http://stargazer-ellie.livejournal.com/ ([identity profile] stargazer-ellie.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] fandomhigh2006-09-06 12:37 am
Entry tags:

Astronomy 101: Moons and Planets - Class 1

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 You'll find the Hartmann text is a little out of date since Pluto was just demoted.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."

Re: Talk amongst yourselves

[identity profile] untouchableskin.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 11:08 am (UTC)(link)
Marie sat in the back of the room, careful to keep empty seats around her.

Re: Talk amongst yourselves

[identity profile] notafairmaiden.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 11:39 am (UTC)(link)
Gwynn smiled at Marie.

Re: Talk amongst yourselves

[identity profile] untouchableskin.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 12:40 pm (UTC)(link)
Marie gave Gwynn a hesitant smile back. She wasn't sure what, if anything, the other girl knew.

Re: Talk amongst yourselves

[identity profile] notafairmaiden.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 12:44 pm (UTC)(link)
Since Gwynn didn't listen to the radio, she had no idea that anything bad had happened. However, Marie had seemed nice over the summer.

Re: Talk amongst yourselves

[identity profile] untouchableskin.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 12:46 pm (UTC)(link)
Marie fidgeted with her gloves and tried to pay attention to Ellie's lecture.

Re: Talk amongst yourselves

[identity profile] enginegirl.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 11:44 am (UTC)(link)
Kaylee gave Marie a small smile and waved.

Re: Talk amongst yourselves

[identity profile] untouchableskin.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 12:40 pm (UTC)(link)
"Hey," Marie said. "Um, thanks for being there the other day."

Re: Talk amongst yourselves

[identity profile] enginegirl.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 12:47 pm (UTC)(link)
"Anytime," Kaylee said sincerely. "How are ya?"

She wondered if that was a silly question.

Re: Talk amongst yourselves

[identity profile] untouchableskin.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 12:51 pm (UTC)(link)
Marie shrugged. "Everyone's been okay so far. Mostly I'm just worried that I'll hurt someone else."

Re: Talk amongst yourselves

[identity profile] enginegirl.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 01:14 pm (UTC)(link)
"Glad to hear everyone's been okay, though I can't imagine why they wouldn't be," Kaylee said seriously.

Re: Talk amongst yourselves

[identity profile] untouchableskin.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 01:15 pm (UTC)(link)
"Because I put Jamie in a coma," Marie said. "And it would be really easy for me to hurt someone else."

Re: Talk amongst yourselves

[identity profile] enginegirl.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 01:40 pm (UTC)(link)
"Well, I ain't goin' nowhere. You're my friend, no matter what," Kaylee said. She really wanted Marie to know that.

Re: Talk amongst yourselves

[identity profile] untouchableskin.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 01:45 pm (UTC)(link)
Marie smiled. "Thank you, Kaylee. And I promise I'll be careful so I don't hurt you."

Re: Talk amongst yourselves

[identity profile] enginegirl.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 02:35 pm (UTC)(link)
"Anytime," Kaylee said again, smiling back.

Re: Talk amongst yourselves

[identity profile] notthehulk.livejournal.com 2006-09-06 08:25 pm (UTC)(link)
Teddy watched Marie out of the corner of his eye, and was very proud of himself for not staring outright. He was too afraid to wave hello because he might do something stupid.

Like ask for an autograph.

He flails like the big ol' fanboy that his is.