Sarazin's ASTR 121 Home Page
Introduction to the Sky and the Solar System
Spring 2008
This course provides a relatively nonmathematical introduction to the
astronomy of the Solar System.
It is intended primarily for non-science majors, and the
course satisfies three hours of the science area requirement. Topics which
are covered include: the night sky: a brief history of astronomy through
Newton: the Earth as a planet; the exploration of the Moon; the properties
of the other planets and their moons; the nature of space travel; comets,
meteors, and asteroids; the Sun and its central role in the Solar System;
the origin of the Solar System; and, time permitting, extraterrestrial life.
The most recent results from space missions will be highlighted.
| Comet Hale-Bopp |
 |
- The Final Exam has been graded, and class grades have been
assigned. Grades are available at
Grades.
Note that the grades for the labs, clicker points, and previous tests are given there as well.
Statistics on the Final Exam grades and Total Numerical Grades listed
below.
-
- Grade Scale
GRADE SCALE
95 <= A+ <= 100
91 <= A < 95
87 <= A- < 91
84 <= B+ < 87
77 <= B < 84
71 <= B- < 77
64 <= C+ < 71
59 <= C < 64
55 <= C- < 59
50 <= D+ < 55
45 <= D < 50
40 <= D- < 45
F < 40
- Total Numerical Grade
- These are determined from the grades on each of the labs, the clicker
grade, and the tests,
weighted by the percentage of that grading element
(5% for each of the labs, 10% for the clicker points, 22% for each of the
tests, 36% for the final exam),
weighted inversely by the average class grade on that grading element,
and renormalized to a maximum possible value of 100.
This leads to the following expression for the total numerical grade:
- Grade = 0.74285*(ConsLab) + 0.72909*(TeleLab) + 0.10173*(Clicker) +
0.30338*(Test1) + 0.32871*(Test2) + 0.24844*(FinalExam)
-
- Statistics
- Possible = 100
- Average = 76.7
- Std. Dev. = 9.8
- Highest in class = 95.5
- Lowest in class = 59.5
-
- Final Exam
- There were 150 possible points.
As with the previous tests, the number of possible Multiple Choice points
included a correction of about 25%, since there was no penalty for
guessing.
- Statistics
- Possible = 150
- Average = 114.1
- Std. Dev. = 17.3
- Highest in class = 140
- Lowest in class = 79.5
- Labs
- These were graded pass-fail, with a 50% grade required to pass. If
you completed the lab, you got 5 points (6 points if done before March 1).
-
- Clicker Points
- There was a maximum of 80 clicker points possible.
- Go to the ITC Instructional Toolkit for this class, and click on
Student Response System (Clickers), or just
click on the highlighted link here.
- Enter your clicker ID. This is in large numbers/letters below the
bar code (see below).
- Hit submit.
Michael A. Seeds, Foundations of Astronomy, 9th Edition.
New copies are available at the University Bookstore.
This version of the text comes
bundled with an RF Response Card, Starry Night 4.5 and access to
AceAstronomy and the Virtual Astronomy Laboratories ISBN 0-495-28272-3. If
you purchase a copy of the text without the RF Response Card, you can
purchase the Card separately at the bookstore. You might need to ask the
bookstore manager to get one for you (they are not out on a shelf). Do not
lose the registration cards for AceAstronomy and the Virtual Astronomy
Laboratories.
The graduate teaching assistant for this class is
- Test #1 has been graded. Grades are available at
Grades
Online.
-
- Statistics
- Possible grade = 75
- Average grade = 57.1
- Standard deviation = 9.9
- Highest grade in class = 72
- Lowest grade in class = 34.4
-
- A copy of Test 1
- Answer Key
- Test #2 has been graded. Grades are available at
Grades
Online.
-
- Statistics
- Possible grade = 70
- Average grade = 52.68
- Standard deviation = 6.6
- Highest grade in class = 69
- Lowest grade in class = 39
-
- A copy of Test 2
- Answer Key
- Mercury Messenger Fly-By of Mercury on January 14
- Looking at the Sky
- Satellite Orbits around Earth
- Our Solar System (be it ever so humble)
- The Sun
- Mars
- Jupiter
- Saturn
- Comets
- Asteroids
- Meteors and Meteorites
- Impacts on Earth and Biological Extinctions
- Life Beyond the Earth
| Neptune from Voyager 2 |
 |
Last modified
May 5, 2008 at 16:46:57 EDT by cls7i
http://www.astro.virginia.edu/class/sarazin/astr121/index.html
