Astronomy Laboratories

Recommendations for Improving the Astronomy Laboratory, AST2011

  1. Some things need done before classes start each semester to improve the success of the course. The following list summarizes Start-of-semester checklist

    1. Verify the supply of lab materials. Order more if necessary.

      1. star charts SC001 and SC002 (lab 1 and lab 7)
      2. working Farquahr globes (lab 1 and lab 3); fix or replace broken ones
      3. observer's handbooks for this year (lab 1)
      4. working computers with "The Sky" loaded and working
      5. cardboard templates for spectroscopes (lab 7)
      6. working hydrogen tubes that give clean spectral lines (lab 7)
      7. meter sticks with slits, diffraction gratings, and white painted hangers (lab 7)
      8. flashlights for use during night-time viewings and lab 7 (need to turn lights out to view spectra clearly).
    2. Train GTA's
    3. Plan astronomical viewing calendar
    4. Check and repair telescopes on roof-top
    5. Schedule week for planetarium visits

  2. Viewing sessions

    The night-time viewing sessions are certainly the highlight of the course, allowing the students to use a telescope to view objects themselves. But, in my experience, the fraction of students able to participate in a night viewing session is small, only about 10% of the students enrolled! To truly be a success, this fraction needs to approach 100%. Some suggestions aimed at improving participation in the viewing sessions follow.

    1. Maintain the equipment in good working order. Presently, many of the spotting scope adjustment screws are broken such that alignment isn't possible. I don't see any reason why the spotting scopes can't be aligned by department staff, and fixed so that the students needn't adjust them. (If there's a reason that this won't work, then the repairs should be done and GTA's trained to avoid breaking them as much as possible.) The adjusting screws can be fixed in place with an appropriate substance (loctite or epoxy).

      The stands, clock drives, flashlights, and any other equipment needs to be maintained in good working order so that the viewing sessions can be run as smoothly as possible. The objective should be to excite the students with the opportunity to view as many interesting objects as possible, not to fiddle with equipment. Remember that all this is being done in the dark, and often cold environment.

    2. Improve the viewing area. The telescope stands could be equipped with an alignment mechanism so that the mounts are automatically oriented correctly. This will save time in setup. Some low level lighting should be provided to aid in setup, reading dials during the lab, and tear down.
    3. Supply a laptop running "The Sky" or similar program for use during the viewing session. A cable lock will be needed.
    4. Add a sta

  3. Publish astronomy lab manual online. To limit access and protect the copyright, the manual can be available through blackboard only. The bookstore charges $35 for the lab manual, and this is just outrageous!

  4. Changes to course syllabus:

    I recommend some changes in the course syllabus. Late lab reports will be accepted with a penalty of one point per day (or fraction of a day) of lateness (out of 10 points possible). A lab report turned in an hour after class is late by a fraction of a day and will have one point deducted. A lab report turned in class one-week late will have 7 points deducted, worth 3 points maximum.

  5. Home Exercise 1
  6. Home Exercise 2
  7. Lab 1
  8. Lab 2
  9. Lab 3
  10. Lab 4
  11. Lab 5
  12. Lab 6
  13. Lab 7
  14. Lab 8
  15. Lab 9:
  16. Lab 10