Course Syllabus

Independent Study in Idaho

ISI Website | indepst@uidaho.edu | 208-885-6641 

PHYS 1152 Descriptive Astronomy 

Sponsoring Institution: Idaho State University

3 Credits 

Instructor Information 

Course Instructor:  Bryan Barclay

Dr. Bryan Barclay grew up on a dairy farm in South Eastern Idaho (West of Blackfoot). He received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Brigham Young University, then worked for Boeing, the commercial airline company, in Everett, Washington. While at Boeing, he earned a master’s degree in physics at the University of Washington.

After Boeing, he worked for Morton-Thiokol in Utah. Two years later, he began his teaching career at Salt Lake Community College. In another two years, he went back to graduate school and earned a Ph.D. in physics from Utah State University (USU) in 2001. While working on his doctorate, he taught math and physics part-time for USU and Weber State University. He is currently teaching for the College of Technology at Idaho State University as well as for the departments of mathematics and physics. His research involves astrophysics and the title of his dissertation is “Probing Void Structure Using Galaxy Number Count Techniques.” He enjoys camping, bike riding, and playing his banjo. He is married and has three kids.

Course Description 

Survey of the historical and modern observation of the sky. Physical relationships in the solar system; planets, satellites, comets, etc., and theories of the creation of the universe and life in the universe.

ISU students: With Phys 1153, satisfies Goal 5 of the General Education Requirements.

This course is designed for students who have little or no mathematical or scientific background. But, it can also be appreciated by those with more advanced technical educations. Astronomy is the oldest of all the sciences. Many modern fields of scientific endeavor have their roots in astronomy. Likewise, astronomy embraces these sciences, from geology in planetary formation, to chemistry with the nuclear properties of the atom, and to mathematics in the study of orbital mechanics. Astronomical research cannot, in fact, be separated from these and other fields of science. To fully understand astronomy is to appreciate many other areas of the physical and mathematical sciences.

Astronomy has developed significantly over thousands of years. Early astronomy was entangled in pseudoscience like astrology and in pagan religious rites. Modern astronomy has progressed far past these non-scientific beginnings. Your textbook uses astronomy as a tool whereby you, the student, can be made aware of the flow of scientific ideas from one mind to another. Of even greater significance, however, it shows the interdependence of the work of one person upon that of another.

This particular text has been chosen for several reasons. The text will lead you from a study of astronomical objects with which most of you are familiar, like the Moon and the Sun. Then it will guide you to a greater appreciation of the planets, then to a consideration of more distant objects such as stars, galaxies, and quasars. Finally, it gives a view of the Universe as a whole with a discussion of its origin and future. It does all of this in a most readable fashion. The authors are more educators than they are simply scientists; you'll find their style very simple, yet comprehensive.

Course Learning Outcomes 

The objective of this course is two-fold. The first is to present, in a broad spectrum, the spirit of scientific investigation and to develop an understanding of the scientific method. Although we use the motif of astronomy, the methods we develop here can be applied to all sciences. While doing this, our second objective is to instill in you an appreciation for the observable Universe. Particularly, you will learn how astronomers are able to discover the nature of planets, stars, and galaxies by applying the laws of physics to faint glimmers of light coming from the stars. To accomplish these goals, concepts are developed with reference to everyday experiences.

Required Materials 

Arny, Thomas T., and Stephen E. Schneider. Explorations: An Introduction to Astronomy. 6th ed. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2010. ISBN-10: 0-07351217-6 ISBN-13: 978-007-3512174.

Course Rules and Requirements 

7 graded lessons, 2 self-study lessons, 1 research paper, 2 exams

Each lesson includes the following components:

  • lesson objectives
  • reading assignments
  • important terms
  • lecture
  • written assignment

One of the problems many students have with a course in astronomy is the visualization of planetary motions and the motions of other celestial objects. This problem becomes even more difficult in an online, independent study course such as this. For this reason the textbook has offered several ways to assist the serious student. The text has several special features such as "Extending Our Reach" boxes to analyze a few of the key concepts in more detail. To assist the student with comprehension, there are "Planetarium Exercises" and "Projects" at the end of some chapters that help to show students how to find things in the sky. These include observing exercises and links to the star maps that appear on the inside covers of the book. These will all give the student a broader view of the subject for study.

Finally, the author and publisher have set up a website to assist the student. Throughout the text, icons are found in the text to identify important topics that are cross-referenced to their site on the World Wide Web. This includes simulations and interactive sites. Students who have Web access should consider this a boon to their education, using this site as another instructor or tutor. Please take advantage of these valuable resources.

Guidelines

  • Students may submit up to 2 lessons at once. Students may submit up to 2 lessons in one week.
  • Wait for grades and feedback on lessons prior to submitting subsequent lessons
  • Keep a copy of every lesson submitted.
  • Write your name and V Number on every submission.
  • Students may submit lessons via Canvas. Students will receive graded lessons via Canvas.
  • You will typically receive graded lessons within three weeks after the date of the receipt by the instructor

Exams

Self-Study Review for Exams

These are lessons 4 and 9. They are for exam preparation only; do not submit them for grading.

Exam Guidelines

  • Wait for grades and feedback on lessons before taking exams.
  • For exam 1 - CLOSED book, ALLOWED use of nontext calculator and one page (8.5 x 11”) of written notes (both sides). Submit notes with completed exam.
  • For exam 2 - OPEN book, ALLOWED use of nontext calculator and one page (8.5 x 11”) of written notes (both sides). Submit notes with completed exam.
  • Graded exams will not be returned to you.

Study Hints

  • Complete all reading assignments.
  • Set a schedule allowing for course completion one month prior to your personal deadline. An Assignment Submission Log is provided for this purpose.
  • Web pages and URL links in the World Wide Web are continuously changing. Contact your instructor if you find a broken Web page or URL.
  • Use the self-study lessons to focus your study; this will help to identify your weaknesses before you take the exam.
  • You will be responsible for everything presented in the text and in this course guide. In a few cases what is presented in our discussion will conflict with the text. This should not worry you; we are only supplementing the text. Discoveries are being continually made. Where there are differences, our discussions will supersede the text.

Email Standards

Place questions or comments for the instructor in the body of the email.

  • In the email's subject line include: Your name, V number, course subject and number
    • Example: Joe Vandal, V01234567, BUS L321

Grade Information 

The final course grade is issued after all lessons and exams have been graded. The course grade will be based upon the following considerations:

There are seven graded lessons, two self-study lessons, a research paper, and two exams.

  • Each lesson (except the self-study) will count as 5% of the grade (35% total).
  • Each exam will count as 25% (50% total).
  • The research paper will count as 15%.

Grades will be assigned according to the following schedule:

Grade Scale

Percent

Letter Grade

93 – 100% 

 A

90 – 92.9%  

A-

87 – 89.9% 

B+

83 – 86.9% 

B

80 – 82.9% 

B-

77 – 79.9% 

C+

73 – 76.9% 

C

70 – 72.9% 

C-

67 – 69.9% 

D+

63 – 66.9%

D

60 – 62.9%

 D-

Below 60

 F

Acts of academic dishonesty, including cheating or plagiarism are considered a very serious transgression and may result in a grade of F for the course.

Course Policies 

Refer to the ISI website's Current Students page for the most current policies and procedures, including information on setting up accounts, student confidentiality, exams, transcripts, course exchanges, refunds, academic integrity, library resources, disability support and other services.