Astronomy 112
Astronomy Undergraduate Lab

Date	Lab Topic	Text
Jan 30	Introductory Meeting Math review, errors and error analysis	161-166 and notes
Feb 6	Ezipsky	Handout
Feb 13	Observing Lab I: A Brief Tour of the Night Sky Sprint I	191--196
Feb 20	Measuring Angular Separations with a Cross Staff I	213--218
Feb 27	Build a Telescope	15--22
Mar 5	Observing Lab II. Mounting and adjusting a telescope, Setting Circles, and Blind Offsets
Mar 12	Luminosity, Brightness, and Distance: The Inverse Square Law	23--32
Mar 19	SPRING BREAK	No class
Mar 26	Stars, Light, and Spectra	3--14
Apr 2	Distance to the Stars	33--42
Apr 9	Stellar Properties and H-R Diagrams	83--94
Apr 16	Masses of Jupiter and Saturn	Handout
Apr 23	Observing Lab III: Finding the Ecliptic in Mid-Spring Dark Site II	197--204
Apr 30	Starry Night Introduction: Observing the Night Sky	127--146
May 7	No new material. Complete and hand in observing projects

Note: Observations are dependent on the weather. In case of bad weather on scheduled observation dates, changes may be made to the schedule.

Independent Observations

In addition to your normal lab work, there is an extended observational projects to do:

The Motion and Phases of the Moon

Important Points Concerning Lab Reports:

Your lab reports will be graded on a 10 point scale.

Read the information which also discusses how to write a good lab report

All lab reports are due in class the week following the lab. (see below for policies on grading and late reports)

The report should have a reasonable length (several pages is typical). In the report you must: have an introduction (describe the aim of the exercise), describe the experimental procedure (including any equipment you used), present the data/results that you got, and discuss the meaning of this data and conclusions that you can draw from it. In writing the conclusion, the lab questions may be used for guidance, however, it should also contain you own thoughts and conclusions on the lab. Don't let all of your conclusions be driven only by the preformulated questions. A lack of independent thought is not adequate and will result in a lack of points.

Good grammar and spelling is important, and may affect your grade. The written part of your lab report must be typed. Please use a spell checker and proofread before turning the report in. Note that this does not apply to your logbooks. They are just supposed to be a real-time record of what you did, and can be as messy as you wish as long as you can read them later.

Your data and calculations may be handwritten, and should be neatly transferred from your notebook.

Show your work when computing results (for cases where multiple calculations use the same method, only one worked out example is necessary).

You must answer all lab questions! They may be placed in your report separately from your conclusions, or in the conclusion if you wish.

Answer all additional questions that may be handed out in class.

All work for the lab must be done in the lab notebook and it must be included with the final lab report.

Some of the labs have certain sections that can be completed outside of class. If you are absent from class one week and wish to make up the lab, you must meet with the TA during office hours (or at another arranged time) to discuss the procedure. Some labs have additional procedures provided in class, not detailed in the lab write-up. Failing to complete these additional procedures will result in a significant loss of points.

When numerical answers refer to physical quantities, ie, lengths, time, mass, etc, include the units you are using with your answer. 10 seconds are quite different than 10 centuries, after all. Points will be deducted for missing units.

Policy concerning late lab reports:

All lab reports are due in class the week following the lab.

However...
Late lab reports will be accepted at a penalty of 0.5 points/day. Note that this is NOT "per lab class", but "per WEEKDAY". Thus, a report turned in Thursday morning following the day that it is due will lose 0.5 points. A report turned in Monday morning following the day that it is due will lose a point and a half (Thursday, Friday, Monday). And a report turned in the Wednesday after it was due (a full week late) will lose 2.5 points.

If you are having trouble with your report and notify the TA by lab hours on the Tuesday before it is due, you may be able to get a small extension. Hopefully this won't be the case.

No report will be accepted more than 2 weeks late, except under very special circumstances. You will have to come talk to the TA if you think you fall under these circumstances.

Late reports can be turned in either directly to the TA in the TA's office (TBD), or in the TA's mailbox in the physics building (the mailroom is on the main floor behind the office, by the elevators). If you turn them in to the mailbox, be sure that you write your name, the TA's name, and the date and time on the book.

Finally, if you know you will be unable to attend class one week, the report that is due may be turned in early.

Other things:

Academic Honesty: An environment of honesty and integrity is important for both the conduct of science and for learning science, and we expect your honesty in all academic transactions. Students are encouraged to discuss homework problems, laboratories and issues in the course with each other and with the staff. Indeed, you should find that you learn a great deal from each other. Keep in mind, however, that you should complete your lab reports and all out of class work related to them (calculations, etc) alone. With a class this small it is very easy to determine when two or more students collaborate on their lab reports. For more information concerning academic honesty, see the Academic Judiciary web page

Disabled Support Services: If you have a condition that may impact on your ability to carry out the assigned course work, we urge you to contact the staff in the Disabled Support Services office (DSS) in Room 128, Educational Communications Center, 632-6548. DSS will review your concerns, and determine, with you, what accommodations are necessary and appropriate. All information and documentation of disability is confidential.

Last modified: February 6, 2008