PROPOSED LAB COURSE ASSOCIATED WITH 29:52
               


        As I mentioned in class and stated in the syllabus, I would be happy to 
 teach a special section of 29:51 "Introductory Astronomy Laboratory" to my students 
 from this semester. This would satisfy the College of Liberal Arts requirement for 
 a science course with laboratory.  For students who have already fulfilled this 
 requirement, it would provide a better opportunity to investigate the phenomena we 
 have discussed this semester.  The emphasis in the lab will be on observational 
 exercises, observing experiences with the unaided eye, binoculars, and 8 inch 
 telescopes owned by the Department of Physics and Astronomy. 
 
        Next semester will be particularly favorable for an observing lab dedicated 
 to solar system astronomy.  Four of the major planets (Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and 
 Saturn) will be visible in the evening sky.  Venus will reach maximum brilliance 
 in the semester, and we will be able to see its phases as it moves toward inferior 
 conjunction.  Mars will reach opposition in June, so observations late in the semester
 will reveal details of its surface.  
 
        The format of the lab will be to meet one night per week (probably Tuesday night) 
 but to have a second night (probably Thursday) held in reserve in case of cloudy skies. 
 The class period would be for two hours and would carry one hour of credit. I would prefer 
 to have at least three students sign up for the class, but do not totally rule out the 
 possibility of teaching it to one or two students. 
 
        Possible topics (observing projects) are listed below. 
 (1) Mapping of the lunar orbit across the sky. 
 (2) Telescopic observations of Jupiter, Saturn, and their satellites.
 (3) Measurement of latitude, the equation of time, etc, with decent equipment.
 (4) Observations of the Sun in the year of solar maximum, sunspots and other 
     solar photospheric features. 
 (5) Observations of the surface of Mars (judge for yourself if "the face" is just 
     an accidental geological formation!).
 (6) Finding and identifying the "solar analog" stars in the night sky.
 (7) Finding asteroids and measuring their motion against the background sky. 
 (8) Training to estimate magnitude of stellar and planetary objects. 
   
        COME SEE ME SOMETIME THIS MONTH IF YOU ARE INTERESTED