TIME AST 102 Sky I

In this class we will explore the concept of time, with particular emphasis on the astronomical roots of clocks and calendars using both real and simulated observations. Class time will be used for short projects; outside work includes keeping a sky journal and making some simple observations of the sky. There will be a short final project but no exams.

Class Projects Each week we will have a new project to familiarize you with the daily and seasonal cycles of the sun, the moon and the stars. If you must miss a class, schedule a make-up session with Ms. Thacher immediately. Any project must be completed within 2 weeks of the missed class and only two make-ups are allowed, any further missed classes will yield a grade of 0 for that project.

Sky Journals You will keep a written record of your learnings about the motions of objects in the sky in a single spiral or bound notebook. These will be examined in class each Tuesday and turned in for grading every 2-3 weeks. The Sky Journal, written as though you are a village priestess living several thousand years ago, will include your own discoveries and announcements to your villagers. Although we will use props and computers for visualization and measurement, you need to assimilate these learningÕs and imagine experiencing them as the village priestess when you write about them. The actual phenomena must be described accurately however.

Sky Observing Projects There will be 5 self-scheduled observing projects, each with different due dates. The McConnell Rooftop Observatory will be open on Wednesday and Thursday evenings from 7:30-9:00 pm staffed with AST 102 Lab Assistants who will help you study for and will administer the Sky Quiz.

á        North Sky I (Oct 6): Sketch northern stars (Polaris, Big Dipper, and Cassiopeia) relative to the north horizon multiple times during the course of a night..

á        Lunar Motions (Oct 6): Measure the position and record the phase of the moon on at least 2 days several times during the day. The 2 days should be separated by at least 1 week.

á        Sky Quiz (Nov 3): Identify constellations, bright stars in presence of instructor.

á        North Sky II (last class):  Repeat your North Sky I sketch of the northern stars (Polaris, Big Dipper, and Cassiopeia) relative to the north horizon with one additional sketch, made at the same time of the evening (EST) as one of the earlier ones but at least a month later.

á        Seasonal Sunsets (last class): Observe sunset placement on the horizon from the College Lane bench 5 times. At least one must be before break, and each observation should be separated by at least 3 weeks. Start immediately!

Final Project: The culmination of the semester will be a research project on any calendar system in the world other than our modern Gregorian Calendar. A short (5-8 page) paper and a short (5 minute) oral presentation on your calendar system will be due on the last day class. Further directions will be given later in the semester.


Syllabus AST 102 Sky I: TIME

Fall 2009

Week

 

Tuesday Afternoon (1:10-3:00)

Wednesday Evening (7:30 PM)

1

Sep 8

Clocks and Calendars

  
 

Sep 9

  

Constellations

2

Sep 15

Sun Clocks I

  
 

Sep 16

 

Constellations & North Sky

3

Sep 22

Sun Clocks II
 

Sep 23

  

Constellations & North Sky

4

Sep 29

Sun Calendars
 

Sep 30

  

Constellations

5

Oct 6

Star Clocks
 

Oct 7

  

Constellations

6

Oct 13

FALL BREAK
 

Oct 14

  

Sky Quiz

7

Oct 20

Moon Calendars
 

Oct 21

  

Sky Quiz

8

Oct 27

Star Calendars
 

Oct 28

  

Sky Quiz

9

Nov 3

The Zodiac and the Ecliptic

  
 

Nov 4

  

(Sun Dagger)

10

Nov 10

Otelia Cromwell Day
 

Nov 11

  

Vernal Equinox

11

Nov 17

Different Skies
 

Nov 18

  

Sun Dagger

12

Nov 24

No Class
 

Nov 25

  

THANKSGIVING

13

Dec 1

Modern Perspective
 

Dec 2

  

Observing

14

Dec 8

Lunar and Solar Calendars
 

Dec 9

  

Observing

15

Dec 15

Calendar Presentations

Professors:  Suzan Edwards, McConnell 408; Email: sedwards at smith.edu

                                    Office hours: Tuesday 3-4 PM or by appointment

          Meg Thacher, McConnell 409, Email: mthacher at smith.edu

                                             Office hours: Mon, Tues 9:30-Noon

Format: In-class group projects and some independent observing projects.

Grades:  Evaluation of Projects (35%), Sky Journals (30%), completion of 5 independent observing projects (15%), one final 5-8 page paper (20%). No exams