ASTR220
Collisions in
Space
Merging galaxy simulation created for the IMAX movie
Cosmic Voyage.
Courtesy of Chris Mihos
(CWRU).
Warning - very large (24 Mb) MPEG movie - may require excessive
down load time.
Class Information
- Course Description
Great expectations, Grading, etc.
- Syllabus Will be updated if
things shift around.
- 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 the
quality of essays. To receive the maximum amount of points, thoughtful
effort must be apparent. You may do as many of the possible extra credit
assignments listed below as you like, but you may do each one
at most once. No extra credit will be
accepted after after the last day of class (or much earlier in
most cases).
- 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,
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.)
Interesting Course Related Links
ARTIFICIAL SATELLITES
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.
- Movies of the rotation of Saturn's rings and moons.
- 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
Last modified: Wednesday Jan 26, 2000
