Course Announcements
« ASTR263 Fall 2008
The final grade will be posted on CHIP and Banner
Sat 13Dec2008 10:12AMWe expect final grades will be available on Monday Dec 22.
Fall 2008 is the first time we will be using the Banner system
for posting grades. The university requires us to use Banner
we hope it will work well, but in case of unforeseen glitches
I will also post the final grades to CHIP (the same place the midtern
scores have been posted)
Thanks for being a brilliant class. It has been a privilege to share with
you some of the wonders of the universe this semester.
I hope to see many of you in ASTR264 next spring. (There is still
some space availble. I encourage you to enroll..)
Best of luck on the final - go for the A!
Sincerely, Ian Shipsey
Final Exam & Review
Wed 10Dec2008 11:51PMReview for final 2nd half of last lecture.
Final is Saturday Dec 20 10:30 a.m. - 12:20 p.m
Two locations sorted by family name A-R WTHR 200
S-Z WTHR 104. Same format as in-class exams except
80 questions worth 200 points,
No aids: bring a pencil, eraser and student ID.
Exam is cumulative 50% material since midterm 2
chapters 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
50% on the material covered in midterms 1 and 2.
Thank you for being a wonderful class, it has been a
privilege to teach you.
Good luck on the final! Ian
First direct images of extrasolar planets Fri 28Nov2008 1:17PM
Direct observations have been made for the first time of the infrared and optical signatures of planets orbiting distant stars. See
https://www.physics.purdue.edu/Zope/shipsey_public/Collab_Files/new-extra-solar-planets1335.pdf
Tour of the Solar System Mon 24Nov2008 10:10AM
The following link will take you to the materail needed to complete the Tour of the Solar System Lab.
http://www.physics.purdue.edu/astr263l/SStour.html
Last Lab of the Semester Mon 24Nov2008 10:09AM The last lab of the semester will be held the week of Dec. 1 - 4. Therefore, there will be no lab during the week of Dec. 10 - 13 (Dead Week).
Final Lab Quiz Mon 24Nov2008 10:07AM The Final Quiz for the lab will be held during the first 20 minutes of lab Dec 1 through Dec. 4. Also due that evening will be the Tour of the Solar System. Speak with your TA for details.
Midterm 2 Nov 4 in class hour Tue 28Oct2008 10:50PM
Midterm 2 is in class hour on Tuesday Nov 4. Material covered will be chapter 3.4 through chapter 7. The midterm has the same format as midterm 1: 40 multiple choice questions. See practice midterm 1 for sample questions on chapter 3.4 to the end of chapter 4 and the first part of chapter 5. See practice midterm 2 for the remainder of chapter 5, chapters 6 and 7. The last part of lecture on Thursday Oct 30 will be a review for midterm 2. Please arrive in good time on Tuesday Nov. 4 so the exam can start promptly. Good luck! Ian
Earth-like planet found
Sun 12Oct2008 5:55PM I hope everyone is having a good fall break. Curt Coolidge pointed me to the link below. It was only a matter of time before a planet like this was found. There will be many more of these types ofMidterm 1 scores on CHIP Thu 09Oct2008 6:30PM
I've had a number of e-mails asking about the midterm 1 scores
on CHIP. There were 40 questions on midterm 1 at 2.5 points each = 100 points The mean was 68 points = 68% the standard deviation 13 points = 13%. We curved all scores up by 10 points = 10%, to allow for four questions on the exam had misleading wording or were in other ways unclear according to students and in my opinion as well. The scores on CHIP include the extra 10 points. If your score looks wrong please let me know. Have a great Octoberbreak!
Ian
Lab the week of November 24 - 27 (Week of Thanksgiving Break) Wed 01Oct2008 2:54PM There WILL be lab Monday November 24th and Tuesday November 25th.
Lab the week of Oct 13 - 16 (Week of October Break) Wed 01Oct2008 2:50PM There will be lab Wednesday October 15th and Thursday October 16th.
Lab Midterm Wed 01Oct2008 2:47PM The lab midterm will be held the first twenty minutes of lab during the week of Oct. 20 - 23.
Solutions to Exam 1 are posted
Wed 01Oct2008 2:45PM The solutions to the first exam are posted under Exams.Flash animations from lecture available Sun 28Sep2008 6:30PM
Several students have requested I make available the shockwave flash animations used in class. You can find them under "Flash Animaitions" at this website. To access this folder use a CAREER account and password. A variety of programs are available to view shockwave animations. If you have difficulties consult a local system expert. Enjoy!
Update on Midterm 1 Sep 30 in class hour Sat 27Sep2008 4:48PM
Midterm 1 is Sept 30 in class hour.It is closed book, and 40 questions. There was a review in the second half of lecture 10. By a vote of the class midterm 1 only covers that part of the syllabus covered in class by the middle of lecture 10: that was chapters 1,2,3 (3.1, 3.2, 3.3 )and S1.Typical questions are on the practice exam. Please note the practice exam covers more material than covered in class: chapters 1,2,3, including S1, 4 and 5. Question #48-85 and question #39 are on material from Chapter 3 sections 3.4, 3.5, chapter 4 and chapter 5. This will be covered in midterm2. Good luck! Ian
Midterm 1 Sept 30 in class hour Tue 16Sep2008 4:17PM Midterm 1 is Tuesday Sept 30 in class hour.It is closed book, and 40 questions. There will be a review in the second half of lecture 10.By a vote of the class today midterm 1 will cover only that part of the syllabus we will have covered in classby the middle of lecture 10:chapters 1,2,3 including S1, and chapter 4 section 1, 2 and 3. Typical questions are on the practice exam. Please note the practice exam covers chapters 1,2,3, including S1, 4 and 5.Questions #70 – #85 are chapter 5 you may ignore them for midterm 1.Questions #64 - #69 are on chapter 4.4 and 4.5 you may ignorethem for midterm 1. Good luck! Ian
Welcome! Mon 25Aug2008 12:32PM
Welcome to Astronomy 263!
We hope you enjoy the course.
Ian and Andy
Transfering Lab Grades Mon 18Aug2008 1:06PM If you have previously taken Astronomy 263 or 264 and you wish to transfer your old lab score, you need to attend lab during the first week of class, August 25 - 29. The head TA for each night will have a sheet for you to fill out with the information necessary to retrieve your old score.
Lab will be held the first week of class
Mon 18Aug2008 1:02PMBe sure to attend the first lab which will be held during the first week of class, August 25 - August 29. In addition, you are required to purchase a Lab Manual for the course but it is not necessary that you have one during the first week, August 25 - August 29.