Fall 2010
"Work in the Laboratory"
Research Project: A major part of the lab activity in this course is a research project done with the Rigel Telescope of the University of Iowa. Rigel is located on a dark site in Arizona. The research project is an investigation to be undertaken by the student, and involves measurements and/or observations in addition to literature research on a topic of interest. Students will present their findings in front of the class during the final lab meeting, and a formal report must be submitted. The final project is worth 20 points. Students are encouraged to create their own projects based on information and techniques learned in lab and lecture. They should feel free to discuss possibilities for projects with Professors Lang or Spangler, or their teaching assistant. The project must be cleared by the student's teaching assistant. Since this project involves acquisition of observations, plus analysis and thinking about the project, it cannot be completed at the last minute, or the night before it is due. A session is scheduled in the middle of the semester for serious planning and work on the project, but it is never too early to get started.
| Week of | Lab Title | Information | Points |
| August 30 | Measuring the Sky | Lab Document | 10 |
| September 6 | Using Star Charts | Lab Document | 10 |
| September 13 | Parallax and Angular Measurements | Lab Document | 10 |
| September 20 | Observing the Sun (First priority for daytime labs) | Lab Document | 10 |
| September 20 | Observing the Night Sky 1 (First priority for evening labs; sections 17, 27, and 37 only) | Lab Document | 10 |
| September 20 | Laboratory Spectroscopy (Backup in case of clouds, all sections) | Lab Document | 10 |
| September 27 | Field Trip to EIOLC (First Priority) | no document...attendance only | 10 |
| September 27 | Laboratory Spectroscopy (Backup in case of clouds) | Lab Document | 10 |
| October 4 | Backup Week for Field Trip to EIOLC | no document...attendance only | 10 |
| October 4 | Laboratory Spectroscopy | Lab Document | 10 |
| October 11 | Basic Image Analysis | Lab Document | 10 |
| October 18 | Tri-Color Imaging | Lab Document | 10 |
| October 25 | Measurement of Stellar Magnitudes and Colors | Lab Document | 10 |
| November 1 | Detailed Planning for Research Projects | Lab Document | 10 |
| November 8 | Work on Research Projects | Attendance in Lab Required | 10 |
| November 15 | Catch Up, Possible Additional Projects | Attendance in Lab Required | 10 |
| November 22 | Thanksgiving: "Fun, Fun, Fun, 'till Daddy takes the T bird away" | ||
| November 29 | Observing the Night Sky | In Preparation | 10 |
| December 6 | Research Projects (reports and presentations) | 20 |
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