Schedule for GEO 154 - Astronomy
Fall 2009


The schedule below is subject to change. You should check this page periodically for updates. The exam dates will not change, but the content for the exams may.

Last modified: Fri Oct 09 21:14:25 Eastern Daylight Time 2009

Date Required Reading *
(D=Discovery, MP=More precisely)
(Chaisson & McMillan)
Homework
(RD=Review & Discussion, P=Problem)
Suggested Reading
(Moche**)
Lecture:
2-Sep - - - Introduction;
Nature of Science;
The Sky We See;
Celestial Cycles
9-Sep Ch1:  all
Appendices A-1, A-2
Ch. 1:
    RD 1, 2, 4-6, 8-10, 13, 14;
    P 2
Web Assignment #1
Introduction,
Ch. 1
Size of the universe;
Scientific Notation;
Astrology and Astronomy;
Science and Pseudoscience
16-Sep Ch. 2:  all Ch. 2:
    RD 2, 4, 5, 7-10, 13, 14, 16, 18
Introduction,
Ch. 1
Classical Astronomy;
Historical Development;
Basic Physics
23-Sep Ch. 3:  all
Ch. 4:  all
Ch. 3:
    RD 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 11-15, 17
Ch.4:
    RD  1, 3-5, 12-14, 20
Ch. 2 Newton;
Radiation
30-Sep Ch. 5:  all Ch. 5:
    RD 1, 4, 5, 8, 11, 13, 14, 16, 19
Ch. 2 Spectroscopy;
Telescopes;
Full spectrum astronomy;
Review for Exam 1
7-Oct Ch. 6: all - Ch. 8-11 Exam #1: Ch. 1-5;
Solar System Overview
14-Oct Ch. 6: all
Ch. 15: 15.1, 15.2, 15.5, 15.6
Ch. 6:
    RD 1, 2, 4-10, 12, 14, 17-20
Ch. 15:
    RD 1, 2, 15, 17
Ch. 3, 4 Solar System
Comparative Planetology
Solar System Formation
21-Oct Ch. 16, 17 Ch. 16:
    RD 1-3, 5, 10, 11, 14, 16, 18, 20
Ch. 17:
    RD 1, 2, 6, 8, 9, 11-13, 15, 18, 19
Ch. 3, 4 Sun, Stars
28-Oct Ch. 19:
    19.1-19.4, 19.6;
Ch. 20: all
Ch. 19:
    RD 1, 5-13, 15, 19
Ch. 20:
    RD 1-5, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20
Ch. 5 Stars: Stellar Birth and Evolution;
4-Nov Ch. 21:
    21.1-21.3;
Ch. 22:
    22.1, 22.2, 22.5, 22.6, 22.8
Ch. 21:
    RD 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 15
Ch. 22:
    RD 1, 3, 7, 10, 11-13, 15, 17, 18
Ch. 5 Stars: Stellar Death and Stellar Corpses
11-Nov Ch. 23 - Ch. 6 Exam #2 - Ch 6, 15-20;
Milky Way
18-Nov Ch. 23: all
Ch. 24: all
Ch. 23:
    RD 1-6, 9, 11, 14-16, 20
Ch. 24:
    RD 1-3, 8, 9, 11, 15, 16, 18, 19
Ch. 6 Milky Way;
Galaxies
25-Nov - - - Holiday
2-Dec Ch. 25: 25.1, 25.4;
Ch. 26: all
Ch. 27: 27.1, 27.4
Ch. 25:
    RD 2, 11, 12
Ch. 26:
    RD 2-7, 9, 10, 14, 15-18
Ch. 27:
    RD 12-15
Ch. 7 Cosmology
9-Dec Ch. 28: all Ch. 28:
    RD 1-3, 5-7, 9-13, 15-17, 19
Ch. 12 Life in the Universe;
Review
16-Dec - - - Final Exam: Cumulative

* NOTE:  If a reading assignment includes only certain sections of some chapters, it should be understood that the introduction and summary sections of that chapter are expected to be read, even though not explicitly listed on the assignment.  You are encouraged to read the entire chapter, and will probably find it easier to follow if you do so, but you should concentrate on learning the material in the specified sections.


Dr. Scott C. Smith