Fall 2005
Final Research Project: The Final Project is an investigation to be undertaken by the student, and involves measurements and/or observations in addition to research on a topic of interest. This project may involve observations by the student with one of the telescopes of the University, collection and analysis of data or images from the internet. The preferred approach is to use data taken with the Iowa Robotic Observatory in Arizona. Your findings are to be presented in front of the class during the final lab meeting, and a formal report must be submitted. The final project is worth 20 points. Ideas for projects are listed in the lab manual, but you are encouraged to create your own project based on information and techniques you learn in lab and lecture. Feel free to discuss possibilities for projects with Professor Spangler. However, any project must be cleared with your teaching assistant. Since this project involves acquisition of observations, or identification of data on the internet, plus analysis and thinking about the project, it cannot be completed at the last minute, or the night before it is due. Sessions are 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 if Clear* | Lab if Cloudy | Material | Points |
| August 29 | Exploring the Night Sky, p137. Also see writeup--> |
Intro to Astro with Computers, p4 | Lab Writeup | 10 |
| September 5 (1) | Observations with Telescopes --> | The Celestial Sphere p22 | Lab Writeup | 10 |
| September 12 | Observations with Telescopes --> | The Celestial Sphere p22 | Lab Writeup | ---- |
| September 19 | Observations of Venus ---> | Image Analysis p31 | Lab Writeup | 10 |
| September 26 | Observations of Uranus and Neptune ---> | Tri-Color Imaging p38 | Lab Writeup | 10 |
| October 03 | Observations of Venus (again)---> See also writeup ---> |
Image Analysis or Tri-Color Imaging | Lab Writeup | 10 |
| October 10 | Observations of the Moon ---> | .............. | Lab Writeup | 10 |
| October 17 | Observations of the Moon ---> | Planning of Research Project | Lab Writeup | 10 |
| October 24 | Observations of Mars ---> | Laboratory Spectroscopy p81 | Lab Writeup | 10 |
| October 31 | Observations of Mars ---> | Work on Research Project | Lab Writeup | 10 |
| November 7 | Observations of the Sun ---> | Work on Research Project | Lab Writeup | 10 |
| November 14 | Observations of the Moon ---> | ............... | Lab Writeup | 10 |
| November 28 | Final Presentations: Research Projects | ............... | ............... | ----- |
| December 05 | Final Presentations: Research Projects | ............... | ............... | ----- | Total: 100 |
* When two labs are listed, we go with the first on clear nights
(1) Students scheduled for Monday night should come on Tuesday instead. If this is impossible, please see SRS.
(2) This lab will be arranged (for obvious regions) during daytime of this
week.
Chapter 3:
Chapter 1:
Chapter 2:
Go to the General Astronomy (29:61) home page
DETAILS: Chapter 3 familiarizes you with the program
Starry Night Pro
and examines the apparent motion of the stars. Read the procedure carefully and
answer any questions posed to the best of your ability.
DETAILS:
Chapter 1 is made up of four sections.
You are only required to complete the first two (A and B). In lab
we measure the angular height of three students standing fifty feet down
the hall and use this data to determine the actual heights of the students.
Also we measured the parallax angle a church steeple (with respect to a
very distant radio tower) appeared to move when viewed from either side
of the roof of Van Allen Hall. If you could not attend lab this week
you should see your TA for access to the roof. *This is a very difficult lab to make up outside of class by youself, so make sure you show up.*
DETAILS:
Chapter 2 consists of two sections. The first is an informative
section describing the software to be used throughout the semester.
The second is a review of mathematical concepts needed to complete the
labs each week. You are encouraged to read through the first section.
However, as a rule, the software needed to complete each week's lab will
be discussed at the beginning of that particular session. The math review
is a series of questions and examples which are to be completed and handed
in. Since this material will be used quite often during lab
you should ask your TA about any of the questions if you have trouble.
CORRECTIONS: None