and galaxies and their interactions)

Everything above Earth’s atmosphere!

http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2010/13/image/a/

Astronomy

•Sky sights you can see (Sun, Moon, planets constellations, aurora)

http://climate.gi.alaska.edu/Curtis/pom.jpg

http://soho.nascom.nasa.gov/data/r

ealtime/mdi_igr/512/

nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov

Astronomy

•Size and layout of the solar system and universe

http://atropos.as.arizona.edu/aiz/teaching

/nats102/mario/solar_system.html

https://hubblesite.org/image/3886/category/58-

hubble-ultra-deep-field

Astronomy•History of Science – Understanding gained through observation and experiment.

Astronomy•How we get information from stars

http://science.hq.nasa.gov

/kids/imagers/ems/visible.

html

Astronomy

•Solar system

nasa.gov

Astronomy

•Birth of stars, planets

http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2010/13/image/a/

Astronomy

•Death of stars

Astronomy

•Groups of stars

Astronomy

•Origin and fate of universe

13.8

Group Syllabus Activity

• Form a group of 3-4 people. Complete activity

together, using syllabus.

• On back of sheet, write:

• One thing you’re curious about in

astronomy or want to learn this semester.

• One thing you’re worried about for this

class

• One strength you have as a student

• “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

Scale of the Universe & Powers of Ten

Scale of the Universe & Powers of Ten

• Develop a feel for the layout and size of objects in

the universe

• AMNH Tour of the Universe

• http://scaleofuniverse.com/

• Powers of Ten Video (1977)

Group Sorting Activity

• Stay in your groups

• Sort objects:

• Small to big

• Sort objects:

• Near to far

Homework

Suggested homework

• Read the syllabus.

• Find and bookmark the online textbook.

• Go to the calendar on the website. Mark test dates and due dates on your

calendar.

• Take notes and answer each STUDY POINT.

• Setup your school email to forward if using an outside email

• Watch these videos/apps below about the layout & size of our universe

– http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/primer/java/scienceopticsu/powersof10/index.html

– http://scaleofuniverse.com/

Required

Complete Homework assignment as

listed on D2L Announcement page.