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Professor Christopher Morgan

SP 447 - Fall 2023

Course Policy and Syllabus

Reading Assignments

Reading assignments are from Chromey, To Measure the Sky, 2nd edition, unless otherwise indicated. Reading assignments should be completed before the scheduled lecture.

Lecture Notes

PDF versions of lecture notes can be found here.

Capstone Paper Guidance

Capstone papers are a graduation requirement for all SPH/SPHH/SPAA/SPA majors.  If you plan to write your Capstone paper as an element of SP447, content and formatting guidance can be found here.

Observing Projects

Observing Project Report Instructions can be found here.  Please also review these (humorous) style suggestions

   Observing Project #1: Due Thursday September 7

   Observing Project #2: Due Thursday September 21

   Observing Project #3: Due Thursday October 5

   Observing Project #4: Due Thursday October 26

   Observing Project #5: Due Wednesday November 22

   Observing Project #6: Due Friday December 1

Resources

Class of 1941 Observatory Operations Manual

Problem Sets

Homework solutions must be submitted by the beginning of the class period on the due date (normally Wednesdays).
Late homework will not be accepted. 

Week of 14 August 2023:

Reading Assignments:

     17 August - Chapter 3, Section 1
     18 August - Chapter 3, Section 2

Week of 21 August 2023:

Reading Assignments:

     21 August - Chapter 3, Section 2
     23 August - Chapter 3, Section 3
     24 August - Lab #1 at Class of 1941 Observatory.  Time TBD

Problem Set Due Wednesday, August 30

     3.1, 3.3, 3.5, 3.6, 3.8, 3.9, 3.11, 3.14 

Week of 28 August 2023:

Reading Assignments:

     28 August - Chapter 3, Section 4
     30 August - Chapter 4, Sections 1-6
     31 August - Lab #2: Hopper Hall Observatory at Scheduled Time
     1 September - Chapter 1, Sections 1-2

Problem Set Due Wednesday, September 6

     4.3a-c, 4.4, 1.2, 1.3, 1.6, 1.8 

Week of 4 September 2023:

Reading Assignments:

     4 September - Labor Day
     6 Septmber - Chapter 1, Sections 3-4
     7 September - Lab #3: Class of 1941 Observatory TBD
     8 September - Chapter 1, Sections 4-6

Problem Set Due Wednesday, September 13

     1.10, 1.12, 1.13, 1.14, 1.15

Week of 11 September 2023:

Reading Assignments:

     11 September - Chapter 2, Sections 1-2
     13 Septmber - Chapter 2, Section 3
     14 September - Lab #4: Cosmic Rays
     15 September - Chapter 2, Section 4 

Problem Set Due Wednesday, September 20

     2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.7, 2.9, 2.11 

Week of 18 September 2023:

Reading Assignments:

     18 September - Chapter 2, Sections 4-5
     20 Septmber - Chapter 2, Section 5
     21 September - Lab #5: Hopper Hall Observatory TBD
     22 September - Chapter 5, Section 1

Week of 25 September 2023:

Reading Assignments:

     25 September - Chapter 5, Sections 2-4
     27 Septmber - Chapter 5, Section 5
     28 September - Lab #6: Data Anaylsis in HP501 - Normal Time
     29 September - Chapter 6, Sections 1-3

Problem Set Due Wednesday, October 4

     5.2, 5.5, 5.8, 5.12

Week of 2 October 2023:

Reading Assignments:

     2 October - Chapter 6, Section 5
     4 October - Chapter 7, Section 1
     5 October - Lab #7: Observing Monday Evening 1845
     6 October - Chapter 7, Sections 2-3

Problem Set Due Wednesday, October 11

     6.1, 6.10, 7.5, 8.10, 8.12

Week of 9 October 2023:

Reading Assignments:

     10 October - Chapter 7 Sections 4-8
     11 October - Chapter 8, Sections 1-2
     12 October - Lab #8: Data Anaylsis in HP501 - Normal Time
     13 October - Chapter 8, Sections 3-4

 Week of 16 October 2023:

Reading Assignments:

     16 October - Chapter 9 Section 1
     18 October - Chapter 9, Section 2
     19 October - Lab #9: Data Anaylsis in HP501 - Normal Time
     20 October - Chapter 9, Sections 3-4

 Week of 23 October 2023:

Reading Assignments:

     23 October - Chapter 9, Section 5
     25 October - Chapter 10, Sections 1-2
     26 October - Lab #10: Introduction to Radio Astronomy
     27 October - Chapter 10, Section 4

Week of 30 October 2023:

Reading Assignments:

     30 October - Chapter 11, Section 1
     1 November - Chapter 11, Sections 1-3
     2 November - Lab #11: Observing in Hopper - Open Cluster
     3 November - Chapter 11, Section 4

Problem Set Due Wednesday, November 8

     11.1, 11.4, 11.5

Week of 6 November 2023:

Reading Assignments:

     6 November - Open Cluster Photometry Lab Work 
     8 November - Open Cluster Photometry Lab Work
     9 November - Lab #12: Data Analysis in Hopper 501

Week of 13 November 2023:

Reading Assignments:

     13 November - Radio Astromomy Basics
     15 November - ALMA Day
     16 November - Lab #13: Introduction to Radio Astronomy
     17 November - Radio Astronomy Lab Work
 

Week of 20 November 2023:

Reading Assignments:

     20 November - Lab Work Time
     22 November - Chandra Day

Week of 27 November 2023:

Reading Assignments:

     27 November - JWST Day
     29 November - VLT/LBT/Keck Day
     30 November - Lab #14: Measure the MWG Rotation Curve
     1 December - Radio Astronomy Lab Work
 


   
   

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