ASTR220
Collisions in
Space
- Time: TuTh 11:00am to 12:15pm, Fall 1999
- Room: CSS 2400
- Prof: Stacy McGaugh
- TA: Jianyang Li
Merging galaxy simulation courtesy of
Chris Mihos (CWRU).
Very large (24 Mb) MPEG file!
Class Information
- Course Description
- Syllabus
- Prof's Office Hours (in CSS 1251): Wed 2-3:30pm or by appointment
- TA's Office Hours (in CSS 0224): Fri 10:30am-12:00 noon
- Assignments:
Web based resources for use in ASTR220
Extra Credit Assignments
- Extra Credit is above and beyond classwork--grading depends on
quality of essays. To receive the maximum amount of points, thoughtful
effort must be apparent. No extra credit will be accepted after the
last day of class. Each different assignment can be submitted for
extra credit at most once - you can not get 5 points every time you
see a satellite!
- Earn up to 10 extra credit points by attending an Astronomy Open
House. Write a 2 page essay which summarizes the speaker's
presentation (include speaker's name and title of the talk) and
describe what you saw using the telescopes. If it is clear, describe
and sketch the objects you saw. If it is cloudy, describe the
telescopes that were shown to you.
(Due during the week following the Open House.)
- Observe an artificial satellite! To earn up to 5 extra credit points
(once only), follow the artificial satellite links
below to help find and observe a human made satellite. Record the details
of your observations: the date and precise time (to the minute), your location,
the weather conditions (best if clear!), how you located the satellite, and its
name. Most of all, describe what you saw! How did the object appear
(constant or variable brightness? Any color?) How did it move? Note any other
impressions.
(Due by the last day of class.)
- On Homework #2, earn 2 extra credit points by following another
of the links in the SOLAR SYSTEM
section below (and some of its links)
and summarizing what you find. Tell me what you learned, and any
questions that you have that the site did not answer. Remember to
cite your sources!
(Attach to Homework #2.)
- On Homework #3, earn 2 extra credit points by following one of
the links in the STARS & OUR GALAXY
section below (and some of its
links) and summarizing what you find. Tell me what you learned, and
any questions that you have that the site did not answer.
(Attach to Homework #3.)
- On Homework #4, earn 2 extra credit points by following one of
the links in the OTHER GALAXIES
section below (and some of its links)
and summarizing what you find. Tell me what you learned, and any
questions that you have that the site did not answer.
(Attach to Homework #4.)
Material to Help You Out
SCIENCE
-
Philosophy and the Scientific Method What is science? Is
science worthwhile? How do we know what we claim to know? Can we ever
"prove" a scientific theory? Is science really an unbiased process?
SOLAR SYSTEM
- A Tour of the Solar
System This page contains information about the planets,
satellites, asteroids, comets, and Solar System related topics.
- Comet Information This
page contains information about recently discovered comets.
- Comet Crash
This page contains images of the collision of comet SL9 with Jupiter.
- More Comet Crash
pictures and movies.
- Spacewatch
This page contains information about this program which searches for
near Earth objects.
- Dinosaur
Extinction This page contains very elementary information
regarding the asteroid impact theory explaining dinosaur extinctions.
-
More Information on Dinosaurs This page contains general
information on dinosaurs.
-
More Information on Mass Extinctions This page contains
information on the Impact Hypothesis for the extinction of the
dinosaurs.
-
Chixulub Crater This page contains general information on the
Chixulub Crater and a color image constructed from gravity anomolies.
STARS & OUR GALAXY
OTHER GALAXIES
Interesting Course Related Links
ARTIFICIAL SATELLITES
Last modified: Tuesday Aug 31, 1999
