Students

ASTR170 – Introductory Astronomy: Our Place in the Universe

2019 – S1 Day

General Information

Download as PDF
Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit convenor and teaching staff Unit Convenor
Matt Owers
E6B 2.703
Lecturer
Devika Kotachery
Laboratory Manager
Adam Joyce
Devika Kotachery
Credit points Credit points
3
Prerequisites Prerequisites
Corequisites Corequisites
Co-badged status Co-badged status
Unit description Unit description
This is a foundation unit in astronomy, suitable for aspiring physicists/astronomers and non-scientists alike. No prior knowledge of astronomy or physics is required. This unit gives a broad underpinning of basic astronomical subjects and concepts with minimal mathematical content. A diverse range of astronomical topics are covered, starting with the solar system, including comets and asteroids; and then increasing in scale to Galactic stars, nebulae, the interstellar medium, our own Milky Way galaxy, galaxy clusters, quasars, black holes and basic cosmology. Key fundamental physical principles, theories and observational technologies are covered. Experimental work is both hands-on and computer based, and covers such areas as galaxy classification, eclipses, spectroscopy and geometrical optics. A session at the Macquarie University Observatory forms a recommended part of the practical work.

Important Academic Dates

Information about important academic dates including deadlines for withdrawing from units are available at https://www.mq.edu.au/study/calendar-of-dates

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  • Knowledge of the structure and lifecycle of stars, including our Sun.
  • Knowledge of the layout and contents of our Solar System.
  • Knowledge of how galaxies form, their basic structure and how they relate to the cosmology of the universe.
  • Demonstrate understanding of practical and conceptual topics in observational astronomy.
  • Be able to conduct, analyse, and draw conclusions from hands-on experimental work.
  • Demonstrate foundational learning skills including active engagement in their learning process.

General Assessment Information

ASTR170​ Late Submission Policy:

Assessments received after the deadline will be subject to a 10% deduction for each day, or part-day, late.  (So, e.g. 0–24 hours late = 10% deduction; 24–48 hours late = 20% deduction, etc).  Work will not be accepted more than 5 days (120 hours) after the due date and time. 

Note: extensions to due dates may be granted if a Disruption to Studies is submitted and approved.

See  https://students.mq.edu.au/study/my-study-program/special-consideration/disruption-to-studies

Assessment Tasks

Name Weighting Hurdle Due
Assignment 1 - Short Questions 5% No 5/04/19
Assignment 2 - Quiz 5% No 31/05/19
Assignment 3 - Observatory 10% No 07/06/19
Labs 30% Yes See below
Exam 50% No University Examination Period

Assignment 1 - Short Questions

Due: 5/04/19
Weighting: 5%

This assignment will consist of short-answer questions. Assignments must be submitted on iLearn. The due date is 5pm Friday 5th April 2019.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Knowledge of the structure and lifecycle of stars, including our Sun.
  • Demonstrate understanding of practical and conceptual topics in observational astronomy.

Assignment 2 - Quiz

Due: 31/05/19
Weighting: 5%

This assignment will be an online quiz. The assignments must be submitted on iLearn. The due date is 5pm Friday 31st of May 2019.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Knowledge of the layout and contents of our Solar System.
  • Knowledge of how galaxies form, their basic structure and how they relate to the cosmology of the universe.
  • Demonstrate understanding of practical and conceptual topics in observational astronomy.

Assignment 3 - Observatory

Due: 07/06/19
Weighting: 10%

This assignment will require observing the sky at night. Assignments must be submitted on iLearn. The due date is 5pm Friday 7th June 2019.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate understanding of practical and conceptual topics in observational astronomy.
  • Be able to conduct, analyse, and draw conclusions from hands-on experimental work.

Labs

Due: See below
Weighting: 30%
This is a hurdle assessment task (see assessment policy for more information on hurdle assessment tasks)

Each student must attend five (5) practical sessions and complete five (5) laboratory exercises starting in Week 5. The lab assessment is based on in-lab work only. The lab schedule is presented below (see 'Delivery and Resources').

Attendance at labs is a hurdle requirement. You must attend at least 5 lab sessions to have the potential to pass the unit.  

 


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Demonstrate understanding of practical and conceptual topics in observational astronomy.
  • Be able to conduct, analyse, and draw conclusions from hands-on experimental work.
  • Demonstrate foundational learning skills including active engagement in their learning process.

Exam

Due: University Examination Period
Weighting: 50%

A two-hour final exam consisting of multiple-choice and short-answer questions will take place in the university exam period. No material will be allowed in the exam room.

If you receive special consideration for the final exam, a supplementary exam will be scheduled in the week of July 15-26 2019. By making a special consideration application for the final exam you are declaring yourself available for a resit during the supplementary examination period and will not be eligible for a second special consideration approval based on pre-existing commitments. Please ensure you are familiar with the policy prior to submitting an application. Approved applicants will receive an individual notification one week prior to the exam with the exact date and time of their supplementary examination.


On successful completion you will be able to:
  • Knowledge of the structure and lifecycle of stars, including our Sun.
  • Knowledge of the layout and contents of our Solar System.
  • Knowledge of how galaxies form, their basic structure and how they relate to the cosmology of the universe.
  • Demonstrate understanding of practical and conceptual topics in observational astronomy.

Delivery and Resources

Lectures:

  • Monday 12-1pm - 29 Wallys Walk - T1 Theatre
  • Thursday 10-11am - 29 Wallys Walk - T1 Theatre and
  • Thursday 2-3pm - 14 Sir Christopher Ondaatje Ave - Mason Theatre

Lectures are automatically recorded and will be available on iLearn, along with the lecture slides. Lectures will also be live streamed.  The following link provides all information on lecture recordings and live streaming.

https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/tools-and-resources/ilearn/ilearn-quick-guides-for-students/lecture-recordings

Labs:

The labs will be held in E7B (14 Sir Christopher Ondaatje Avenue) rooms 213 and 209 (enter through 213). Students are required to do 5 labs, but have the option of doing a 6th (which they can do in the extra week). Only marks from the best 5 labs will be counted. The lab schedule is as follows:

 

Week

5

Week 6

Week

7

 

Week

8

Week

9

Week

10

Week

11

Week

12

Monday

(10am-12pm and

1pm-3pm)

Lab 1

Lab 2

Lab 3

Mid Semester Break

Lab 4

Lab 5

Extra Week

 

Tuesday

(10am-12pm)

Lab 1

Lab 2

Lab 3

Lab 4

Lab 5

Extra Week

 

 

Wednesday

(10am-12pm)

Lab 1

Lab 2

Lab 3

Lab 4

Lab 5

Extra Week

 

 

Thursday

(11am-1pm)

Lab 1

Lab 2

Lab 3

Lab 4

Lab 5

Extra Week

 

 

Friday (10am-12pm and

3pm-5pm)

Lab 1

Lab 2

Lab3

Lab 4

Lab 5

Extra Week

 

 

A mandatory lab notebook will be available from the bookstore after Week 3.

Please note that health and safety regulations specify that fully-enclosed footwear must be worn in the labs. (i.e. you will not be admitted if you are wearing sandals etc.)

In Week 2 we will hold special planetarium sessions during the labs.

Textbook:

The lectures are based upon the following textbook, which is not absolutely required for the course, but is strongly recommended to enhance the learning process:

  • Foundations of Astronomy, 13th Edition Michael A. Seeds and Dana Backman ISBN-10: 1305079159  |  ISBN-13: 9781305079151

Earlier editions of the textbook are acceptable.

 

Unit Schedule

Week Lecturer Topic Textbook Chapters
1 M. Owers Introduction, the night sky and celestial motions, moon phases & eclipses 1, 2, 3
2 M. Owers Origins of modern astronomy, gravity, light & atoms (1) 4, 5, 7
3 M. Owers Light & atoms (2), telescopes, the Sun 7, 6, 8
4 M. Owers Introduction to the stars, the interstellar medium 9, 10
5 M. Owers Star formation, Stellar structure and evolution  11, 12
6 M. Owers Stellar death, Neutron stars & black holes 13
7 D. Kamath Life in the Universe, The Milky Way Galaxy 14, 15
8 D. Kamath Other Galaxies 16
9 D. Kamath Active galaxies & supermassive black holes 17
10 D. Kamath Modern cosmology I 18
11 D. Kamath Modern Cosmology II 18
12 D. Kamath Origin of the solar system and extrasolar planets, Earth and other planets 19-25
13 All Revision Week  

N.B. This schedule is flexible, and subject to change.

Policies and Procedures

Macquarie University policies and procedures are accessible from Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central). Students should be aware of the following policies in particular with regard to Learning and Teaching:

Undergraduate students seeking more policy resources can visit the Student Policy Gateway (https://students.mq.edu.au/support/study/student-policy-gateway). It is your one-stop-shop for the key policies you need to know about throughout your undergraduate student journey.

If you would like to see all the policies relevant to Learning and Teaching visit Policy Central (https://staff.mq.edu.au/work/strategy-planning-and-governance/university-policies-and-procedures/policy-central).

Student Code of Conduct

Macquarie University students have a responsibility to be familiar with the Student Code of Conduct: https://students.mq.edu.au/study/getting-started/student-conduct​

Results

Results published on platform other than eStudent, (eg. iLearn, Coursera etc.) or released directly by your Unit Convenor, are not confirmed as they are subject to final approval by the University. Once approved, final results will be sent to your student email address and will be made available in eStudent. For more information visit ask.mq.edu.au or if you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

Student Support

Macquarie University provides a range of support services for students. For details, visit http://students.mq.edu.au/support/

Learning Skills

Learning Skills (mq.edu.au/learningskills) provides academic writing resources and study strategies to improve your marks and take control of your study.

Student Services and Support

Students with a disability are encouraged to contact the Disability Service who can provide appropriate help with any issues that arise during their studies.

Student Enquiries

For all student enquiries, visit Student Connect at ask.mq.edu.au

If you are a Global MBA student contact globalmba.support@mq.edu.au

IT Help

For help with University computer systems and technology, visit http://www.mq.edu.au/about_us/offices_and_units/information_technology/help/

When using the University's IT, you must adhere to the Acceptable Use of IT Resources Policy. The policy applies to all who connect to the MQ network including students.

Graduate Capabilities

Commitment to Continuous Learning

Our graduates will have enquiring minds and a literate curiosity which will lead them to pursue knowledge for its own sake. They will continue to pursue learning in their careers and as they participate in the world. They will be capable of reflecting on their experiences and relationships with others and the environment, learning from them, and growing - personally, professionally and socially.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcome

  • Demonstrate foundational learning skills including active engagement in their learning process.

Assessment task

  • Labs

Discipline Specific Knowledge and Skills

Our graduates will take with them the intellectual development, depth and breadth of knowledge, scholarly understanding, and specific subject content in their chosen fields to make them competent and confident in their subject or profession. They will be able to demonstrate, where relevant, professional technical competence and meet professional standards. They will be able to articulate the structure of knowledge of their discipline, be able to adapt discipline-specific knowledge to novel situations, and be able to contribute from their discipline to inter-disciplinary solutions to problems.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Knowledge of the structure and lifecycle of stars, including our Sun.
  • Knowledge of the layout and contents of our Solar System.
  • Knowledge of how galaxies form, their basic structure and how they relate to the cosmology of the universe.
  • Demonstrate understanding of practical and conceptual topics in observational astronomy.

Assessment tasks

  • Assignment 1 - Short Questions
  • Assignment 2 - Quiz
  • Assignment 3 - Observatory
  • Labs
  • Exam

Critical, Analytical and Integrative Thinking

We want our graduates to be capable of reasoning, questioning and analysing, and to integrate and synthesise learning and knowledge from a range of sources and environments; to be able to critique constraints, assumptions and limitations; to be able to think independently and systemically in relation to scholarly activity, in the workplace, and in the world. We want them to have a level of scientific and information technology literacy.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Knowledge of the structure and lifecycle of stars, including our Sun.
  • Knowledge of the layout and contents of our Solar System.
  • Knowledge of how galaxies form, their basic structure and how they relate to the cosmology of the universe.
  • Demonstrate understanding of practical and conceptual topics in observational astronomy.
  • Be able to conduct, analyse, and draw conclusions from hands-on experimental work.

Assessment tasks

  • Assignment 1 - Short Questions
  • Assignment 2 - Quiz
  • Assignment 3 - Observatory
  • Labs
  • Exam

Problem Solving and Research Capability

Our graduates should be capable of researching; of analysing, and interpreting and assessing data and information in various forms; of drawing connections across fields of knowledge; and they should be able to relate their knowledge to complex situations at work or in the world, in order to diagnose and solve problems. We want them to have the confidence to take the initiative in doing so, within an awareness of their own limitations.

This graduate capability is supported by:

Learning outcomes

  • Demonstrate understanding of practical and conceptual topics in observational astronomy.
  • Be able to conduct, analyse, and draw conclusions from hands-on experimental work.

Assessment tasks

  • Assignment 1 - Short Questions
  • Assignment 2 - Quiz
  • Assignment 3 - Observatory
  • Labs
  • Exam