Astronomical Laboratory - 29:137 - Fall 2013

Syllabus

Instructor:  Prof. Philip Kaaret
Office: 702 Van Allen Hall
Phone: 335-1985
E-mail: philip-kaaret@uiowa.edu
Web: http://astro.physics.uiowa.edu/~kaaret
Office hours:  Tuesday and Wednesday 1:30-3:00 pm or by appointment
Course website: http://astro.physics.uiowa.edu/~kaaret/2013f_29c137

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Department of Physics and Astronomy
DEO: Prof. Mary Hall Reno
Office: 203 Van Allen Hall
Phone: 335-1686


Description of Course:  Astronomical Laboratory is a course intended to acquaint students with the basic instruments of optical astronomy.  The emphasis is on the devices themselves (particularly charge-coupled devices or CCDs), computer control of instruments, and acquisition, reduction, and analysis of data. The intended outcomes of the course are that each student gain the skills needed to successfully operate and analyze data from CCDs detectors mounted on optical telescopes, learn how to pose and answer questions in astrophysics research, and understand how astrophysicists expand our knowledge of the universe.

Attendance:  The class will meet from 9:30 to 10:45 am Tuesdays and Thursdays in Room 655 of Van Allen Hall.  In addition, it will occassionally be necessary for students to perform observations during the night.  Times and locations will arranged.  Any student who has previous committments during the evening should bring those to the attention of the instructor. 

• Students are expected to attend all class sessions (2.5 hours per week) and do an additional 6.5 hours of work outside class per week for a total of about 9 hours per week devoted to this class.  Poor attendance or inadequate effort outside class is likely to affect success in the course.

• Students should feel free to come during office hours to discuss the homework, laboratories, research projects, or any other topic related to the course.

Prerequisites: Students are expected to have a basic understanding of astronomy at the level of General Astronomy I and II (29:061 and 29:062) and a basic understanding of mechanics and electricity & magnetism at the level of Physics I and II (29:027 and 29:028).  Students should have taken or currently be taking a course that covers electromagnetic waves at the level of Physics III (29:029).

Required materials: Students are expected to buy or have access to the textbook for the course, which is Handbook of CCD Astronomy, second edition, by Steve B. Howell.  Students must purchase a laboratory notebook and bring it to each class for use through out the semester.

Course work: Students will be required to complete reading, homework, laboratory assignments, and reports and presentations based on research projects. 

• Reading is listed on the lecture/laboratory schedule.  Reading should be completed by the start of the first class on the week that the reading is assigned (except for the first week).  Note that students are expected to come to class having already read the sections in the textbook relevant for that class.
  
• Homework consists of assigned problems on the lecture/laboratory schedule.  Each homework assignment must be handed in at the start of class on the assigned date.  Note that students are expected to come to class having already done the problems assigned for that week (except for the first week).  Each student's homework must be written up individually.
  
• Students are allowed to work with their assigned lab partners on laboratory assignments.  Each lab team will keep one lab notebook.  At the beginning of each lab, one student will be assigned to do the write up for that lab.  The writing assignments will rotate sequentially through all of the students on the team.  Each student should be sure that they fully understand all of the material.  Student performance on the research project will be evaluated on the team's overall performance and on the individual contributions of the student.
• Students will work in assigned teams on the research projects.  Each student on a research team is expected to complete a similar amount of work and to contribute equally to the final project.  Student performance on the research project will be evaluated on the team's overall performance and on the individual contributions of the student.
• There will be no final exam.
• The detailed class schedule is posted on the class web site.
  

Grading: The grade in the course will be based on the homework (20%), laboratory assignments (30%), and reports and presentations based on research projects (50%).  Plus and minus grades will be awarded.

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences: Important Policies and Procedures

Administrative Home
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is the administrative home of this course and governs matters such as the add/drop deadlines, the second-grade-only option, and other related issues. Different colleges may have different policies. Questions may be addressed to 120 Schaeffer Hall, or see the CLAS Academic Policies Handbook.

Electronic Communication
University policy specifies that students are responsible for all official correspondences sent to their University of Iowa e-mail address (@uiowa.edu). Faculty and students should use this account for correspondence (Operations Manual, III.15.2. Scroll down to k.11).

Accommodations for Disabilities
A student seeking academic accommodations should first register with Student Disability Services and then meet privately with the course instructor to make particular arrangements. See www.uiowa.edu/~sds/ for more information.

Academic Honesty
All  students taking CLAS courses have, in essence, agreed to the College's Code of Academic Honesty: "I pledge to do my own academic work and to excel to the best of my abilities, upholding the IOWA Challenge. I promise not to lie about my academic work, to cheat, or to steal the words or ideas of others; nor will I help fellow students to violate the Code of Academic Honesty." Any student committing academic misconduct is reported to the College and placed on disciplinary probation or may be suspended or expelled (CLAS Academic Policies Handbook).

CLAS Final Examination Policies
The date and time of every final examination is announced  by the Registrar generally by the tenth day of classes.  No exams of any kind are allowed during the last week of classes. All students should plan on being at the UI through the final examination period. It is the student's responsibility to know the date, time, and place of the final exam.

Making a Suggestion or a Complaint
Students with a suggestion or complaint should first visit with the instructor (and the course supervisor), and then with the departmental DEO. Complaints must be made within six months of the incident (CLAS Academic Policies Handbook).

Understanding Sexual Harassment
Sexual harassment subverts the mission of the University and threatens the well-being of students, faculty, and staff. All members of the UI community have a responsibility to uphold this mission and to contribute to a safe environment that enhances learning. Incidents of sexual harassment should be reported immediately. See the UI Comprehensive Guide on Sexual Harassment for assistance, definitions, and the full University policy.

Reacting Safely to Severe Weather
In severe weather, class members should seek appropriate shelter immediately, leaving the classroom if necessary. The class will continue if possible when the event is over. For more information on Hawk Alert and the siren warning system, visit the Public Safety website.