The following is a list of possible projects for extra credit. If
you wish to do an extra credit project, you must arrange the
project with me in advance (except for those projected listed with
our TA David Mestre as contact person) for approval and so that we
can arrange a schedule for completion. These projects would be
equivalent to from 5% (for the computer labs) to 25% (for long
reports) of the grade.
- Computer Labs (see David Mestre) --- we have a set of interactive
computer ``lab'' exercises for astronomy. The current list of activities:
- photoelectric photometry of the Pleiades
- revolution of the moons of Jupiter
- the Hubble redshift-distance relation
- the rotation of Mercury
- the large-scale structure of the universe
- classification of stellar spectra
- the flow of energy out of the Sun
- Extra Observing (see David Mestre) --- if you are interested,
extra observing using the rooftop observatory, or in some cases the
telescopes at the Flower & Cook observatory, can be arranged.
- Short Essays and Reports --- short essays and reports on a variety
of astronomical topics are suitable for extra credit. Here are some
suggestions, though feel free to come up with your own (subject to my
approval):
- biographies (Kepler, Newton, Hubble, Einstein, etc.)
- astronomical phenomena (black holes, neutron stars and pulsars,
quasars, binary stars, nebulae, star clusters, planets,
comets, etc.)
- the Hubble Space Telescope
- the Keck telescopes
- neutrino astronomy
- X-ray or gamma ray astronomy
- radio astronomy
- ancient astronomy
- astronomy and astrology
- the search for extraterrestrial life
- the nature of space and time
- modern astronomy and our place in the universe
- the impact of astronomy on modern physics
- the reporting of astronomy in the media
- Original Artwork --- some of you may be artistically inclined and
might wish to apply your talent to works of art with astronomical themes.
Paintings, music, sculpture, models, stories, poetry, video or whatever
your thing is. Remember to talk to me first, of course.
Contact:
- Steve Myers (DRL 2N3C, 8-5942)
- David Mestre (DRL 4N27, 8-5995)
Be sure to visit the DRL rooftop Student's Observatory on a clear Monday or
Thursday night, or the Flower & Cook observatory during one of the bi-weekly
Wednesday field trips.