Fall 2011 Prof. K. Kwitter, Dr. S. Souza
ASTRONOMY 211
Instructor : Professor Karen Kwitter, 110 TPL, x2272; Office hours: Mondays, 10-11 AM, and by appointment
Observatory Supervisor : Dr. Steven Souza, 117 TPL, x3210; Office hours: Wednesday 10-11 AM
Lectures : Wednesday: 1:10 - 3:50 PM in TPL 203; Labs: Monday: 7:00 - 9:50 PM TPL 301
Text : "To Measure the Sky," by F. Chromey, published by Cambridge U. Press, available at Water Street Books; other resources on reserve in Schow.
Course Website: www.williams.edu/Astronomy/Course-Pages/211/211.html
This site contains all the syllabus material plus links to other relevant sites, updates and announcements. You'll want to bookmark the Assignments and Announcements page - www.williams.edu/Astronomy/Course-Pages/211/assignment.html - where homework assignments are posted along with messages to the class and important announcements and reminders.
Orientation to Observing Facilities : Monday, 9/12 as part of the first Monday evening lab.
Homework: Problem sets will be assigned roughly every week, and will be due in class one week later.
Exams and Grading: Hour Exam: Wednesday, Nov. 2 in class (only first half of class)
Makeups for hour exams or labs will be scheduled for those who request to be excused beforehand, or for those with excuses from the Infirmary. Makeup or rescheduled final exams can only be given with the prior approval of the Deans' Office. Grades will be calculated as follows:
Hour Exam: 20%
Homework/Labs 35%
Long-term Project plus Imaging Project: 20%
Final Observing Project 25%
Honor System: Students are strongly reminded of the honor system as described in the Student Handbook. No collaboration at all is allowed on exams. You may work together in small groups on homework, in labs, and for observing; however, all work handed in must represent individual, not group, effort. If you are in any doubt about how the honor system applies to a particular activity in this course, please consult me or Dr. Souza.
Disabilities Statement: Students who may need disability-related classroom accommodations for this course are encouraged to meet with me as soon as possible and to contact the Dean's Office so the proper arrangements can be made.
Lecture Topics: The syllabus below lists the topics we intend to cover. It is very important that you do the assigned reading before the associated class; that way you derive maximum benefit from both reading and lectures.