Why Study Astronomy? - The topic should be self explanatory.
This will be graded on how well it is written, not your reasons. Two page
maximum, 300 word minimum. This will be graded in the following manner:
Structure - 4 pts
Grammar, spelling, and punctuation - 3 pts
Readability - 3 pts
Total: 10 pts
Draw Your Own Constellation - Using the star map of your birth
day draw your own constellation and write its mythology. This will be graded
on how well it is written. Two page maximum, 300 word minimum.
This will be graded in the following manner:
Structure - 4 pts
Grammar, spelling, and punctuation - 3 pts
Readability - 3 pts
Creativity - 1 pt (You need to really WOW me.)
Total: 11 pts
Evening Observation Constellation - You’re the Expert
1. Use the CD to view the night sky on the date of our scheduled evening
observation. Remember to check for planets.
2. Familiarize yourself with three constellations that will be visible.
You can’t do Orion because that is mine and it is the example I've chosen.
Click here
for Orion the Hunter!
3. We will determine in class who gets which constellation.
4. Write a short paper (400 - 800 words) that describes your constellation.
It should include but is not being limited to:
a. when does it first appear in the evening sky,This will be graded in the following manner:
b. when is it last seen in the evening sky,
c. mythology or mythologies,
d. major stars and,
e. how you would locate it.
Biographies - Write short biographies for five (5) people (non-astronomers
- in your major) who lived in the time between Copernicus' and Newton's
birth. These should be in your own words, don't copy them out of the Great
Scientists of the World book. One of them should be somebody who exerted
a profound influence on your major and you need to comment on that. If
you are undecided, as a major, pick someone who has influenced an area
of interest to you. This will be graded in the following manner:
4 bios - 4 pts
Profound bio - 2 pts
other stuff - 4 pt
Total - 10 pts
Story summary/Review - You need to read, review and summarize
2 science fiction stories. NO MOVIES or TV shows! The sum/rev needs
to discuss (ex. right vs wrong) at least four points that relate to astronomy.
Write a short paper ( 2 page) for each story. This will be graded in the
following manner:
Structure, grammar, spelling, and punctuation- 3 pts
Content - 4 pts
Readability - 3 pts
Total - 10 pts
Night Sky Observation - separate handout
Sun/Moon Project - separate handout