Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Elementary Astronomy Lab (Face-to-Face)

PHYS 1045-02

Course: PHYS 1045-02
Credits: 1
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSCI
CRN: 31730

Course Description

A lab accompanying PHYS 1040. Identification of the constellations of the night sky, coordinate systems used in the sky, skills in observation and telescope operation, and theoretical experiments will all be part of this hands-on lab. Labs will be held at the University Observatory five (5) miles west of the campus unless otherwise specified. A minimum grade of ā€œCā€ (2.0 or above) must be earned in this course before it can be counted in a physical science major or minor or as a prerequisite for any other course. (Fall, Spring, Summer) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Co-requisite(s): PHYS 1040 Prerequisite(s): MATH 1010 or equivalent recommended Registration Restriction(s): Intensive English Program majors may not enroll General Education Category: Physical Sciences

Required Texts

All materials will be provided through Canvas. You will need to print out the outdoor labs BEFORE you come to the observatory, as we don't have a printer there. If you end up writing out the lab on notebook paper rather than the actual lab paper, you will receive a 10 point per lab deduction.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

  1. Students will learn to identify constellations, planets, and will become familiar with the Moon and its cycles.
  2. Students will learn to use a telescope to observe celestial objects.
  3. Students will use planetarium software to study objects in the night sky as well as plan telescope observations.
  4. Students will learn to identify galaxies, star clusters, nebulae, asteroids, and other objects in archival images.
  5. Students will learn to communicate their observations to other observers.

Course Requirements

Your course grade will be determined as follows:

ItemPercentage
Lab Reports40%
Homework25%
Presentation10%
Quizzes25%

Lab Reports:

If it is a clear night, we will be meeting at the observatory. If it's cloudy, we'll be on campus in room SC 022. I'll post an announcement on Canvas by 8:00 pm stating where we will be meeting. It is your responsibility to make sure you are getting the Canvas announcements. Observatory lab reports will be due before you leave for the night. LABS MUST BE STAPLED, WITH PAGES IN ORDER.

Homework:

You will have 4 homework assignments throughout the semester. Some of the homework will involve observing the Moon, and others will be indoors. You are welcome to work with other students on the homework, although each student will have to turn in their own work. Homework will be due at the beginning of lab, and collected in the first 5 minutes.

Quizzes:

There will be two quizzes: the first is a constellation quiz, administered at the observatory soon after the first outdoor lab. The other is the final quiz, which will be administered in lab on the last day of lab (see the schedule below).

Presentation:

Everyone will have the opportunity to do a short, 5 minute presentation on a space-related topic. No PowerPoint will be allowed, as we don't have that set up at the observatory. You will prepare a short, one page report on your topic that will be turned in to me as evidence that you have done the presentation. You MUST clear your topic with me at least 24 hours before the date of your presentation, otherwise you will not be allowed to present.

Course Outline

Preliminary Schedule:
Date Lab Assignments Due
9/3/2025 | Syllabus Overview SC 228 9:00 pm | None
9/10/2025 | Group B: TBD | Lab 1
9/17/2025 | Group D: TBD | Lab 1
9/24/2025 | Group B: TBD | Lab 2/Homework 1
10/1/2025 | Group D: TBD | Lab 2/Homework 1
10/8/2025 | Group B: TBD | Lab 3/Homework 2
10/15/2025 | No Class | Fall Break
10/22/2025 | Group D: TBD | Lab 3/Homework 2
10/29/2025 | Group B: TBD | Lab 4/Homework 3
11/5/2025 | Group D: TBD | Lab 4/Homework 3
11/12/2025 | Group B: TBD | Lab 5/Homework 4
11/19/2025 | Group D: TBD | Lab 5/Homework 4
11/26/2025 | No Class | Thanksgiving
12/3/2025 | Groups B&D | Final Quiz

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

  • No late labs: NO LATE LABS WILL BE ACCEPTED. LABS THAT FAIL TO MEET CRITERIA WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED.
  • No late homework: No late homework will be accepted.
  • Make-up labs: There are NO make-up labs except for documented medical emergencies and university-required trips.
  • No extra credit work is available. If you're doing well you don't need it, and if you're not doing well you should put that effort into regular class work. Additionally, the instructor will not respond to emails or requests to bump grades.

Attendance Policy

  • Regular attendance is required at all class meetings. Vacations and leaving early for break are not acceptable excuses. Do not make travel plans that conflict with labs. If your parents will be making your travel plans, inform them of this policy and the official university academic calendar.

Course Fees

$13.50

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.