Planetary Astronomy PHYS 1901

Instructors:

Dr David Maybury

Teaching Assistant: Graham Cree and Matthew Rodrigues

Lectures:

Mondays and Wednesdays 19:35 20:55

CUOL Broadcast:

Fridays 20:00 23:00 (Rogers Digital Cable)

Office hours:

Before class (Herzberg 3313)

Location:

103 Steacie

Email:

dmaybury@physics.carleton.ca
GrahamCree@cmail.carleton.ca
MatthewRodrigues2@cmail.carleton.ca

Website:

http://www.maybury.ca/phys1901

Textbook:

Chaisson & McMillan Astronomy Today Volume 1: The Solar Sytem, 8/E
Pearson Addison-Wesley

Note that science students may only take this course as a free elective

Welcome to PHYS 1901

Welcome to your first course in astronomy! We hope that you have an enjoyable fall session
studying at Carleton. This course is aimed at general interest students who have had a minimal
exposure to science or mathematics. As such, this course will rely on descriptive explanations
employing diagrams and pictures to help build a heuristic understanding of the cosmos.
PHYS 1901 is one of two introductory courses on astronomy offered by Carleton. This course
focuses on the solar system and planetary phenomena. We will introduce the constituents of the
solar system, and the methods astronomers and scientists use to learn about our neighbourhood
in the Universe. In this course, you will also learn how to observe the sky for yourself and you
will have the chance to use your new skills when we conduct observing sessions at Carletons
Observatory on the roof of the Herzberg Building. We will offer an observing session at the end
of each lecture (weather permitting). By the end of PHYS 1901 you will understand the motions
of the sky, the characteristics of the planets, how telescopes work, how the solar system formed,
and how scientists learn about our Universe. We hope that you will gain a deeper appreciation of
science and astronomy and have fun while learning!
Each lecture is approximately 80 minutes in length. PHYS 1901 is also offered through Carleton
University Online1 (CUOL). If you are a distance learner, or a student who wishes to view the
lectures on your own time, please watch the CUOL lecture broadcast (Rogers Digital Cable) on
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http://www2.carleton.ca/cuol/

Fridays 20:00 23:00. In addition to the weekly broadcast, students may also register to use VideoOn-Demand, which allows students to access the CUOL course lectures over the internet, for $50
per course per semester. Students can also view lectures free of charge with the Video-on-Demand
kiosks located at the CUOL Student Centre, D299 Loeb Building. The Video-On-Demand viewing
room is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (closed over the Christmas break). Students who live
within 50 km of the Carleton University are required to collect their graded assessment from the
CUOL Student Centre.
As with any university level course, it is imperative that you attend all lectures (or, in this
case, view the CUOL broadcast) if you wish to succeed. The course assessment consists of two
assignments, a midterm exam, an independent study, and a final exam. In the assessment section
of this document, we explain how each assessment component factors into your final grade. Late
assignments are not accepted under any circumstances and will be assigned a grade
of zero. Only under the most serious of circumstances will a student be exempted
from an assignment, in which case the remainder of the students assessment will be
reweighted. If you have a legitimate reason for missing the final exam or the midterm exam, a
deferred exam will be scheduled for you. The deferred final exam will replace only the final exam
portion of your marks. Students with significant incomplete term work, in that a failing grade
would be awarded regardless of the final exam score, will not be permitted to write a deferred
exam.
You may require special arrangements to meet your academic obligations during the term due
to disability, pregnancy, or religious observation. Please review the course outline promptly and
send any requests to me for academic accommodation during the first two weeks of class, or as
soon as possible after the need for accommodation becomes known. It takes time to review and
consider each request individually and to arrange for accommodations where appropriate. Please
make sure that you respect these timelines, particularly for the midterm and final exam, as well as
any change in due dates for papers. Please visit Carletons Equity Services2 for further information
on academic accommodation, .
Students with disabilities who require academic accommodations in this course must contact a
coordinator at the Paul Menton Centre (PMC) for Students with Disabilities. The PMC provides
services to students who have learning disabilities, psychiatric/mental health disabilities, attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorders (ASD), chronic medical conditions, and impairments in mobility, hearing, and vision. A PMC coordinator will help you obtain a
formal evaluation along with the necessary Letters of Accommodation http://www1.carleton.ca/pmc/.
After registering with the PMC, make an appointment to meet with me no later than two weeks
2

http://carleton.ca/equity/accommodation/

before your required accommodation. Note that the deadline for submitting completed forms to the
PMC for formally scheduled exams is November 7, 2014 (fall and fall/winter term courses). Please
consult the Policies for Physics Courses3 as well as Carleton Universitys academic regulations4
for further information and issues surrounding academic integrity.
In an effort to provide maximum user access, we have created a course website for PHYS 1901
located at: http://www.maybury.ca/phys1901/. All the information that you need for this course
will appear on this website. The course website has also been linked to your cuLean account
(Carleton Universitys Learning Management System). You can access your cuLearn account at:
https://www.carleton.ca/culearn/. If you have trouble logging in or have any other technical
problems, please contact the cuLearn support desk. If you need to contact the TA or myself, please
ensure that you use your Carleton email account.
Finally, we believe that you can achieve the grade you want for this course if you are willing to
work. We have designed the course so that your previous exposure to mathematics or science will
not factor into your ability to succeed. PHYS 1901, like all science courses, builds progressively
from lecture to lecture; each concept provides the seed for the next idea. We strongly suggest that
you do not fall behind in your course work. Keep up with your readings and assignments you
might find catching up more difficult than you think. Please remember, we are always here to help,
so dont feel shy about asking questions. Enjoy the class!

3
4

http://www.physics.carleton.ca/current-undergraduate-students/academic-policies
http://calendar.carleton.ca/undergrad/regulations/academicregulationsoftheuniversity/

Assessment
Assignments (35%)
There will be two assignments to be completed outside of class. We encourage collaboration
with your colleagues on the assignments but we stress that collaboration does not mean copying.
Please familiarize yourself with Carleton Universitys policies regarding plagiarism and academic
honesty. You can find these policies in the Undergraduate Calendar. We hope that you will find
the assignments thought provoking and fun. Dont worry if at times you get stuck we will be
more than willing to help. Remember, the process of getting unstuck is called learning. The first
assignment will be handed out on September 22nd and will be due on October 15th. The second
assignment will be handed out on November 1st and will be due on November 17th.
Independent Study (5%)
We offer observing sessions every clear night after class. You have a wonderful opportunity to
see your classroom learning brought to life through Carletons computer controlled 14 inch SchmidtCassegrain telescope. Simply by participating in 3 observing sessions throughout the term, you will
earn 5% of your grade. If you are a distance student or would prefer not to attend the observing
sessions, you can earn 5% of your grade by writing a 1000 word essay on selected topics. The essay
will be assessed on a complete/incomplete basis.
Midterm Exam (20%)
The Midterm exam will be held on October 24 18:00 20:00.
Final Exam (40%)
The final exam will be scheduled for the exam period in December.

PHYS 1901 Course Outline

Date
09/08
09/10
09/15
09/17

Subject
Course introduction/Sky and Telescope Familiarization
Scientific Method/Overview of the Universe
Number Review/The Celestial Sphere
The Celestial Sphere

Chapter Readings
1 & Appendices 1,2
1 & Appendices 1,2
2 & Appendices 1,2
2

09/17 Last day of registration for fall/winter courses.

09/22 Planetary Motion

09/24 Planetary Motion/Laws of Motion
09/29 Light and Atoms

2,3
3
3,4

09/30 Last day to withdraw from fall/winter courses

10/01 Light and Atoms

10/06 Light and Atoms/Telescopes and Instruments
10/08 Telescopes and Instruments

3,4
4,5
5

10/15 Guest Speaker: Paul Klauninger

10/15 Assignment 1 Due

10/20 Overview of the Solar System

10/22 The Earth/The Moon

6
7,8

10/24 Midterm exam 18:00 20:00

10/27 Fall term Break 10/27 - 10/31

11/03
11/05
11/10
11/12
11/17

8,9
9,10
11
12
13,14

Terrestrial Planets: Mercury/Venus

Terrestrial Planets: Venus/Mars
Outer Planets: Jupiter
Outer Planets: Saturn
Outer Planets: Uranus/Neptune

11/17 Assignment 2 Due

11/19
11/24
11/26
12/01
12/03
12/08

13,14
14
14,15
14,15
16

Outer Planets: Neptune/Comets

Comets/Asteroids/Minor Planets
Origins of Planetary Systems
Origins of Planetary Systems contd
The Sun An Introduction to Stars
Special Topics Particles to Cosmology

12/08 Optional Essay Due