fandomhigh | Astronomy 101: Moons and Planets

Week 1 -- September 6: Introduction: Overview of the Solar System, its origin and layout

Syllabus | Class Roster

Handouts:
Starmaps: North | South | East | West | Overhead

When the class arrived in the newly refurbished attic classroom, Monty Python's "The Galaxy Song was playing and Ellie was humming along. She was wearing a black t-shirt with an image of the Milky Way Galaxy and a "You are here" arrow. There was a stack of textbooks beside her, along with CDs of a an astronomy program.

"Hi!" Ellie said, smiling broadly. "Welcome to Astronomy 101. I recognize some of you from my summer camp workshops and I'm glad I didn't scare you away by talking too much. Today we're just going to go over a brief introduction to the Solar System, and then I'll show you around the telescope. You'll find the Hartmann text is a little out of date since Pluto was just demoted. But most of the facts should remain the same, and even in the chapter on Pluto there is the debate on just whether it should be a planet or not. Also, the program I'm giving you is a great resource for learning to spot constellations and the planets. Have fun with it."

After having the students introduce themselves, Ellie went on to lecture about the formation and layout of the Solar System. "For fun, check out this website," she said as she finished the lecture. She wrote the URL on the board. "You can create your own little Solar System. And make the planets crash into each other."

Ellie beckoned the students toward a door in the back of the classroom. Stair led upward into another room with a retractable domed roof. "This is Maria," she said, sweeping her arm toward the large telescope that dominated the room. "If you come to the observation lab tonight, we can take a look at a few objects. The moon will be full and we can take a look at the Andromeda Galaxy. I hope I see you all there! Observation Lab attendance is ten percent of your grade, but I hope you learn to enjoy it, too."

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"Please introduce yourselves and tell me your experience with astronomy and why you are taking this course, what you hope to get out of it."

"I'm Gwynn Hood. Where I come from, we rely on the night sky and stars for directional purposes and for touch points... and maybe to see by during raids. I've always loved watching the starts and I enjoyed the things I learned from your wokshop over the summer." Gwynn looks down at the very interesting ground. "I'm hoping to learn more about the sky and how the things up there fit together and work."

"It's good to see you again, Gwynn," Ellie said. "This class is going to have some harder science than the workshops, but I hope you enjoy it."

"Shawn Farrell, I took your workshop over the summer and enjoyed it. I've always found it interesting to know what's out there, so I decided to take it as an actual class this year."

"Welcome back, Shawn," Ellie said, smiling.

"I'm Kaylee Frye. The only experience I have with astronomy is your workshop, which I took over the summer. Guess I'd like to know more about space because it reminds me of home."

"Good to see you again, Kaylee," Ellie said. "You'll learn a lot in this course -- I hope!"

"I'm Marie D'Ancanto and my only experience with astronomy is your workshop this summer. I'm taking this course because I enjoyed your workshop and I like to look at the stars and it might be nice to know what I'm looking at."

Ellie looked at Marie, trying to mask her concern. "I'm glad to see you again, Marie," she said.

"I'm Teddy Altman. I don't really have much experience with this subject, unless you count going to the planetarium once in grade school. I'm taking this class because I need to learn about space."

"Welcome, Teddy," Ellie said. "Going to the planetarium certainly counts, and you'll find plenty to learn about space in this class."

"I'm Matilda Wormwood. I've read about the stars and planets and the origins of their names. And I've looked at them too. I'm taking this class maybe to get a little more in depth about specific peices of the solar system. ~~And to find out why they kicked out Pluto!~~"

Ellie grinned. "You'll get all the depth you want during this course, Matilda," she said.

"I'm Luke Skywalker, from Tatooine in a galaxy far, far away," Luke began. "I've been told astronavigation 'ain't like dustin' crops', which I knew but I've been getting this feeling I'm going to be spending a lot of time in space. The more I know about it, the less chance I have of flying through a black hole, right?"

"Right," Ellie said, looking Luke over curiously. "Luke, if you don't mind, I'd love to talk to you about your home one day."

"Sure," Luke said. "Not much to tell, though. It's a waste of a planet."

Re: Introductions

stargazer-ellie.livejournal.com - 2006-09-07 01:06 (UTC) - Expand

"My name is Alfons Heiderich," it was like Alfons to always be so formal. "In my free time I study rocketry and, well... I supposed that if I were to one day help create something that would find its way into space," hopefully, you know, "it would be a good idea to know a little more than average about where it was headed." Boring, but to the point.

"Good enough reasons right there," Ellie said. "Welcome to the class, Alfons."

Sakura stood up and smiled, steepling her fingers together and doing a strange little rocking motin as she stood; rolling from the balls of her feet to the heels. "I'm Kinomoto Sakura," she said, then wiggled a finger. "But call me Sakura; a lot of people think Kinomoto is my first name." A shrug. "I don't have much experience with astronomy, which I suppose is why I'm taking the class. I've never really had a chance to know anything about the solar system and what's in it, outside of general education..." she frowned, thinking. "So I figured, now was a good a time as any to start learning."

"Welcome to the class," Ellie said. "I hope you enjoy what I have to teach you."

Sakura made a little "V" sign with her fingers. "I have a feeling I will."

"I'm William Kessler, I uh, don't have a lot of experience with Astronomy, but it's kind of always interested me in the back of my mind so, I'm just here to learn about stuff. I guess."

"Welcome, Billy," Ellie said. "Hopefully you'll enjoy yourself in my class!"

"I'm Parker, I have no experience except stargazing with... ahem. A friend. And I'm taking the course partly for the credit, and partly because some of my friend are from 'out there'." Parker waved her arm upward. "So I should probably have a frame of reference."

"Understanding your own home can help you understand other's," Ellie said with a nod. "Welcome to the class."

Astronomy 101: Moons and Planets - Class 1

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