Course Announcements • Observatory Signup List (starting in about a week - across from room 204 in the Steward Observatory building). The actual telescope is in that white building with the big circular dome for a roof. • DRC Letters ASAP • Tentative - Tail Gate Party Dates (a.k.a Exam Review Sessions) From 4:00 pm – 6:00pm on: – Wednesday Feb 7 th in N210 – Wednesday March 7 th in N210 – Wednesday April 4 th in N210
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Course Announcements Observatory Signup List (starting in about a week - across from room 204 in the Steward Observatory building). The actual telescope.
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Course Announcements• Observatory Signup List (starting in about a week -
across from room 204 in the Steward Observatory building). The actual telescope is in that white building with the big circular dome for a roof.
Review Sessions) From 4:00 pm – 6:00pm on: – Wednesday Feb 7th in N210– Wednesday March 7th in N210– Wednesday April 4th in N210
Goals of the courseHelp you develop:• a basic understanding of the central ideas of
astronomy
• an appreciation for the role astronomy has played in shaping the consciousness of the world in the past, at present and what the future holds.
• a real world perspective for how astronomy is connected to your daily lives
• the skills and motivation to pursue life long learning and become a valuable member of the workforce and our society
NOT Goals of the course• Turn you into Math-oholics!
• Expect you to sit there and listen to me lecture for an hour everyday
• Force you to work through an endless array of unconnected homework, labs and writing assignments (don’t worry you will still EARN your three credits!)
• Teach you essentially the same stuff as I do the astronomy majors
Cute is not Sciencehttp://www.milaadesign.com/wizardy.html
• Don’t let cute be confused with REALITY!!
• Crating a website that shows that you know the numerical sequence that produces the number 9 = cute but not Clairvoyant!!
• NOT ALL THINGS ARE REAL OR EVEN CLEVER BUT SCIENCE IS BOTH OF THESE EVEN WHEN IT LATER TURNS OUT TO BE
INCOMPLETE OR WRONG!!!!
You Live in THIS Society; Like it or Change it or Leave!!
You Live in THIS Universe; Live With It or Leave!!
“There is a theory which states that if ever anyone discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another which states that this has already happened.”
by Douglas Adams, from The Restaurant at the End of the Universe
Science is not…
• A list of previously known facts about nature
• A list of equations handed down from Ancient times
• A set of laws that were discovered by Dead White Guys a long time ago and are kept from the general public
Science Is…• a continuing process that
– seeks to understand the rules and laws of nature– uses systematic observations– uses mathematical models– experimentally tests ideas
• subject to independent verification
These are the components of the scientific method (observe, theorize, predict, test and modify) used
to comprehend the universe.
What do Astronomers do?• Make observations using telescopes• Analyze data/results of observation• Create theories about what is seen and what might exist
yet unseen• Create computer models that simulate what occurs in
the universe• Invent, design, and build instruments that let us see
beyond the Earth!BUT, most astronomers do NOT spend much time
looking through telescopes
A scientific theory is a collection of ideas that explain a phenomenon in a way that is consistent
with laws, observations and experiments.
Understanding the Universe!!
Viking I Lander Picture from 1976
1999 Picture from the Mars
Pathfinder Lander
Note the remote-control rover,
Sojourner, next to a Martian rock
2004 Opportunity Landing Site – and tracks
We did it!! Huygens takes first images of Titan and survives the crash landing!!
It is very important that you learn about traxoline. Traxoline is a new form of zionter. It is montilled in Ceristanna. The Ceristannians gristerlate large amounts of fevon and then brachter it to quasel
traxoline. Traxoline may well be one of our most lukized snezlaus in the future because of our
zionter lescelidge.
(attributed to the insight of Judy Lanier)
The Montillation of Traxoline It is very important that you learn about traxoline. Traxoline is a new form of zionter. It is montilled in Ceristanna. The Ceristannians gristerlate large amounts of fevon and then brachter it to quasel traxoline. Traxoline may well be one of our most lukized snezlaus in the future because of our zionter lescelidge.
Directions: Answer the following questions in complete sentences. Be sure to use your best handwriting. 1. What is traxoline?