Astronomy & Cosmologies
    updated 12 Feb.2010
    image courtesy of
    .http://soi.stanford.edu/press/ssu11-97/#Images
    FAQs
    Links
    portfolio & eval guidelines
    Observing at Evergreen
    Universe online
    NASA cool pictures
    Web-X
    Research
    Covenant
    Sky & Telescope
    Star Date
    Space weather
    Welcome to the Astronomy & Cosmologies central homepage. Astro & Cosmo is a one-quarter, full-time program at The Evergreen State College with Dr. E.J. Zita. Some years the program is partly web-based. Please see links below for this year's program details.

    Everyone is welcome to join this 16-credit spring program. No faculty signature is required for sophomores and above. If the program is open to first year students this year, to get a signature, please see instructions in the FAQs.

    Sometimes we also open our seminars to additional students, who sign up for "Science Seminar" instead of "Astro & Cosmo." You learn some of our material qualitatively, without math.

    Questions? Email Dr. Zita anytime, or, during Academic Fair, you can usually find me in my office: 2272 Lab II. Be sure to put ASTRO in your email subject header so your message gets past the spam filter.
    annual DETAILS
    Astro & Cosmo
    Science Seminar,
    related programs
    spring 2013
    		16 credits A&C- all level - Algebra prerequisite - no signature requirement - Dr. Chamberlain & colleague TBA will teach - Dr. Zita on leave (Science Seminar is not offered as a separate module this year)
    spring 2010
    		8 credits - all level - needs signature (email your self-eval and eval from faculty from Fall/Win quarter) Undergraduate Research (advanced group contract for students with calculus-based physics prerequisite, interest in potential summer research in astrophysics)
    spring 2009
    NA
    		 Undergraduate Research (advanced group contract for students with calculus-based physics prerequisite, interest in potential summer research in astrophysics)
    2005
    2005
    		 Energy Systems (group contract for advanced students continuing from FW program)
    2004
    2004
    Physics of Astronomy (16 cr), Celestial Navigation (2 or 6 cr), Working the Waters (16 cr), Science Seminar (4 or 8 cr)
    2003
    2003
    Physical Systems (16 cr), Science Seminar (4 or 8 cr)
    2001
    		  Sailpower, Navigation workshops
    2000: A&E with DM
    		   Sacred Places
    1999
    		  Horizon
    1998
    		   Stars, Sky, and Culture

    workshop feedback form

     

    TEXTS: Here are some texts we often use. See this year's webpage above for details and for seminar texts.

    * Universe, by William Kaufmann III and Roger Freedman (always get the most recent edition)

    * Out of the Classroom, by Dennis W. Dawson (2002, Brooks/Cole ISBN 0-534-38015-8 pbk)

    * National Audubon Society Field Guide to the Night Sky (2000, Alfred A. Knopf, NY, ISBN 0-679-40852-5  pbk). This excellent reference text helps you find and understand objects in the sky, and includes classic stories about them.

    OPTIONAL TEXTS because they are out of print or difficult to obtain 

    Foundations of Modern Cosmology, by John F. Hawley and Katherine A. Holcomb
    Echoes of the Ancient Skies, by E.C. Krupp (1983, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-10-508801-8, pbk) 
    Conversing with the planets: How science and myth invented the Cosmos, by Anthony Aveni
    Stars of the First People, by Dorcas S. Miller (1997, Pruett Publishing, Boulder, ISBN 0-87108-858-4  pbk)
    Exploring the night sky with binoculars, by Patrick Moore (2000, Cambridge Univ. Press, ISBN 0521 79390-4  pbk)

     
    REQUIRED EQUIPMENT:
    Some equipment will be available in the College bookstore. For binoculars + tripods, we recommend Don's Camera in downtown Olympia.
    Planisphere, a flat plastic disc starfinder Binoculars (10 x 50), with a  tripod mount and tripod Observing notebook with  unlined pages
    Protractor, a flat plastic semicircular tool for measuring angles Flashlight with the lens painted or taped red.  3-ring binder for your portfolio
    Clear plastic ruler (ruled in centimeters) Calculator is optional. Scientific notation and trig functions are useful. Fancy graphing calculator is overkill.  

     

    OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT:
    You will be able to borrow these tools in class if required. If you want some of your own to keep, see links for ordering information.

    Solar motion demonstrator spectrometer celestial hemisphere

     

    LINKS and more links:

    www.badastronomy.com
    observational mishaps: don't believe everything you see
    Maintained by: E.J. Zita