Recent Courses Taught
Click on the date column to open the web site for that semester.| Fall 2001 | Astronomical Laboratory | 29:137 |
| Spring 2002 | Modern Astronomy | 29:050 |
| Fall 2002 | Solar System Astronomy | 29:052 |
| Spring 2003 | Solar System Astronomy | 20:052 |
| Fall 2003 | Astronomical Laboratory | 29:137 |
| Spring 2004 | Modern Astronomy | 29:050 |
| Fall 2004 | Solar System Astronomy | 29:052 |
| Spring 2005 | General Astronomy | 29:062 |
| Fall 2005 | Astronomical Laboratory | 29:137 |
| Spring 2006 | Star, Galaxies, Universe | 29:050 |
| Fall 2006 | General Astronomy | 29:061 |
| Spring 2007 | SABBATICAL | - |
| Fall 2007 | Astronomical Laboratory | ASTR 137 |
| Spring 2008 | Radio Astronomy | ASTR 186 |
Astronomical Laboratory Curriculum Development
For the
past several
years I have been developing a new curriculum for
introductory astronomy laboratories. The curriculum is uses both
computer aided exercises (e.g. CLEA) There are also many CCD
camera-based
observing exercises followed by image analysis of images obtained by
students using an automated telescope (see below). A 270 page
laboratory manual Imaging The Universe (Hayden-McNeil Publ.) has been
written and is in use by University of Iowa classes. Several of the
observing exercises from this manual are available on the IRTF
website.Robotic Optical Telescopes For Undergraduate Astronomical Laboratories
For the past several years, I have spent a considerable part of my time developing several robotic telescopes, which have been designed primarily for undergraduate teaching and research. The first robotic telescope was the Automated telescope facility (ATF) located on the roof of the Physics building in Iowa City. In 1997 we completed the Iowa Robotic Observatory, which is located in southern Arizona, and was used in by undergraduates at the University of Iowa until mid-2003. Most recently, we completed the Rigel Telescope, located at the same site as the IRO
, and put into
operation in May 2002. These facilities are operated as part of the Iowa Robotic Telescope Facility (IRTF), which is in use by over 700 students every year, primarily in introductory laboratories. It is also used by advanced undergraduates for honors projects and by graduate students for M. S. theses. During the past two years, six research papers have been published by undergraduates using this facility. A complete description, including results from student projects, is available on the IRTF site.