Aeree & Ben's Astronomy Lab, Fall 2001

TA   Aeree Chung (Lead) Ben Johnson (Supporting)

Office   Pupin 1414 Pupin 1414

Phone Number   (212)-854-6888 (212)-854-6888

Email   archung at astro.columbia.edu   bjohnson at astro.columbia.edu

Office Hour   Tue 3:30-5:30pm (help session)   only with appointment

   Fri 10-11:30am + appointment

Date Title What do we do?

Sep. 17 Our Address in the Universe and Astronomy in Everyday Life The very first rendezvous! We will discuss where in the Universe we live and why we care about our Universe. Also, we will discuss what and how we can observe on the sky in our everyday lives.

Sep. 24 Celestial sphere & Telescopes Would you like to join us for the journey to the Universe? I'll take you to the past by a time machine. But before we get on board, let's learn how to navigate so that we won't get lost. O.K., are you ready?

Oct. 1 Measuring Angular and Physical Sizes Why do we need to measure things? What can apparent and physical sizes tell us about stuff? How does our measurement work on the sky? Please bring your rulers and calculators (if you are on dieting, you are allowed to bring a tape, not a stick one, to measure your waste).

Oct. 8 Different Wavelengths of Light & Spectral Lines Have you heard that we only can see a part of the whole spectrum of the light? Why it that? What if your eyes are sensitive to other wavelengths, not an "optical" range? How and why astronomers see the sky in diffrent wavelengths?

Oct. 15 Gravity & Orbit Simulations What happened between Newton and an apple? Why we are stuck on the ground? Why planets are orbiting around the Sun? Why stars make groups? Let's feel the gravity by simulations.

Oct. 22 Fly Me to the Moon The only satellite of the Earth. You can be "Neil Armstrong". We will probe details of the Moon. How does the phase of the Moon change depending on its position? When do we expect to see solar/lunar eclipses? Why do we see only one face of the Moon?

Oct. 29 Field Trip to Times Square Because of light pollution, the brightness of our night sky is getting brighter and the number of stars we can see is getting smaller. By counting and comparing the number of stars at Times Sqaure (to a certain direction, within a certain area) with that the number of stars we measure at Pupin to the same direction with the same area, we will learn how the light pollution affects astronomy.

Nov. 5 University Holiday No Class. We are happy because we are in New York City. Why don't you visit interesting places in NYC?

Nov. 12 Tiny Residents of the Solar System A hunting day of small (?) residents of our Solar system - Comets and asteroids. What makes them so special? What's the difference of these objects from the other planets? Where are they?

Nov. 19 Extrasolar System and Astrophotography Let's explore extrasolar systems. Is there any planet found where possibly organisms can live? You had better concentrate on today's discussion for the following lab (Drake equation). Also, we will rechallenge to take pictures of the Moon.

Nov. 26 Fun with the Drake Equation Are we alone? Do you think there might be any extrasolar systems with any planets like the Earth? Let's approach this problem by determining the final answer of the Drake equation.

Dec. 3 The Epilogue The very last day! I hope you guys had fun with Aeree & Ben for a semester. Please bring any questions about astronomy to discuss. Let's celebrate our last lab of Fall 2001. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

TA	Aeree Chung (Lead)	Ben Johnson (Supporting)
Office	Pupin 1414	Pupin 1414
Phone Number	(212)-854-6888	(212)-854-6888
Email	archung at astro.columbia.edu	bjohnson at astro.columbia.edu
Office Hour	Tue 3:30-5:30pm (help session)	only with appointment
	Fri 10-11:30am + appointment

Date	Title	What do we do?
Sep. 17	Our Address in the Universe and Astronomy in Everyday Life	The very first rendezvous! We will discuss where in the Universe we live and why we care about our Universe. Also, we will discuss what and how we can observe on the sky in our everyday lives.
Sep. 24	Celestial sphere & Telescopes	Would you like to join us for the journey to the Universe? I'll take you to the past by a time machine. But before we get on board, let's learn how to navigate so that we won't get lost. O.K., are you ready?
Oct. 1	Measuring Angular and Physical Sizes	Why do we need to measure things? What can apparent and physical sizes tell us about stuff? How does our measurement work on the sky? Please bring your rulers and calculators (if you are on dieting, you are allowed to bring a tape, not a stick one, to measure your waste).
Oct. 8	Different Wavelengths of Light & Spectral Lines	Have you heard that we only can see a part of the whole spectrum of the light? Why it that? What if your eyes are sensitive to other wavelengths, not an "optical" range? How and why astronomers see the sky in diffrent wavelengths?
Oct. 15	Gravity & Orbit Simulations	What happened between Newton and an apple? Why we are stuck on the ground? Why planets are orbiting around the Sun? Why stars make groups? Let's feel the gravity by simulations.
Oct. 22	Fly Me to the Moon	The only satellite of the Earth. You can be "Neil Armstrong". We will probe details of the Moon. How does the phase of the Moon change depending on its position? When do we expect to see solar/lunar eclipses? Why do we see only one face of the Moon?
Oct. 29	Field Trip to Times Square	Because of light pollution, the brightness of our night sky is getting brighter and the number of stars we can see is getting smaller. By counting and comparing the number of stars at Times Sqaure (to a certain direction, within a certain area) with that the number of stars we measure at Pupin to the same direction with the same area, we will learn how the light pollution affects astronomy.
Nov. 5	University Holiday	No Class. We are happy because we are in New York City. Why don't you visit interesting places in NYC?
Nov. 12	Tiny Residents of the Solar System	A hunting day of small (?) residents of our Solar system - Comets and asteroids. What makes them so special? What's the difference of these objects from the other planets? Where are they?
Nov. 19	Extrasolar System and Astrophotography	Let's explore extrasolar systems. Is there any planet found where possibly organisms can live? You had better concentrate on today's discussion for the following lab (Drake equation). Also, we will rechallenge to take pictures of the Moon.
Nov. 26	Fun with the Drake Equation	Are we alone? Do you think there might be any extrasolar systems with any planets like the Earth? Let's approach this problem by determining the final answer of the Drake equation.
Dec. 3	The Epilogue	The very last day! I hope you guys had fun with Aeree & Ben for a semester. Please bring any questions about astronomy to discuss. Let's celebrate our last lab of Fall 2001. Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!