Optional/Suggested
The following materials are not required
but may be helpful to you during the course of the semester.
- Astronomical Calendar 2002 by Guy Ottewell (2002, Universal Workshop: Greenville, SC)
- Peterson Field Guide to the Stars and
Planets by Jay M. Pasachoff (2000,
Houghton Mifflin Company: New York) [mandatory for the serious
amateur and some professionals!]
- computer-based all-sky programs such as Starry Night (available on our lab computers) or Voyager
- colored pencils (for drawing what you observe)
- your 301 (or 307) textbook
If you are already an avid observer or find you are quickly becoming
one, your instructor can give you information on other books
and materials appropriate to your level of experience.
ATTENDANCE POLICY
Attendance is mandatory. As a laboratory course with limited meetings, you cannot afford to miss class. All absences must be excused in advance, including religious holy days, which by University policy require 14 days advance notification. Any unplanned absences must be taken up with your instructor as soon as the situation arises. These will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. There is no excuse for failing to inform your instructor in a timely fashion. Unexcused and excessive absences will adversely affect your grade.
COURSE FORMAT AND GRADING
This course will include both outdoor observing and in-class laboratory activities. Each activity will be graded as Pass/No Pass based on your performance (see section on Collaboration), the quality of your work, and your demonstrated understanding of the concepts involved. If you do not pass an activity, you may rework any parts of it you had problems with and have it graded again. Each lab can be graded a maximum of three (3) times: first try plus two possible reworks. The number of labs you successfully complete determines your grade. The total number of labs possible minus two results in an A, total minus three is a B, and so on. A sample grading scale is provided below for a course with a total of 13 labs possible. Your class's grading scale will be adjusted accordingly based on the number of labs your class has time to complete. There are no formal tests; there is no final exam.
Sample grading scale for a course with a total of 13 labs possible:
| Grade |
Activities
Passed |
| A |
11 |
| B |
10 |
| C |
9 |
| D |
8 |
| F |
£7 |
|
Absolutely no incompletes will be given, no exceptions.
All set-ups, observations, tables, charts, graphs, conclusions, answers to questions, etc. must be recorded in your notebook (see the sample write-up and handout on "Suggestions for Writing Laboratory Reports"). Unless otherwise instructed, you must write a complete laboratory report for each activity. Work that is not in the proper format or in an approved notebook (spirals and looseleaf are not allowed) will result in an automatic "no pass" for that exercise with no chance for a rework.
Late Work: Labs that are not turned in on time will automatically receive a grade of "no pass" which counts as one of the three attempts at that exercise. Thus, you will only have two remaining chances to pass the exercise. Typically, exercises are conducted in class and the lab report is due the following week.
Required Exercises: Although you are allowed to let two exercises "slide" without penalty in determining your final grade, there are two particular exercises that are required to pass the course. "Astronomical Motions I. Motions of the Night Sky" and "Astronomical Motions II. Celestial Motions" are two exercises that emphasize the most basic and fundamental principles of observational astronomy, thus the very foundation of this course. While Motions I is a "regular" lab that is due the week following its assignment, Motions II is a long-term observing exercise that requires the student to make multiple observations of the sunset and moon over a specified period of time. Any student that does not pass both of these two labs will not pass the course. No exceptions.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
All work must be your own. Plagiarism, collusion, and/or cheating will not
be tolerated. You may work with others only under the conditions
described below.
COLLABORATION
Science is a collaborative effort. Therefore, you are expected
to work with your classmates, share ideas, discover together,
and learn from each other. However, you must adhere to the rules:
- Clearly indicate your partners' name(s)
at the beginning of all collaborative work;
- Distribute work fairly with each person
making an equal contribution to all parts;
- Everyone writes his or her own notes,
observations, reports, etc.;
- Everyone turns in his or her own notebook.
LAB EQUIPMENT
Special equipment, including small telescopes, binoculars, cameras
and developing equipment, mirrors and lenses, and the like are
available for some activities and to students wishing to pursue
advanced topics. You may check out some of this equipment from
the Educational Services Office (RLM 13.122). You are responsible
for any equipment you check out. Contact your instructor
or Lara Eakins in the Educational Services Office at 471-1307
for more information.
Students with Disabilities
The University of Texas at Austin complies with both Section
504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with
Disabilities Act. Please notify your instructor of any modification/adaptation
you may require to accommodate a disability-related need. Specialized
services are available on campus through the Services for Students
with Disabilities section of the Dean of Students' office.
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