SYLLABUS 			Fall 1997

	NS 119-01 Descriptive Astronomy 

INSTRUCTOR:  Dr. Tony Fabbri

PREREQUISITE: Completion of mathematics competency requirement. 

COURSE DESCRIPTION:

This course is an introduction to Astronomy including an exploration of the 
historical development of astronomy to aid in understanding our present view 
of the Universe. The student will explore some of the physical concepts that he 
or she will need in order to understand the current theories in astronomy. The 
course will cover the solar system, stars and star formation, galaxies, and other 
astronomical objects. The student will be expected to visually identify various 
astronomical objects in the sky using either a telescope or binoculars. The student
must also be registered in one of the astronomy lab sections. 

TEXTBOOK: 
Discovering the Universe (4th edition), 1997, Kaufmann & Comins, Freeman 
Publishers.

MEETING TIMES: 

 LECTURE: Monday, Wednesday, & Friday 2:00 - 2:50 CR 220

    LAB A: Tuesday  8:00 - 8:50 P.M. CR 220
    LAB B: Tuesday  9:00 - 9:50 P.M. CR 220

COURSE OBJECTIVES:   

1. To gain insight into the solar system,its planets, and
   other astronomical objects within the realm of our Sun.

2. To develop skills in identifying the major constellations,
        prominent stars, various Messier objects, and other
   astronomical objects.

3. To develop skills in using binoculars and/or a small
   telescope to locate the planets (when possible) and various
   Messier objects.

4. To develop Internet competency to search the WWW for 1)
   information on astronomical topics, 2) pictures from the
   Hubble Space Telescope, and 3) pictures from other
   astronomical viewing instruments. 

5. To develop computer skills in the use of software programs
   dealing with astronomy.

6. To gain insight into the historical development of modern
   theories in astronomy.

7. To gain insight into the dynamics of the universe, the
   modern theories of star formation, and the physical laws
   relating to star formation and their continuing
   development.  

8. To develop expertise in the use of the scientific method.


GRADE DETERMINATION:

Quizzes		40%
Term Paper	20%
Final Exam	20%
Astronomy Labs	20%
where
A  95-100		A- 90-94
B+ 87-89		B  83-86		B- 80-82
C+ 77-79		C  73-76		C- 70-72
D+ 67-69		D  63-66		D- 60-62
F   0-59

OFFICE HOURS:  MTW     9:00 - 10:00
TR	  10:00 - 11:00	   		   
Group or individual appointments available at other times upon request.

OFFICE: Crawford Hall 255

TELEPHONE: 635-2747

E-MAIL: AFABBRI@LAKERS.LSSU.EDU
 
FINAL EXAM: 

The final exam will be given on Wednesday December 17, from 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM. 

POSTING OF GRADES:  

For the protection of your privacy, final grades will not be posted. Bring a S.A.S.E. 
to class on the day of the final exam and your grade will be mailed to you via the 
envelope. 

OTHERS:
A. This course is both a lecture and a lab course. The student is expected to attend 
both the lecture and the lab. The laboratory meets in Crawford 220 and outside 
(weather permitting). If the student misses either a lecture or lab, it is the student's 
responsibility to make up the assigned work. 

B. Exceptions will not be granted nor grades of "Incomplete" given except in 
accordance with applicable University policies.

C. Some other general information about the course includes:

• Students must be present for the labs 1.  

• Labs will meet in CR 220, outside (on-campus), and off-site
  (for deep-space viewing)2. 

• The student will write a short term-paper on some
  astronomical topic 3. 

D. The last day of class is December 12, 1997. 

Along with  preparing for and attending class (and lab), each student has
the responsibility of promoting high academic standards. The instructor for 
this course supports the University policy on academic dishonesty. Academic 
dishonesty includes: 1) cheating, b) fabrications and falsifications, c) multiple
submissions, d) plagiarism, e) complicity in academic dishonesty. Inappropriate 
classroom (or lab) behavior may result in disciplinary action being taken against 
the offender. 
___________________

1  Lab documents are due at the end of each lab.

2  Both a telescope and a pair of binoculars will be used.

3  The paper will be approximately 7 - 12 pages in length.



Tentative Course Outline

DATE		CHAPTER		TOPIC

09/03		1		Overview/Basic Foundations
09/08		2		Gravitation
09/15		3		Light & Telescopes     Quiz #1
09/22		5		Earth & Its Moon
09/29		6		The Inner Planets	
10/06		7		The Outer Planets     Quiz #2
10/13		8/4		Vagabonds of Solar System/Origin of Light
10/20		9/10		The Sun/Nature of Stars
10/27		11/12		The Lives of Stars/Deaths of Stars Quiz #3
11/03		13		Black Holes/The Milky Way Galaxy
11/10		14		The Milky Way Galaxy
11/17		15		Galaxies     Quiz #4
11/24		16		Quasars/Thanksgiving Break
12/01		16/17		Quasars (cont.)/Cosmology
12/08		7/18		Cosmology (cont.)/SETA     Quiz #5

12/17	Final Exam 3:00 - 5:00