SUFFOLK COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE – Ammerman Campus

 

COURSE: Astronomy of the Solar System (ES 21)

 

INSTRUCTOR:                                      OFFICE:                     PHONE:

 

INSTRUCTOR’S WEB PAGE:

 

 

OFFICE HOURS:

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REQUIRED TEXTBOOK: In Quest of the Universe, Kuhn and Koupelis; 3^rd Ed.

LAB MATERIALS: Astronomy Through Practical Investigations - ES21

OTHER MATERIAL: Scientific Calculator

 

COURSE OBJECTIVE:

 

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to do all of the following:

 

1.     Make measurements using the metric system and perform simple forms of data analysis to enhance problem solving skills.

2.     Understand the night sky by knowing major stars and constellations as well as tracking the motions of the sky, the Moon, and planets. To accomplish this, you will learn how to use a planisphere (star finder) and become familiar with the horizon coordinate system.

3.     Understand the scientific method and how it applies to astronomy. This will provide an understanding of how our ideas about the solar system (and universe) have evolved over the ages, especially during the past century using technological advances.

4.     Understand the basic properties of the Earth and how they compare to other worlds.

5.     Learn the properties of the planets, asteroids, comets, and other objects within the solar system. Using this information, you will be able understand how these physical properties can be used to form a standard theory on the formation and evolution of the Solar System.

6.     Have a clear understanding of the scale of the solar system and our position within the universe.

7.     Have a sufficient understanding of astronomical phenomena so as to have an appreciation of recent developments in the field.

 

PROCEDURES FOR ACCOMPLISHING OBJECTIVES:

 

Objectives will be achieved through classroom lecture/discussion, lab activities, and exams.

 

Because of the nature of astronomical studies, much of the knowledge is based on mathematical interpretation of observations. For this reason elementary algebra will be used frequently and mastery of the MA07 prerequisite is essential to a successful course experience. If you have not studied algebra in a long time you must review the basics. The Math Learning Center in the Riverhead Building is equipped to assist any students who may need help with algebraic concepts.

 

 

 

 

ATTENDANCE:

 

Due to the nature and amount of the material in this course, it is crucial that each student attend every lecture and laboratory session. The College has instituted the following attendance policy, which can be found in the SCCC student handbook for 2002-2004 (page 87):

 

"The college expects that each student will exercise personal responsibility with regard to class attendance. All students are expected to attend every class session of each course for which they are registered. Students are responsible for all that transpires in class whether or not they are in attendance, even if absences are the result of late registration or add/drop activity at the beginning of a term as permitted by college policy. The college defines excessive absence or lateness as more than the equivalent of one week of class meetings during the semester. Excessive absence or lateness may lead to failure in a course or removal from the class roster.

 

      A student may be removed from the class roster by an instructor at any time when, in the judgment of the instructor, absences have been excessive or when other valid reasons exist."

 

In short, this policy places the responsibility of attending class on the student. Each student is allowed two absences for the semester, and permits the instructor to withdraw or fail any student that exceeds the number of absences. The policy also states that each student is responsible for any material that was covered during the class of absence.

 

WITHDRAWAL POLICY:

 

Students who wish to withdraw from the course, without academic penalty, must do so by mid-semester (March 16, 2004). Any student who hasn’t withdrawn by this time will be required to finish out the semester, regardless of his/her grade. Any student who has not formally withdrawn from the class will be considered to be in the class and a final grade will be administered.

 

GRADES:

 

The semester grade will be weighted in the following manner:

 

Exams = 50 %

Lab Coursework = 50%

 

A grading curve will not be applied to the final grades and extra-credit is not available.

 

EXAMS:

 

Tests will account for 50% of the final grade. There will be four (4) lecture exams, a planetarium exam (given in two sections) and a cumulative final. The lower of the lecture exams will be discarded when calculating the final grade. The grades on the planetarium exam and the final will not be dropped when computing the final grade. Make up exams will not be administered. If a student misses an exam, the grade will be entered as a zero.

 

LAB COURSEWORK:

 

Various forms of coursework will be assigned as part of the laboratory section of the class. A majority of the work will be based on the lab exercises found in the Astronomy through Practical Investigations packet. These labs are to be worked on in groups containing no greater than 3 students. Quizzes that cover the material in the labs will be administered for grades. Computer projects and research assignments will make up the remainder of the lab grade.

 

CHEATING:

 

Suffolk County Community College has instituted the following policy regarding academic integrity, which can be found in the SCCC student handbook for 2002-2004 (page 56). Any student who is caught cheating will be punished to the fullest extent of the college’s cheating policy.

 

CHEATING POLICY:

 

“Any form of cheating, be it on a formal examination, informal quiz or other submitted material, is a violation of college conduct. Copying material from fellow students or from other sources during an examination may result in a failing grade for the course and/or serious disciplinary sanctions as outlined in the Code of Conduct. When students work together on a project, this becomes a joint responsibility of a group so designated and should be limited to the people and resources agreed upon with the instructor.”

PLAGIARISM:

 

“Students should realize that presenting the words and ideas of others as their own are dishonest. In writing, students must fully acknowledge the source of any paraphrased passages and any ideas, which they have borrowed. Failure to conform to these academic standards is plagiarism and may result in a failing grade for the course and/or serious disciplinary sanctions as outlined in the Code of Conduct.”