I'll keep an eye on the course guidelines as you're working, and make sure we record Astronomy Cast episodes that can support what you're doing.

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Fraser Cain
Publisher
Universe Today - Free space news delivered by email every weekday.

That sounds like a good idea.

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Forming opinions as we speak

What is the program Fraser will be keeping an eye on?

I'm just throwing out ideas. Is the outline approach ok? Can we not improve upon those sections and titles? If not, I don't mind writing a section or two to stir activity, but it would be nice to get more input to help establish the necessary course goals and criteria.

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Lighten up! This is a stellar board! Author: duh.

"The Sun, with all the planets revolving around it, and depending on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as though it had nothing else in the universe to do..." Author: Galileo supposedly.

I just had a thought. What if the unit/lesson instructor records their lesson as a podcast? All they would need is some basic recording software (eg: Audacity is incredibly simple, and freeware, I use it for my own weekly podcast) and maybe if we went that route Fraser could host the .mp3 on his libsyn.com account and link to it here.

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I was just sitting here contemplating the immortal words of Socrates who said, "I drank what?"

"Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot." --Carl Sagan "Pale Blue Dot"

[Edit: WARNING: Reading the following long post can be hazardous to your health!
I have arrived at this conclusion due to the lack of any, critical or just colorful, responses. Those who have read this have either been killed dead or are writhing in pain so much as to lack the ability to warn you - the next victim. So I feel morally bound to warn you since I am, of course, imune to its loathsome venom. ]

Just for grins, I offer this little bit as a taste for our schooling appetite. It is meant to be a little different, especially since this is for an introductory course. There are links that are needed, but I would like your opinion first before even considering it as a course direction option. If you do like it, then I will complete this chapter on our planet, then offer it in the Astronomy forum for the full polish treatment from the local Ozonians before going to see the wizard and get this a goin’.

ok, roll 'em...


You and Your Planet: [We have to get a better title than this. Help.]
.....Our Atmosphere:

Ah, here you are! We’ve been waiting for you to come aboard. Please secure the hatch behind you as we can afford no air leak once in space. Because of your vast experience with XBOX simulations, we’ve elected you to be the pilot. Don’t be nervous and, yes, your controls will be XBOX standards. I’ll be your navigator and guide. So, take the pilot seat, now turn that key, push back the switch rocker cover, lift up on the toggle, ignore the alarm, and throw the switch. We’re off!

Ain’t it a beautiful day to be climbing up through the atmosphere? We’ve just left the lower layer of our atmosphere, the troposphere, and are now in the stratosphere. Level out here for a bit so I can tell you some stuff. There are some important events happening up here.

In 350 BC, Aristotle wrote a book entitled Meteorology. Meteorology, then and today, deals with atmospheric phenomena, so weathermen aren't necessarily meteor experts afterall. Aristotle held that there were five elements that made up the universe – earth, water, air, fire, and the aether. He reasoned that each element had its place and because they are attracted toward a center, then a spherical Earth had to be the consequence. He supported this idea with two observations: the Earth’s shadow cast onto the moon during a lunar eclipse is round every time, and that the stars appear to move southward as a traveler moves northward. As you look out at the horizon notice the curvature of the earth. Yep, it’s a sphere; those that think otherwise, well their thinking is not…well rounded. Oh, you like puns? That is good. I’ll keep them to a minimum as some consider them punishment.

[ppg added] Since it is so late in the afternoon, turn to the west for a moment. Thanks. Do you notice that pinkish color running north and south? It is just above that darker region, isn't it? Yep. That darker region is the shadow of the Earth as it goes through the atmosphere and beyond. Notice, too, that it exhibits curvature because our planet is round. This phenomenon is known as the Belt of Venus and all that you see here is visible from the ground, though from a mountain top the curvature is more obvious. Huh? You want to know why they call it the Belt of Venus when Venus has nothing to do with it? Hey, what do you think this is - a dialogue?

Our atmosphere has changed in composition since its original days, billions of years ago. It is believed the Earth’s early atmosphere was mainly carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide – volcanoes contributing greatly to this - as much of the other molecules were broken apart by sunlight. Today our atmosphere consists mainly of nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%). Would you believe argon is the next element at about 1%? Carbon dioxide is less than 0.05%.

Here in the stratosphere, oxygen plays an important role on our environment. Not only do we have to breathe it to survive, but it also protects us from the higher energy rays from the sun. When oxygen atoms collide, they can combine to form molecular oxygen. Diatomic is the term used when two atoms form. When three oxygen atoms combine it is known as ozone, which, no doubt, you’ve heard about. Oxygen is constantly combining with each other but, in the stratosphere, the sunlight is causing them to break apart, a process called photodecomposition. Below 30km altitude, however, the greater atmospheric density allows molecular oxygen to survive much longer. It is both the diatomic oxygen and ozone that protect us from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation which is known to cause skin cancer and other problems. This has become a bigger issue in recent years because there is evidence showing there is an ozone depletion process happening for reasons not completely understood, though aerosols and other human contributions are likely culprits.

Of the three commonly known divisions of ultraviolet light, UVA, UVB, UVC, molecular oxygen protects us from the latter two which are the more dangerous. UVA is light that is a little more energetic than violet light. This light easily penetrates our atmosphere and our skin but does not do much damage. Diatomic oxygen is the one most helpful in stopping the worst – UVC. However, the sun produces more of the UVB light than the UVC and it is the ozone we rely on most to prevent UVB from reaching the surface. This is why so much interest is in monitoring it and figuring out ways to prevent its depletion.

I know you’re ready to climb into outer space in order to feel untethered by gravity’s grip, but there is one more thing of interest here in the atmosphere – color. Yep, this ain’t no black and white adventure; color we are blessed to see and colorful we be. Notice how the blue sky has become a deeper and richer blue. This color is light that has been affected also by atoms and molecules, mainly nitrogen and oxygen, in the atmosphere. However, in this case they are light rays, or photons if you like, that are being zinged, or scattered, into all directions. Lord Rayleigh, following John Tyndall’s work, was able to show that the higher energy rays (i.e. blue) from the sun would scatter much more than the lower energy rays (e.g. red). This means the sky looks blue because we see more of the scattered blue rays than the other, less energetic, ones. This produces the net result of the blue color.

This color aspect of light I mention to you because nearly all that is known about astronomy has come from the information astronomers have gleaned for light itself. Up until relatively recent history, only the light visible to our eye was useful to us. However, modern astronomy takes full advantage of nearly the entire range of light, from gamma rays to radio waves. As a result, we have a lot of cool places to travel.

Go ahead and nose up toward space. Notice how the temperature outside is getting warmer. Of course, as we are now entering the mesosphere, the temperature will begin to decrease with altitude. We are now higher than aircraft can go but lower than spacecraft can travel. As a result, it is often ignored and has even been called the ignorosphere by certain, more colorful, scientists. Who knew scientists could be humorous? You did? Oh, you have lurked on bautforum.com, no wonder you know scientists have a great sense of humor. I think they are both quite comical.

It is here in the mesosphere where most incoming meteors burn-up. They enter by the millions every day but their high speed encounter with this denser region creates enormous frictional heat that vaporizes them.

Speaking of high speed, we need to crank up the engines enough to get us eventually up to a speed around 17,500 mph (7.8 km/sec). At this speed we can coast around the Earth with an altitude of around 200 km without the need for engines. But we’re not there yet.

We are now entering the thermosphere where, once again, the temperature will climb as we climb, too. In fact, the temperatures here can reach 2000 deg. C. due to the sun’s radiation upon these molecules. No wonder it's called the thermosphere.

Great, we have arrived and can look down on the Earth as we talk about our planet. Some have said that spacecraft escape gravity, but this is incorrect. We are constantly falling toward Earth but we are going so fast that we fall only into more space and never actually to Earth. Of course, if we slow down, then down we go.

[Added: Meteorology sentences]

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Lighten up! This is a stellar board! Author: duh.

"The Sun, with all the planets revolving around it, and depending on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as though it had nothing else in the universe to do..." Author: Galileo supposedly.

Gaaaaahhhh!

O, sorry. I didn't mean to distrub this slumbering thread. But, due to the diligence of new member Sleepy_Sentry and old friend 01101001, I've been able to locate the Introduction to Astronomy course of the MIT OpenCourseWare offerings (buried deep within the physics hierarchy). HTH

Ah, there is hope, finally.

Gee, it was oddly placed.

I downloaded it and found many folders. The internet link icon in the home folder failed. I went straight down with the first folder of each subsequent window and the last window was the final exam link. It looks tough.

Assuming I can figure out how I can get each lesson going, it would suit me fine. However, this does not look like an introductory level course I would expect to find here. Based on the quizes I found, this looks like some tough introductory level course from someplace like MIT. No surprise, it is from MIT.

I would vote for an easier introductory course. However, if no other course is found or written, then this student would enjoy engaging this program assuming other Bauters are along for the ride.

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Lighten up! This is a stellar board! Author: duh.

"The Sun, with all the planets revolving around it, and depending on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as though it had nothing else in the universe to do..." Author: Galileo supposedly.

Whoops, sorry. I forgot this thread.

The Atmosphere post is very nice, I think It can be the first chapter of the Course. The info is great. I really appreciate it. I'll contribute whatever I can.

I think we can put a small multiple choice quiz after each chapter, so that the students can immediately test whatever they've learnt. A multiple choice for The Atmosphere can be :

What did Aristotle base his spherical earth theory on?
1. The phases of the moon.
2. The stars looking brighter as we go to higher latitudes.
3. Stars appear to move southward as a traveller moves north.
4. The expeditions to faraway places.

What is photodecomposition?
1. Sunlight causing ozone to break apart.
2. The process of sonversion of sunlight into plant food.
3. Combining of three oxygen atoms in sunlight.

What does the sun produce the most?
1. UVA, which ozone stops
2. UVB, which ozone stops
3. UVC, which oxygen stops
4. UVB, which oxygen stops.

Where do most incoming meteors burn up?
1. Mesophere
2. Stratosphere
3. Ozone layer
4. The ground.

You see a ship coming from the horizon. It's mast appears first, then the sails, then the hull. What would you conclude?
1. The earth is round, since the horizon is not in the same plane.
2. The ship is resurfacing from the water.
3. The sea level is higher at the shore.

This will just be a quiz at the end of a lesson, we can conduct larger and more subjective exams later. Such a small quiz may make students confident they've learnt something.

One more thing I noticed: The lack of numbers or equations. This diagram about the oxygen ozone cycle is good, btw.

Maybe, for the mathematically minded, we can include a small section at the end of every lesson, which may contain a mathematical explanation of the main content. Here, it's not necessary, since we can include escape veolicity and orbits in the chapter on gravity. Maybe we can mention the formula for Rayleigh scattering here. (the 1/(omega)⁴ ).

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Limericks, written by me: http://limericker.blogspot.com

That's the spirit, and thanks for the input. It is only a sample of a possible style we might employ for an introductory course. Besides, it is more meteorology than astronomy. I just imagined getting in a spaceship and headin' out. I was mindful of Sagan's voyage once I got strapped in the seat next to the kid pilot.

Remmember, I come more as a student than a teacher. My lack of knowledge and limited mastery of grammar gives me quick cause to limit my authorship, though it would be fun to assist.

Yes, that seems to be the plan, though there may be a way to enter the answers and get graded automaticially. The goal would be an actual certificate for each course.

Yes. Fraser's suggestion is to support Wiki Books, so we would use Wiki links throughout the text. I left most of them out to speed up the chapter style demonstration.

Maybe we could offer a bonus section via various links throughout the chapter that would get the math wheels turning. It would keep the text looking simpler and cleaner. There may be other tools besides math that can be created and made as linked pages. Graphs, tables, asterisms, enlargements for thumbnails.

Before we can go far, we need more input from others in how to do a course BAUT can be proud of.

hhEb09'1 has presented a very classy introductory course. What do you think of it?

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Lighten up! This is a stellar board! Author: duh.

"The Sun, with all the planets revolving around it, and depending on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as though it had nothing else in the universe to do..." Author: Galileo supposedly.

The MIT course is a bit too advanced... the lecture notes show that. We are looking for something on a lower level, I think.

The wikibooks idea is nice, but the forum could have a section for the course, where the instructors post, students interact, etc. Then the course could be put on wikibooks.

Let the ideas keep coming. I hope other BAUTers show up in this thread. Please speak up!

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Limericks, written by me: http://limericker.blogspot.com

I teach several courses at RIT, both at the introductory, survey level, and at a more advanced level for students who have taken a couple of years of physics and math. All my course material is already available freely. The astronomy courses are

(intro level) Stellar Astronomy
http://spiff.rit.edu/classes/phys230/phys230.html

(intro level) Extragalactic Astronomy (a bit out of date, alas)
http://spiff.rit.edu/classes/phys240/phys240.html

(a bit more math) Astronomy for science majors
http://spiff.rit.edu/classes/phys301/phys301.html

(lots and lots of math and calculus) Stellar Astrophysics
http://spiff.rit.edu/classes/phys440/phys440.html

Observational Astronomy
http://spiff.rit.edu/classes/phys445/syllabus.html

People are welcome to use bits and pieces, as long as they honor the Creative Commons License.

Enjoy!

Michael Richmond

Wow! Very nice. I would think this would be a great way to get started.

Assuming no commerical use, can we add to it, if desired, and present it without copyright issues?

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Lighten up! This is a stellar board! Author: duh.

"The Sun, with all the planets revolving around it, and depending on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as though it had nothing else in the universe to do..." Author: Galileo supposedly.

I think the license is clear enough... I like it.

George, we can use these courses... they seem very good to me...

Thanks Mr. Richmond.

I hope other BAUTers join in the enthusiasm... George and I aren't by any means teachers... we're students.

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Limericks, written by me: http://limericker.blogspot.com

As the license states, you are free to share the material and modify it, as long as

a) you provide attribution (i.e. state that some/all of the material
was written by me)

b) don't charge for it

c) make it available to others under the same conditions

The full details can be read at the Creative Commons License page.

Michael

Thanks again Michael, I think you may have gotten us over the lethargic hump.

I would encourage others to look your course over. [I am rushed and may be out for a week or so.]

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Lighten up! This is a stellar board! Author: duh.

"The Sun, with all the planets revolving around it, and depending on it, can still ripen a bunch of grapes as though it had nothing else in the universe to do..." Author: Galileo supposedly.

I am one of the BAUTers that is in the 'beginner who wants to learn' category. I was so happy when I found this forum because of the information available. I would love to be part of the Astronomy Class.

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Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend.
Inside of a dog it's too dark to read.
- Groucho Marx

Same here... my interest is in optics (learing how to properly use them), and interpreting data, specifically, visual interpretations.

Of course I know this would be basic astronomy, and I would definitley love to be a part of it! Don't be surprised if I ask, "what color would that gas be?"