Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Elementary Astronomy Lab (Online)

PHYS 1045-SW1

Course: PHYS 1045-SW1
Credits: 1
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: PSCI
CRN: 32954

Course Description

A lab accompanying PHYS 1040. Identification of the constellations of the night sky, co- ordinates 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

  • Tirion, Will. Cambridge Star Atlas. Fourth Ed. Cambridge University Press. ISBN: 978-0521173636
  • A telescope, such as a FunScope 76 mm TableTop Reflector
    • The Cedar City Library may be able to lend you a telescope if you are a local student. Other similar telescopes may work as well.

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:
Item | Percentage
Lab Reports | 40%
Homework | 10%
Discussions | 15%
Presentation | 10%
Quizzes | 25%

Lab Reports
There are a variety of labs in PHYS 1045. Some are conducted outside, while others can be done indoors. The outdoor labs will involve using a telescope to observe things like stars, nebulae, and the Moon. Indoor labs explore a variety of topics such as sunspots, asteroids, and creating images of celestial objects. The lab reports make up the majority of the final grade (40%). All lab reports are to be turned in by the deadline. No late work will be accepted.

Discussions
Discussing work with other observers is a vital part of astronomy. Each module will include a discussion where students can discuss their efforts and results with the other members of the class. These discussions account for 15% of the final grade. No late work will be accepted.

Homework
There are two homework assignments in this course for which the student will make observations of the Moon through a complete lunar cycle. The observations are short, and consist of observing the position of the Moon a few times a week. The homework is worth 10% of the final grade. No late work will be accepted.

Presentation
The student will prepare a short paper on a space-related topic of their choice. Any topic can be chosen, but it has to be cleared with the instructor first. The presentation accounts for 10% of the final grade.  

Quizzes
There are two quizzes in this course. One will be a constellation quiz that will assess the student's knowledge of the constellations, while the final quiz will assess the student's knowledge of all topics covered in the lab. The quizzes are worth 25% of the final grade. No late work will be accepted.


Grade Scheme
The following grading standards will be used in this class. Note that the grade descriptions come from University Policy 6.13:

Grade | Range | Description
A | 93-100% | Excellent
A- | 89-93% | Excellent
B+ | 86-89% | Above Average
B | 83-86% | Above Average
B- | 79-83% | Above Average
C+ | 76-79% | Average
C | 72-76% | Average
D+ | 67-72% | Below average
D | 63-67% | Below average
D- | 60-63% | Below average
F | <60% | Failure/poor


Course Outline

Course Assessment Table

Course Assessments | Course Outcomes
Labs, Homework, Quizzes | Outcome 1
Labs, Homework, Quizzes | Outcome 2
Labs, Homework, Quizzes | Outcome 3
Labs, Homework, Quizzes | Outcome 4
Labs, Homework, Quizzes, Presentation, Discussions | Outcome 5



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

An online course requires the student to meet deadlines and stay involved with course content. Students should log into the course every few days to ensure that they are aware of questions being asked in Chat, announcements made by the instructor, or to view assignment feedback.

Students local to Cedar City are encouraged to visit and utilize the Ashcroft Observatory. The observatory is open on Monday nights when the sky is clear (you can find night sky forecasts here: Links to an external site.)

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.