Astronomy 221 Spring 2015 Detailed Schedule and Lectures

Below is a detailed timeline for the lectures and assignments

with due dates for the labs and lecture/stellarium exam. Any questions are welcome to the prof in class or by email to rjd@rice.edu. Observatory tour if weather permits.

Monday, January 11^th: first class meeting (BRK103, 7pm)

-- orientation, handouts, discussion of lab structure via the

syllabus. WELCOME! Lab 1 handouts given out.

Monday, Jan 19^th: MLK holiday, no class and apparently no

Rescheduled later in the semester. Observing if weather permits.

Monday, Jan 26^th :(finally!) a real powerpoint lecture on material in NIGHTWATCH Chs. 1, 2, 3. Powerpoint is

available as a221lect1.ppt on ruf.rice.edu website.

Monday, Feb 2^nd: lecture on “Stars for all Seasons” (Ch. 4 in NIGHTWATCH) via a powerpoint a221lect2.ppt on the ruf website. Lab 1 observing suspended due to full moon.

Monday Feb 9^th : lecture on “The Celestial Sphere” which does not have an explicit chapter in NIGHTWATCH, but the powerpoint is available as a221lect2x.ppt on the ruf website.

Monday Feb 16^th : special lecture/demonstration on STELLARIUM. No powerpoint available so attendance is

MANDATORY.

Monday Feb 23^rd : lecture on “Telescopes” taken largely from Chaps 5 & 6 in NIGHTWATCH. Powerpoint will be a221lect3.ppt (to come). MOON WEEK: part 2 of first lab must be completed! (if not done previously)

Monday Mar 2^nd : no class – Spring Break – no observing anyway due to full moon.

Monday Mar 9^th : lecture “The Solar System” largely from Chaps 7 & 10 in NIGHTWATCH. Powerpoint will be a221lect4.ppt (to come). LAB 1 WRITEUP DUE.

Monday Mar 16^th : lecture “Sun & Moon + Eclipses” largely from Chaps 8 & 9 in NIGHTWATCH. Powerpoint will be a221lect5.ppt (to come). EXAM 1 HANDED OUT!

Monday Mar 23^rd : Special C8 “go to” telescope demo on 4^th floor of Brockman @7pm. ATTENDANCE MANDATORY

Telescope manual and Lab 2 handed out. EXAM 1 DUE.

March 24 – April 24: Lab 2 observing (orientations Mar 25^th to Apr 10^th; independent group observing afterwards until Apr 24^th). Writeups for Lab 2 need to be electronically submitted by Monday, April 27^th.

Notes: Deadlines for turning in Lab 1 and the Exam are absolute; graduating seniors MUST turn in all Lab 2 reports (electronically) by Monday, April 27^th!