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Assignments

Week 01: A Grand Tour of the Universe (25 - 29 August)

• Pre-Class Survey: Complete the short class pre-class survey, to give us some background information on your goals and your resources as you begin this course. Once you have done so, your self-review library account will be enabled and you will be able to begin to study. This is the first thing that you should do for this class; it requires no preparation.

• Studying: Review the online notes 1 for lecture 1, as well as and notes 2 for lecture 2 and notes 3 for lecture 3. Listen to an audio recording of these lectures (made during a previous semester), and follow along through the lecture slides.

• Homework & Quiz: Review lectures 1, 2, and 3 in the self-review library, and complete 20 practice quizzes for homework to familiarize yourself with the materials. When you are ready, take your first weekly quiz (covering lecture 1), by switching from review to weekly quiz mode.
  
  Note that weekly quizzes must be taken before 9pm on the Thursday on which they are due, in order to be counted. You may take them up to a week early or a week late if you have a particularly busy week at some point, but do not make a habit of this. Quiz #1 thus could be taken as early as Thursday August 14 (if the semester had begun), should be taken by 9pm on Thursday August 28, and must be taken by 9pm on Thursday September 4.

• Resources: Here are a few web links which will help you to think about scientific notation (powers of ten), and unit conversions (meters to kilometers, or seconds to years). We have also included some useful astronomical resources, to help you to learn about your surroundings.
  • How to Simplify a Number
  • Scientific Notation
  • Astronomy Picture of the Day (new every day!)
  • The Sky this Week, and a view of the Earth
  • The Solar System, with a simulator and a photo-journal
  • Hubble Space Telescope Gallery of Pictures

  Week 02: An Astronomical Toolbox (01 September - 05 September)

  • Studying: Review the online notes for lectures 4, and 5. Listen to audio recordings of these lectures.

  • Homework & Quiz: Review lectures 4-5 in the self-review library, and complete 20 practice quizzes for homework to familiarize yourself with the materials. When you are ready, take your third weekly quiz (covering lectures 4 and 5), by switching from review to weekly quiz mode. The level of complexity of the self-review library questions increases for lectures 4-26, so be sure to study thoroughly before taking your weekly quiz.
    
    Note that weekly quizzes must be taken before 9pm on the Thursday on which they are due, in order to be counted. Quiz #2 thus can be taken as early as Thursday August 21, and must be taken by 9pm on Thursday September 11.

  • Lab: Download Lab 1, and read it before coming to class.

  Week 03: Understanding the Moon (8 September - 12 September)

  • Studying: Review the online notes for lectures 6 and 7. Listen to audio recordings of these lectures.
    
    Print out the back, middle, and front panels for a lunar phase wheel, cut out the middle and front panels, and secure the three circles together in order with a push pin or a brad for a study aid.

  • Homework & Quiz: Review lectures 6-7 in the self-review library, and complete 20 practice quizzes for homework to familiarize yourself with the materials. When you are ready, take your fourth weekly quiz (covering lectures 6 and 7), by switching from review to weekly quiz mode.
    
    Note that weekly quizzes must be taken before 9pm on the Thursday on which they are due, in order to be counted. Quiz #3 thus can be taken as early as Thursday August 28, and must be taken by 9pm on Thursday September 18.

  • Lab: Complete laboratory exercise #1 (Fundamentals of Measurement and Error Analysis). Finish your online Google Documents lab report, and double-check that you have shared it with your instructors, with gmail.com addresses rc1441 and stephanie.corah, by Friday at 10pm.
    
    Begin laboratory exercise #2 (Observing the Sky). Measure the elongation, fractional illumination, and phase of the Moon each evening, starting on Thursday September 5.
    
    

  Week 04: Observing the Sky (15 - 19 September)

  • Studying: Review the online notes for lectures 8 and 9. Listen to audio recordings of these lectures.

  • Homework & Quiz: Review lectures 8-9 in the self-review library, and complete 20 practice quizzes for homework to familiarize yourself with the materials. When you are ready, take your fifth weekly quiz (covering lectures 8 and 9).
    
    Quiz #4 can be taken as early as Thursday Sep 4, and must be taken by 9pm on Thursday September 25.

  • Lab:

  • Resources: Here are a few references about moons, to get you thinking about satellites and orbits.
    • The Moon
    • The Phases of the Moon
    • Discovery of the Galilean Satellites

  Week 05: The Solar System I (22 - 26 September)

  • Midterm: The midterm examination will be held at NMSU during Week 08. If you are unable to attend the in-class exam, you must make alternate arrangements with your instructor by no later than next week.

  • Studying: Review the online notes for lectures 9 and 10. Listen to audio recordings of these lectures.

  • Homework & Quiz: Review lectures 9-10 in the self-review library, and complete 20 practice quizzes for homework to familiarize yourself with the materials. When you are ready, take your sixth weekly quiz (covering lectures 9 and 10).
    
    Quiz #5 can be taken as early as Thursday September 11, and must be taken by 9pm on Thursday October 2.

  • Lab: Complete laboratory exercise #2 (Observing the Sky). Finish your lab report, and double-check that you have shared it with your instructors, by Friday at 10pm.

  • Resources: Here are a few references concerning the electromagnetic spectrum (high energy X-rays, visible light, low energy microwave and radio waves) emitted by objects like the Sun, and the legacy of Madame Marie Curie.
    • Kepler's Laws
    • The Electromagnetic Spectrum
    • Infrared Light
    • Women in Science

  Week 06: The Solar System II (29 September - 3 October)

  • Midterm: The midterm examination will be held at NMSU during Week 08. If you are unable to attend the in-class exam, you must make alternate arrangements with your instructor by no later than this week.

  • Studying: Review the online notes for lectures 12 and 13. Listen to audio recordings of these lectures.

  • Homework & Quiz: Review lectures 12-13 in the self-review library, and complete 20 practice quizzes for homework to familiarize yourself with the materials. When you are ready, take your sixth weekly quiz (covering lectures 12 and 13).
    
    Quiz #6 can be taken as early as Thursday September 18, and must be taken by 9pm on Thursday October 9.

  • Lab: Complete the first week's work for laboratory exercise #3 (Cratering and the Lunar Surface) by 10pm on Friday. A video tutorial is available for this exercise.

  • Resources: Here are a few references that will help you to visualize the layout of the solar system, and parallax observations.
    • The Heliocentric and Geocentric Models
    • The Phases of the Inner and Outer Planets
    • Radioactive Dating
    • Parallax

  Week 07: The Planets (6 - 10 October)

  • Studying: Review the online notes for lectures 14 and 15. Listen to audio recordings of these lectures. Read chapters 8 (Moon)- 10 (Mars). Its a lot, but much of it so cool!

  • Homework & Quiz: Review lectures 14-15 in the self-review library, and complete 20 practice quizzes for homework to familiarize yourself with the materials. When you are ready, take your eight weekly quiz (covering lectures 12 and 13).
    
    Quiz #7 can be taken as early as Thursday September 25, and must be taken by 9pm on Thursday October 16.

  • Lab: Complete laboratory exercise #3 (Cratering and the Lunar Surface). Finish your lab report, and double-check that you have shared it with your instructors, by Friday at 10pm.

  • Resources: Here are a few references that will help you to explore the planets, and the age of the solar system.
    • An Overview of the Nine Planets
    • Solar System Simulator
    • Planetary Photo-journal

  Week 08: Midterm Examination (13 - 17 October)

  • Midterm: The midterm examination will be held at NMSU this week. If you are unable to attend the in-class exam, you must have made alternate arangements with your instructor by no later than Week 06.
    
    The exam will cover lectures 1 though 13, and laboratory exercises 1 through 3. You may use your lunar phase wheel during the exam.

  • Studying: Review the online notes for lectures 1 through 13. Listen to audio recordings of these lectures.

  • Homework & Quiz: Review lectures 1-13 in the self-review library, and complete at least 20 practice quizzes for homework to familiarize yourself with the materials. When you are ready, take your eighth weekly quiz (covering lectures 1 through 13). Take the quiz before the midterm exam, as part of your studying process.
    
    Quiz #8 can be taken as early as Thursday October 2, and must be taken by 9pm on Thursday October 23.

  • Resources: Here is a nice application of Kepler's laws of planetary orbits, applied to the Jovian moons.
    • Jovian Moon Orbits
    • Life on other Planets

  Week 09: Waves and Energy (20 - 24 October)

  • Studying: Review the online notes for lectures 14 and 15. Listen to audio recordings of these lectures.

  • Homework & Quiz: Review lectures 14-15 in the self-review library, and complete 20 practice quizzes for homework to familiarize yourself with the materials. When you are ready, take your ninth weekly quiz (covering lectures 14 and 15).
    
    Quiz #9 can be taken as early as Thursday October 9, and must be taken by 9pm on Thursday October 30.

  • Lab: Complete the first week's work for laboratory exercise #4 (Cratering and the Martian Surface) by 10pm on Friday.
    
    

  • Resources: Here are references that will help you to understand atomic structure and the elements.
    • The Periodic Table
    • Atomic Structure

  Week 10: Atoms (27 October - 31 October)

  • Studying: Review the online notes for lectures 16 and 17. Listen to audio recordings of these lectures.

  • Homework & Quiz: Review lectures 16-17 in the self-review library, and complete 20 practice quizzes for homework to familiarize yourself with the materials. When you are ready, take your tenth weekly quiz (covering lectures 16 and 17).
    
    Quiz #10 can be taken as early as Thursday October 16, and must be taken by 9pm on Thursay November 6.

  • Lab: Complete laboratory exercise #4 (Cratering and the Martian Surface). Finish your lab report, and double-check that you have shared it with your instructors, by Friday at 10pm.
    
    

  • Resources: Here are some good explanations of spectral lines and atomic structure.
    • Spectral Lines
    • Energy Levels
    • Electric Force between Atomic Nuclei and Electrons
    • Energy Levels in the Bohr Atom

  Week 11: Stars (3 - 7 November)

  • Studying: Review the online notes for lectures 18 and 19. Listen to audio recordings of these lectures.

  • Homework & Quiz: Review lectures 18-19 in the self-review library, and complete 20 practice quizzes for homework to familiarize yourself with the materials. When you are ready, take your eleventh weekly quiz (covering lectures 18 and 19).
    
    Quiz #11 can be taken as early as Thursday October 23, and must be taken by 10pm on Thursday November 13.

  • Lab: Complete the first week's work for laboratory exercise #5 (Parallax Measurements and Determining Distances) by 10pm on Friday. A video tutorial is available for this exercise.

  • Resources: Here is information to help you explore the way that atomic spectra differ from element to element, and Doppler shift.
    • Emission and Absorption Spectra for each Element
    • Doppler Shift

  Week 12: Stellar Burning (10 - 14 November)

  • Studying: Review the online notes for lectures 20 and 21. Listen to audio recordings of these lectures.

  • Homework & Quiz: Review lectures 20-21 in the self-review library, and complete 20 practice quizzes for homework to familiarize yourself with the materials. When you are ready, take your twelfth weekly quiz (covering lectures 20 and 21).
    
    Quiz #12 can be taken as early as Thursday October 30, and must be taken by 9pm on Thursday November 20.

  • Lab: Complete laboratory exercise #5 (Parallax Measurements and Determining Distances). Finish your lab report, and double-check that you have shared it with your instructors, by Friday at 10pm.

  • Resources: Here is information to help you explore the positions of stars of various luminosities on the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram, and to learn about the Hipparcos survey of nearby stars in our Galaxy.
    • The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram
    • The Hipparcos Satellite
    • Multiple Star Orbits

  Week 13: Stellar Death (17 - 21 November)

  • Final: The final examination will be held at NMSU during Week 16. If you are unable to attend the in-class exam, you must make alternate arangements with your instructor by no later than next week.

  • Studying: Review the online notes for lectures 22 and 23. Listen to audio recordings of these lectures.

  • Homework & Quiz: Review lectures 22-23 in the self-review library, and complete 20 practice quizzes for homework to familiarize yourself with the materials. When you are ready, take your thirteenth weekly quiz (covering lectures 22 and 23).
    
    Quiz #13 can be taken as early as Thursday November 6, and must be taken by 9pm on Thursday November 27.

  • Lab: Complete the first week's work for laboratory exercise #6 (The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram and Stellar Evolution) by 10pm on Friday. A video tutorial is available for this exercise.
    
    

  • Resources: Here is information concerning white dwarfs, black holes, and neutron stars.
    • Black holes
    • Gravitational lensing, as predicted by Einstein
    • White dwarf Sirius B, and the extraterrestrials
    • Eta Carinae, a highly unstable, extremely massive star

  Thanksgiving Holiday Break (24 - 28 November)

  Week 14: Galaxies (1 December - 5 December)

  • Final: The final examination will be held at NMSU during Week 16. If you are unable to attend the in-class exam, you must make alternate arangements with your instructor by no later than this week.

  • Studying: Review the online notes for lectures 24 and 25. Listen to audio recordings of these lectures. Read Chapter 24 (Galaxies), and Chapter 25 (Galaxies and Dark Matter).

  • Homework & Quiz: Review lectures 24-25 in the self-review library, and complete 20 practice quizzes for homework to familiarize yourself with the materials. When you are ready, take your fourteenth weekly quiz (covering lectures 24 and 25).
    
    Quiz #14 can be taken as early as Thursday November 13, and must be taken by 9pm on Thursday December 4.

  • Lab: Complete laboratory exercise #6 (The Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram and Stellar Evolution). Finish your lab report, and double-check that you have shared it with your instructors, by Friday at 10pm.

  • Resources: Here is information concerning galaxies and cosmology. You may also want to sneak a peak at the marvelous galaxy images in our final lecture, before lab.
    • Galaxies
    • Hubble's Galaxy Classification System
    • Cosmology Tutorial
    • Zsolt Frei's Catalog of Nearby Galaxies

  Week 15: The Fate of the Universe (8 - 12 December)

  • Post-Class Survey: Complete the short class post-class survey, to give us some information on how you use the resources in this class. Once you have done so, you will be cleared to take the final exam. Like the pre-class survey, this does not require preparation.

  • Studying: Review the online notes for lectures 14 through 26. Listen to audio recordings of these lectures. Read chapter 26 (Cosmology), 27 (The Early Universe) and 28 (Life in the Universe). Review readings from material previously covered.

  • Homework & Quiz: Review lectures 14-26 in the self-review library, and complete 20 practice quizzes for homework to familiarize yourself with the materials. When you are ready, take your fifteenth weekly quiz (covering lectures 14 through 26).
    
    Quiz #15 can be taken as early as Thursday November 20, and must be taken by 9pm on Thursday December 11.

  • Extra Credit: All extra credit assignments must be submitted as e-mail messages or PDF-format attachments to e-mail messages by 9pm on Tuesday November 29.

  Week 16: Final Examination (18 December)

  • Post-Class Survey: Complete the short class post-class survey (if you have not already done so), to give us some information on how you use the resources in this class. Once you have done so, you will be cleared to take the final exam. Like the pre-class survey, this does not require preparation.

  • Student Evaluations: Complete the course and laboratory section evaluation forms online.

  • Final: The final examination will be held at NMSU this week. If you are unable to attend the in-class exam, you must have made alternate arangements with your instructor by no later than Week 14.
    
    The exam will focus on lectures 14 though 26, and laboratory exercises 4 through 6.

  • Studying: Review the online notes for lectures 1 through 26. Listen to audio recordings of these lectures. Review readings from chapters 5, 15, 17-21, and 23 of AT, for final examination.

  • Homework & Quiz: Review lectures 1-26 in the self-review library, and complete at least 20 practice quizzes for homework to familiarize yourself with the materials. When you are ready, take your sixteenth weekly quiz (covering lectures 1 through 26). Take the quiz before the final exam, as part of your studying process.
    
    Quiz #16 can be taken as early as Sunday November 27, and must be taken by 10pm on Saturday December 10.