Project Evaluation Criteria AST 101 "The quality of work turned in by college students is expected to be higher than that of high school students..." - Me No projects will be accepted after the due date!
I. Individual Astronomical Observations: - REQUIRED 1) Identify the ten brightest stars in the sky at the time you are at the observatory. (Non-telescopic observation) (THIS IS A REQUIRED OBSERVATION TO BE DONE EARLY IN THE SEMESTER and TURNED IN BY THE DESIGNATED DATE FOUND ON THE Assignments/Announced Quizzes/Due dates PAGE FOR FULL CREDIT!) (You must your identifications checked and initialed by an instructor or lab assistant at the observatory) (10 points) Completed on time? Yes______ No_______ Score:________ You must have THIS observation set SIGNED by a lab assistant at the observatory for credit to be given.
(Return to 'Brick' page)
2) Identify the eight brightest constellations in the sky at the time of the lab. (Non-telescopic observation) (THIS IS A REQUIRED OBSERVATION TO BE DONE EARLY IN THE SEMESTER and TURNED IN BY THE DESIGNATED DATE FOUND ON THE Assignments/Announced Quizzes/Due dates PAGE FOR FULL CREDIT!) (You must your identifications checked and initialed by an instructor or lab assistant at the observatory) (8 points) Completed on time? Yes______ No_______ Score:________ You must have THIS observation set SIGNED by a lab assistant at the observatory for credit to be given.
3) Planetary Observation Lab: (Points vary for each visible planet) (Telescopic observation - to be completed on the proper form) - TURN IN AT THE END OF THE SEMESTER Sketch the telescopic appearance of all visible planets. (See the CYPRUS web page to help you identify what you are seeing regarding planetary moons) You must use the observing sheet for this assignment: Click here for details! You must have EACH of your observations SIGNED by a lab assistant! This means EACH observation must be individually individually signed for full credit to be given. Multiple sketches on a single sheet of paper with only one signature are not acceptable. If you turn in a sheet like this, you will be given credit for only ONE sketch/observation providing the general observing sheet accompanies it. Click here to obtain the observing sheet that you turn in for scoreing. Be sure to include a pargraph describing the object you observed. Identify each object. Read and understand the instructions regarding the typewritten paragraph for each observation you make. (See below) Planets that you will be expected to observe will vary from semester to semester, as will the total point value for the observations. - Refer to the What you are expected to observe link on the brick page for details. - Additional/duplicate observations will be scored as 1 XC point each provide the General Observing Sheet is filled out completely & accurately. (e.g., two binary or two planetary nebula observations would be scored as a total of two extra-credit points if the General Observing Sheet is filled out completely & accuratel) Penalties for sub-standard work: Papers received without Lab Assistant signature verifying the observation was completed: 3 point penalty Miscalculated, incomplete or missing magnification calculation for telescope used: 3 point penalty Papers turned in without a typed (word processed) 50 work description of the object: 3 point penalty Handwritten (scribbled) 50 word paragraphs: 2 point penalty Spelling errors: 3 point penalty As always, late papers are not accepted. Deadline is a self-defining term. Papers not stapled together, subtract one point.
Click here for the General Observing Sheet. (Not all planets will be visible during this semester)
For Saturn, sketch in the rings (and the Cassini Division, if you see it) and show the position of Titan and any other Moons you see. The Moons must be labeled! Saturn: (13 points) Planet Sketched: Yes______ No_______ (+7) Cassini Division identified: Yes______ No_______ (+1) Titan identified: Yes______ No_______ (+2) Fifty word paragraph for object: Yes______ No_______ (+3) If your sketch is NOT SIGNED by a lab assistant, it will not be scored! at full value! For Jupiter, sketch the planet's atmospheric cloud bands and the Great Red Spot, if you see it. Sketch to scale which ever of the 4 Galilean Moons that are visible. Identify and label the Moons. Jupiter: (13 points) Planet Sketched: Yes______ No_____ (+6) Atmospheric cloud bands sketched: Yes______ No_____ Great Red Spot sketched: Yes______ No_____ Galilean Moons sketched: Yes______ No_____ (+2) Galilean Moons identified: Yes______ No_____ (+2) Fifty word paragraph for object: Yes______ No_____ (+3) If your sketch is NOT SIGNED by a lab assistant, it will not be scored! at full value! For Venus or Mercury, be sure to draw the phase accurately. Venus: (13 points) Planet sketched: Yes______ No______ (+5) Phase drawn and identified: Yes______ No______ (+5) Fifty word paragraph for object: Yes______ No_____ (+3) If your sketch is NOT SIGNED by a lab assistant, it will not be scored! at full value! Mercury: (6 points) Planet sketched: Yes______ No______ (+2) Phase drawn and identified: Yes______ No______ (+1) Fifty word paragraph for object: Yes______ No_____ (+3) If your sketch is NOT SIGNED by a lab assistant, it will not be scored! at full value! For Mars, draw any surface markings you see. Indicate any colors you see. Mars: (7 points) Mars sketched: Yes______ No______ (+3) Surface markings sketched: Yes______ No______ (+1) Fifty word paragraph for object: Yes______ No_____ (+3) If your sketch is NOT SIGNED by a lab assistant, it will not be scored! at full value! Uranus, Neptune and Pluto look like stars. - Draw background stars behind the planet and include the date and time for comparison to published data. - Indicate any color in the planet you observed. Uranus, Neptune Pluto: (6 points ea.) Uranus sketched: Yes______ No______ (+3) Neptune sketched: Yes______ No______ (+3) Pluto sketched: Yes______ No______ (+3) Fifty word paragraph for each object: Yes______ No_____ (+3) If your sketch is NOT SIGNED by a lab assistant, it will not be scored! at full value! 4) DEEP SKY OBJECTS: (You are expected to observe one object each from each of the following categories) - Binary Stars: (eg. Alberio, Lyr, Cyg) Yes______ No_____ (+5) Fifty word paragraph for each object: Yes______ No_____ (+3) If your sketch is NOT SIGNED by a lab assistant, it will not be scored! at full value! - Globular Clusters: (eg. M13, Wild Duck) Yes______ No_____ (+5) Fifty word paragraph for each object: Yes______ No_____ (+3) If your sketch is NOT SIGNED by a lab assistant, it will not be scored! at full value! - Spiral Galaxies: (eg. M51, Whirlpool, UMa, CVn) Yes______ No_____ (+5) Fifty word paragraph for each object: Yes______ No_____ (+3) If your sketch is NOT SIGNED by a lab assistant, it will not be scored! at full value! - Planetary Nebula: (eg. Ring, Eagle, Dumbell, trifid, Omega or Saturn Nebula) Yes______ No_____ (+5) Fifty word paragraph for each object: Yes______ No_____ (+3) If your sketch is NOT SIGNED by a lab assistant, it will not be scored! at full value! - Star Forming Nebula: (eg. M42) Yes______ No_____ (+5) Fifty word paragraph: Yes______ No_____ (+3) If your sketch is NOT SIGNED by a lab assistant, it will not be scored! at full value! Additional Observations: Add 1 XC point each if properly compmleted & signed. Be sure to correctly identify the TYPE of galaxy you see.
II. Solar Observation Project: Points possible: (10XC Total - Optional) You need at least one observation/week beginning the first week of the semester for the solar observation project you complete. (ASOP or SLOP - your choice.) Number or required observations: (1 per week) 15 week class: 10 week class: 15 = 15 points 10 = 10 points 14 = 14 points 9 = 9 points 13 = 13 points 8 = 8 points 12 = 12 points 7 = 7 points 11 = 11 points 6 = 6 points 10 = 10 points 5 = 5 points 9 = 9 points 4 = 4 points 8 = 8 points 3 = 3 points 7 = 7 points 2 = 5 points 6 = 6 points 1 = 1 point 5 = 5 points 4 = 4 points 3 = 3 points 2 = 2 points 1 = 1 points ASOP: How many data points? _______ Dates? (Yes or no) _______ Beginning date approproiate? _______ Concluding paragraph (Yes or no) _______ SCORE: _______/25 SLOP: How many data points? _______ Dates? (Yes or no) _______ Beginning date approproiate? _______ Concluding paragraph (Yes or no) _______ SCORE: _______/25 Number of data points - see above. (15 required = 1 per week beginning the first week of the semester) = 15 points Start date (Begin project the first week of the semester. (subtract 2 points/week late start) Data should make sense! Subtract 5 points for faulty data!! No plagerism! Everyone needs to do their own work! (No credit will be given for non-original papers) Direction of the Sun's movement against the horizon should be correct for the season. If not, subtract 5 points Cardinal directions should be indicated. If not, subtract 2 points Data should be orientated correctly to indicated cardinal directions. Three points penalty if not. Recorded data should reflect date AND time of observation. ASOP observations should be made at the same time! Concluding paragaph/findings/recommendations should be typed. If no conclusions/findings etc, subtract 10 points Spelling errors. Subtract three points Handwritten (scribbled) data. Subtract two points Papers not stapled together, subtract one point. Identify sources of error, what mistakes you made and what you would do different if you repeated this investigation. This is an extra-credit opportunity to do REAL SCIENCE!
IV. Research Paper