Astro 101
Spring 2022 Syllabus
ASTRONOMY 101: Descriptive ASTRONOMY
Sections 82293 and 82295.
MESA ONLINE ASYNCHRONOUS
Instructor Contact Information
· Instructor: Sina Sadjadi
· Email: Canvas Inbox (My preferred method of contact) or ssadjadi@sdccd.edu
· Office Hour: Zoom Room: Sina's Zoom room open from 4 to 6 PM on Tuesdays.
· STUDENT ONLINE SUPPORT SERVICES :
Prerequisites and Recommended Preparation
English 48 and 49, or Milestones/Skill Levels R5/W5 and Math 34A or Milestone/Skill Level M20.
Required Materials
1. SDCCD email account
2. TEXTBOOK : Free OpenStax Astronomy. (any version, available online, downloadable PDF, iBOOK all versions are free), Please Note that an Edited Version of OpenStax Astronomy with all the information you need for this class is ready on your Canvas online Course. Paper copy of OpenStax Astronomy is also available for purchase online.(Not Free) You can get a free PDF here: https://openstax.org/details/books/astronomy
3. Software to save documents in Microsoft Word (.docx)— This is not really required unless you need to write a paper for extra credit. You can Get Office 365 free with your SDCCD email address!
4. Reliable, high speed Internet access on a desktop or laptop computer. This is a must for taking Exams.
5. A webcam with sound when joining me for Office hours. To checkout equipment at Mesa College fill out this application.
6. An 80 page notebook for taking notes.(Extra Credit and not Mandatory)
7. If you need to send me Your Extra credit Lecture notes or large pictures, files or folders Please go to my Google Drive and Open Up a Folder using your LAST NAME, FIRST NAME.
This is the Link: Google Drive
You may upload a copy of notebook’s pages JPGs (Use your Cell phone to copy pages) onto my Google Drive for Extra Credit.
You can also send me large pictures, files or folders. IF I DO NOT EXPECT IT then Please email me and give me a heads up. (let me know you ever did this)
Office Hours and Response Time
· Online (via Canvas Inbox and Zoom video conferencing): Sina's Zoom room Tuesdays from 4:00-6:00 PM.
· Questions outside of office hours? I will respond to your email message within 24 hours, M-F. If you do not get a response after 24 hours, please resend.
Course Location & Technical Support
This course is taught in Canvas. To access our course, log in via
For Help regarding Online Support Please use the Mesa College Support services.
Here you’ll find everything on one page, from Disability support services to the Library to Lap top check out to Veteran’s services to just about any service you need in one place.
STUDENT ONLINE SUPPORT SERVICES :
Course Description
This course is an introductory survey of contemporary astronomy. Topics covered include the solar system, stars and stellar evolution, the Milky Way galaxy and cosmology. This course is designed for students planning to take advanced courses in the physical and earth sciences and for transfer students planning to major in astronomy.
Course Objectives:
· Student will describe qualitatively the physical causes for the apparent motions of the sky, and explain correctly the physical cause for seasons on Earth.
· Student will identify the implications of Kepler's laws of orbital motion, and both qualitatively and quantitatively describe the results of Newton's laws of motion and the Universal Law of Gravitation.
· Student will describe conceptually the properties of light and the nature of the electromagnetic spectrum.
· Student will explain the primary uses of different types of telescopes and will describe the nature and uses of modern astronomical detectors.
· Student will explain the major differences between the Jovian and the Terrestrial plants, and the physical reasons for these differences.
· Student will compare and describe the natures of the minor bodies within the solar system.
· Student will describe qualitatively the nature of the Sun, the proton-proton chain, and the random walk.
· Student will compare the observational and physical bases for the classification of stars, and will describe qualitatively the nature of stars and their physical properties.
· Student will infer the physical properties of stars from the Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram.
· Student will interpret qualitatively the causes and results of stellar evolution and stellar death.
· Student will describe qualitatively the nature of the Milky Way Galaxy and its physical properties including the different stellar populations.
· Student will describe qualitatively the morphological classification of galaxies, their associated stellar populations, and methods of establishing an extragalactic distance scale.
· Student will describe and apply Hubble's Law and interpret its implications on the nature and behavior of the universe.
· Student will summarize and explain the major forms of observational and theoretical evidence that support the Big Bang theory.
· Student will accurately compare and contrast the potential fates of the cosmos and state the limiting physical parameters.
Fall 2022 CLO. Course Learning Outcomes
Upon successfully completing this course :
Students will display the ability to use proportional reasoning and graphical analysis to establish and analyze relationships between measured quantities.
Attendance and Participation
Regular attendance and class participation is absent in a remote online asynchronous class as it is in a traditional classroom. Your presence will be counted by participating in class activities such as submitting an assignment or taking an Exam or meeting the instructor during Zoom office hours.
You will be considered absent if there is no evidence of your participation in the academic activities of this course.
Your initial presence is to start the Syllabus assignment. This will tell me you have at least looked at your Canvas course.
Submitting Homework Assignments will let me know you are active in the course.
Taking your Exams (called Quiz in Canvas) and doing your Assignments is all I need to see for me to feel relax and comfortable about your class presence and Success.
Students who do not complete the first online Syllabus assignments for more than 10 days from the initial date of semester’s start in this 16 week course may be dropped. (I will try to email you first) However, if you choose to drop the course you will need to please do so officially through Admissions and then notify your instructor.
.
Instructor Communication: Regular Effective Contact
I am looking forward to working closely with you this semester, and you can expect me to play an active role in our course. I will post announcements, join you in class office hours on ZOOM on Tuesdays From 4 to 6 PM and help you understand course concepts. I will also answer questions throughout the semester via email usually within 24 hours M-F.
· Instructor: Sina Sadjadi
· Email: Canvas Inbox (preferred method of contact) or ssadjadi@sdccd.edu
· Office: Zoom Room: Sina's Zoom room
· Please let me know when you need help—that’s why I’m here!
Student Support Services
Student support services are available both on campus and online. For a complete list of services, including the library, tutoring, and counseling, visit the For Help regarding Online Support Please use the Mesa College Support services.
Here you’ll find everything on one page:
STUDENT ONLINE SUPPORT SERVICES :
Students with Disabilities
If you are a DSPS student please email me your DSPS paperwork within the first 2 week of class so I can Help in any way Possible. I am dedicated to your Success.
If you have a learning disability, physical disability, or any other circumstance that needs special accommodation, please discuss it with your instructor, in person or via email. I want you to be successful and am happy to work with you. Here is additional information provided by our college’s DSPS office:
San Diego Mesa College recommends that students with disabilities or specific learning needs contact their professors during the first two weeks of class to discuss academic accommodations. If a student believes that they may have a disability and would like more information, they are encouraged to contact Disability Services
Weekly Schedule
For most weeks, this will be your work flow:
1. Please check your email at least once a day. I will email you when an Exam opens and also when it closes. Please Don’t miss these emails and announcements. Please write down these dates and times somewhere safe and visible to remind yourselves.
They will also be clearly marked in your Canvas Home Page.
2. Use the home page link to go to the modules or Click Modules from the Canvas Menu. The Class is in 3 Parts. I have given you about 5 weeks to finish watching the Lecture Videos and finish Assigned Video Assignments (Home works) for each Part. Then you take the Exam for that part.
Part 1 is all about the Earth and Sky and the History of Astronomy and Physics. You Learn the Classical Sciences. Part 2 is about Modern Astronomy and Physics as it relates to Atoms, Light and the Stars. Part 3 is all about Galaxies and Cosmology.
After a few weeks, you will fall into the rhythm and it will be easier to schedule your time and reduce the chance that a deadline will sneak past you.
Assignments/Home Work
There will be some short videos or images and diagrams that will help you get ready for the Exams. The videos Have Questions embedded in them. Just answer the questions with the click of your mouse. These have points that count as your home -work assignments.
SEE THE COURSE CALENDAR AT THE END OF YOUR SYLLABUS FOR ALL EXAM DATES and other activity dates in general. Your Canvas Home Page also shows those dates.
Quizzes and Exams
Exams and Quizzes are taken on your CANVAS course. Simply go to QIZZES on CANVAS and chose the appropriate Quiz or Exam please.
I will keep in touch with you regarding Exams and Quizzes Via EMAIL
Please check your email INBOX at least ONCE A DAY during the semester work days. (M to F)
The Exams will also be Announced on your CANVAS Home page under Announcements.
Grading
Each student's final grade is calculated by the percentage of total points possible weighted a 70% for Exams and 30% for Home works. Using a standard scale: 90-100%=A, 80-89%=B, 70-79=C, 60-69%=D, 0-59%=F. The instructor reserves the right to add/change/delete points during the semester but scale remains intact.
Assignment
% of Total
3 Exams.
70%
Home-works assignments
30%
Total Possible
100%
Late Work
Assignments, Quizzes and Exams for this course should be completed on time so that we are all moving through the class together. Sometimes, though, life gets in the way of learning. In unexpected situations leading to late work, please contact me ASAP regarding your problems though. Please don’t wait until you miss Home works and or Exams to discuss a plan for success. The best way to do this is to come to my Office Hours, I’ll work with you and will have your back.
Communication is KEY to avoiding any misunderstanding or failure.
Academic Integrity
Academic dishonesty of any type by a student provides grounds for disciplinary action by the instructor or college. The academic integrity of the students in this course and Policy 3100, the San Diego Community College District Student Code of Conduct, require that all student work including, but not limited to, discussion postings, assignments, essays, papers, Quizzes and exams be free of plagiarism. Students must fully cite any text, graphics, or others’ ideas they include in that work. For additional details, please review AP 3100.3—Honest Academic Conduct.
As part of my commitment to academic integrity, student work in this course may be submitted to an online plagiarism checking service.
Any student caught cheating or plagiarizing will be subject to the disciplinary procedures given in District Policy 3100, which may include receiving a failing grade for the assignment. Any cheating or plagiarism will be reported to the Dean of Student Affairs. Specifically, the following behaviors are examples of cheating/plagiarism (this list is not exhaustive).
Copying directly from the textbook. Note: you’re welcome to summarize the information from when completing homework assignments, but please phrase homework answers in your own words!
Using unauthorized notes while taking an exam, or copying another student’s work.
Sharing exam answers or collaborating with another student during an exam.
Turning in homework that contains large blocks of text that are identical or nearly identical to another student’s (both parties will receive zero score).
Copying from any source (including the Internet) without citing the source.
Turning in work completed for another class (unless pre-authorized by the instructor).
Passing off any work as your own that is not. This includes the use of work completed by other students.
In order to avoid any possibility of someone else plagiarizing your work, I highly recommend that you not share any content-specific material (such as exam answers, homework, or field trip reports) with any other students.
Please note that if I receive any course work from two or more students that is identical or strikingly similar, I reserve the right to assign any and all such students a score of zero for the assignment in question.
Please note that if I suspect academic dishonesty on an assignment or an exam, I reserve the right to schedule a one-on-one Zoom meeting to give you the opportunity to demonstrate that you understand the answer(s) you supplied. In the event that a student is unable to demonstrate their understanding of an exam/assignment answer, I reserve the right to assign the student a score of zero for that exam/assignment.
Diversity Statement and Respectful Conduct
I would like our class to be a supportive learning environment that values and builds on the richly diverse identities, perspectives, and experiences of our group. Please help me develop this environment by honoring the diverse identities of your classmates and letting your instructor know (via anonymous surveys or email, for example) if an assignment, comment, etc. makes you feel uncomfortable.
Both in the readings and in discussions, you will likely encounter cultures, ideas, and values that differ from your own. These are valuable opportunities to learn more about different perspectives and where they intersect with yours. We all see the world from a point of view informed by our experiences and backgrounds, and what we read and discuss can open new windows through which to understand both our texts and world around us. You are encouraged to contribute your ideas about our readings freely, but please remember to demonstrate respect for the works as well as your classmates and instructor. We all have unconscious biases that stem from our experiences, and recognizing and discussing them can lead to unexpected insights.
Conversely, disrespectful or threatening responses tend to shut down conversation and insight, and so these kinds of comments will be promptly addressed by your instructor. To keep our interactions safe and productive, please know that anyone who repeatedly engages in disrespectful or otherwise inappropriate behavior will be locked out of the discussion for the week and/or face student misconduct charges. Please join me in creating a comfortable and productive learning environment for us all.
Netiquette
Netiquette is a set of guidelines for respectful behavior in an online environment. It is etiquette for the Internet, and knowing these social rules can help you have a more rewarding semester. The netiquette guidelines here are ones that are especially important in our online classroom.
1. Participate. Reading the posts of others is helpful for you, but you must also do your part to be helpful for the group. Share your ideas to strengthen our discussion, and don’t wait until the last minute to contribute. Encourage others to participate by responding to their ideas. Be involved, but do not dominate a discussion with too many posts.
2. Remember the human. This common Internet mantra means that even though we may not be face to face, there is a real person behind each discussion post. Do not write something that you would not feel comfortable saying in a face-to-face classroom setting. Discuss ideas, not people. In other words, do not attack a classmate for expressing his or her opinion; instead, discuss your position on the ideas that have been presented. Be kind and understanding with your classmates to keep our environment positive and productive.
3. Help others. We will be working together all semester, so let’s try to be a good team. If you can help a classmate with a question, please do! Your efforts will be appreciated by both students and instructor.
4. Respect other people’s time. Your posts should be focused, organized, and clear so that your classmates can quickly see your point and evidence. Another way to respect people’s time is to look for answers before asking for help. For example, if you can’t find something or you don’t remember when an assignment is due, look through the syllabus and other course documents for the answer. Only ask for help when you truly need it.
5. Edit and proofread before posting. We have lots of posts to read, so yours needs to be as clear as it can be. It should be organized and written in standard English. Unfamiliar abbreviations or easily fixed misspellings may tell your readers that you don’t value their time, and this does not build good will.
6. Don’t shout. TYPING IN ALL CAPITALS MEANS YOU ARE SHOUTING AT US! Don’t do it. The same can be said of repeated exclamation marks!!!!!!!!!
7. Use emoticons sparingly. Social networking and texting have given us lots of fun keyboard shortcuts to add tone to a message. Because a smiley face or wink can help to establish the intended tone of a comment, you are welcome to use common emoticons occasionally. Too many emoticons can make your writing look more casual than academic, so don’t overdo it. :-)
8. No flaming. “Flaming” is an angry message, often directed at another person. When another person responds in anger, we have a “flame war” taking over the discussion. Personal attacks are unacceptable in the classroom, whether in person or online. If you see a conflict developing, try to calm things down if you feel comfortable doing so. If you feel attacked, contact your instructor rather than responding to the flaming student. We all have biases, and sometimes we are not aware of how what we say may be viewed by others, so let’s all try to be generous and kind in our responses to one another. Everything we do in Canvas is permanent, so please think very carefully about your tone before submitting a post. If you don’t, that mistake might haunt you for the rest of the semester.
Emergency Plan
If our course or instructor unexpectedly becomes unavailable, continue following the schedule to complete assignments, which will be submitted when access is restored. In emergency situations, college updates will be provided via the emergency notification system and social media.
Course Map
Here is an overview of the key areas of the course, each of which can be accessed from the course menu:
· Announcements houses—you guessed it!—my announcements.
· Syllabus contains course information that you will use throughout the semester. A list of course assignments with due dates can also be found here.
· Modules contains everything you need for each week of our course. Simply click “next” to move from one item to the next in the week’s module.
· Quizzes provides one-click access to weekly quizzes and Class Exams and occasional surveys.
· Assignments offers a list of essay and project assignment as well as other graded assignments. You will find each of these items in its module as well.
· Grades lists your scores and the points possible for all assignments. Most quiz grades are posted immediately after completion, while other assignments requiring instructor grading will be posted 3-7 days later. You can access your graded work and my feedback by clicking on the item and/or rubric. You will also see your current total points and percentage. You can even see how your total grade will change with future scores using the “What if” feature!
· Inbox (global menu) is where you can send messages to me and receive responses.
· Help (global menu) connects you to the Canvas Guides, our support hotline, and a variety of other support options.
Course Calendar and Learning Objectives
PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THE EXAMS (QUIZZS) DAYS ARE ALWAYS ON CANVAS. THESE WILL BE OPEN FOR A PERIOD DETERMINED BY YOUR INSTRUCTOR. You need to Click on Quizzes to find your Exam.
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Please Study these Modules from Jan 31 to Mar 11: Modules 1,2,3,4
Introduction to Astronomy Module :
Learning Objectives:
1- The structure of universe from the very small to the very large.
2- What is the goal of science.
3- How science depends on Theoretical and observational work.
4- angular measurements.
5- The metric system.
6- How to express large numbers.
7- The Laws of Nature.
Module 1
The Earth and The Sky :
Learning Objectives:
1- The apparent shape of the sky.
2- The celestial sphere.
3- Latitude and Longitude of the Earth.
4- Location of North and South Celestial Poles.
5- How the visibility of the Celestial Poles determines your Latitude on Earth.
6- How much of the sky (Celestial Sphere) is visible from a given location.
7- Please Review of the Celestial Sphere.
8- Constellations.
9- The Circumpolar constellations.
10- The motions of the Earth: Rotation.
11- The motions of the Earth: Revolution.
12- Zodiacal Constellations.
13- The seasons.
14- The motions of the Earth.: Precession.
15- The phases of the Moon.
16- The eclipses.
Module 2
Ancient Astronomers and the Birth of Astronomy:
Learning Objectives:
1- Aristotle and the shape of the Earth.
2- How Eratosthenes measured the circumference of the Earth.
3- Ptolemy and his geocentric model of the universe.
4- COPERNICUS and his heliocentric model of the universe.
5- Tycho Brahe and his work.
6- Kepler and his work.
7- The work of Galileo.
Module 3
Newton's Laws, Gravity and Orbits
1-Speed, velocity and acceleration.
2- Newton’s laws.
3- Universal law of Gravitation.
Module 4
Telescopes and Astronomical Instruments.
1- Important parameters of telescopes.
2- Telescope optics.
3- Properties of the telescopes. Magnification, Light Gathering and Resolution.
4- Telescope mounts.
5- Astronomical seeing.
8- Photon collectors.
9- Large ground base Observatories and the Space Telescope.
Time to take your 1st Exam. Open Mar 11 to Mar 14 ONLY.
Please Study these Modules from Mar 15 to May 4 : Modules 5,6,7,8,9 and 10
Module 5
Light and Atoms:
Learning Objectives:
1- The nature of light..
2- The electromagnetic spectrum.
3- Black Body radiation.
5- Structure of atoms. (Protons, Electrons and Neutrons) Page 568
6- Quantum Leap and The emission and absorption spectra and their cause.
7- Formation of Spectral Lines.
8- The Doppler effect.
12- Ionization and recombination.
13- Collisional Excitation.
14- The inverse-square law of light.
Module 6
The Sun
1- The physical properties of the sun.
2- The various parts of the sun's interior. (Pages 576-583)
3-Learn about fusion. (Pages 171)
4- The Interior of the Sun.
5- Solar atmosphere.
6- Granulation, sunspots, solar plages, prominences, filaments,
Solar flares and their relationship to solar cycles.
7- The nature of the solar wind.
8- Sunspot Cycle.
9-The Maunder Minimum.
10- The neutrino story.
Module 7
Properties of Stars
1- The Brightness of the Stars.
2- The difference between brightness and luminosity.
3- The introduction to H-R diagram.
4- Stellar Census.
5- The H-R diagram
6- Star Formation.
Module 8
The Evolution of Low Mass Stars
1- The H–R Diagram and the Study of Stellar Evolution.
2- Evolution of low mass stars vs. High mass stars.
3- Evolution from the Main Sequence to Red Giants
4- Further Evolution of Stars.
5- The Death of Low Mass Stars.(White Dwarfs)
6- Nova and Supernova type Ia.
7- Gamma Ray Bursts.
Module 9
The Evolution of Massive Stars.
1- Evolution of massive stars.
2- Internal pressure vs. gravity.
3- Shell and core burning.
4- Red Supergiant stage.
5- Supernova stage.
6- The Crab nebulae
6- Core collapse, Super Nova Type II.
7- Neuton stars and pulsars.
Module 10
Black Holes
1- General Relativity.
2- Black holes and Curved Space and Time.
3- Black Holes.
4- Evidence for Black Holes.
5- Gravitational Waves.
Time to take your 2nd Exam. Open May 4 to May 7 ONLY.
Please Study these Modules from May 7 to May 28: Modules 11,12,13,14
Module 11
The Milky Way Galaxy.
1- The structure of the milky way galaxy.
2- The different populations of the galaxy.
3- The differences between globular clusters and open clusters.
4- Dark matter and the milky way.
5- Birth of stars in dusty clouds of gas.
6- Dark matter.
Module 12
Universe of Galaxies.
1The Discovery of Galaxies.
2The Hubble classification.
3- The galaxies on the Hubble diagram.
4- The local group of galaxies.
5- The Virgo Cluster of galaxies.
6- The supercluster of galaxies.
7- Laniakea.
Module 13
Active Galactic Nuclei, The Evolution of Galaxies and Galaxy Distribution
1- The nature of Quasars.
2- The active galaxies.
3- The distribution of galaxies in space.
4- The colliding galaxies.
Module 14
Cosmology.
1- The age of the Universe.
2- The Inflationary Big Bang.
3- Alternative Theories to the Big Bang. (The Branes and the steady State Theories)
4- The cosmic background radiation.
5- Dark matter and Dark energy and the fate of the universe.
6- Multiverse?
Time to take your 3rd Exam. Open May 26 to May 28 ONLY.