ASTRO 10200

Astronomy Laboratory

Hunter College of CUNY

Hybrid Course

Instructor: Pranjal Agarwal

Office: HN1200

Email: [email protected]

Class Time: Fridays 12:00–2:50 PM

In-Person Lab Location: HNC115

Virtual Office Hours: Thursdays 4:00–5:00 PM (virtual, by email appointment)

Course Description

ASTRO 10200 is a 3-credit, introductory, one-semester astronomy laboratory course designed for non-science majors. The approach in this course is to emphasize the ideas of Astronomy and a qualitative understanding of the physical processes that shape the Universe via laboratory exercises. Each laboratory exercise is self-contained and accompanied with a one-hour in-depth lecture component discussing the fundamental physical principles and methods used, based on the co-requisite/pre-requisite course, ASTRO 10000.

Topics: Basic observational features of the night sky, the Copernican revolution and Kepler’s laws of planetary motion, Newton’s laws of motion and gravitation, properties of light and spectroscopy, lenses and telescopes, stellar evolution and classification, galaxies, dark matter, dark energy, and Hubble’s Law.

Mode of Instruction

This course includes both online and in-person components. There are four mandatory in-person labs, unless told otherwise by the instructor. All other labs will be completed remotely via the Mastering Astronomy web portal.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this course, students will be able to:

• Identify and apply fundamental concepts of astronomy, including planetary motion, gravitation, light, spectroscopy, and cosmology. Students will learn astronomical theories and be assessed through quizzes and laboratory assignments.
• Apply the scientific method to explore astronomical phenomena, including hypothesis development, observation, experimentation, measurement, data analysis, and presentation. Students will conduct twelve experiments (four in-person, eight online) corresponding to course topics.
• Use scientific tools for laboratory investigations, including simulations and data analysis software. Students collaborate on in-person experiments but submit individual lab reports.
• Gather, analyze, and interpret data and present findings in effective written lab reports based on classroom discussions and simulation results.
• Apply research ethics and unbiased assessment in gathering and reporting scientific data.

Required Texts and Materials

Schedule of Experiments

The laboratory exercises consist of twelve experiments that complement the ASTRO 10000 lecture. Four experiments are performed in the laboratory under instructor supervision; the remaining eight are performed online using simulations via Mastering Astronomy.

Grading & Course Components

Your final grade is determined by your performance on lab reports and quizzes.

Component Breakdown

Important Grading Notes

• Lab 0 does not count toward your total grade.
• Your two lowest online lab scores will be automatically dropped. This drop policy applies only to online labs.
• In-person lab scores will NOT be dropped. You may make up only one in-person lab during the designated makeup week.
• There is no makeup for online labs after the due dates.

Course Policies & Procedures (Super Important!)

1. Lab Report Submission Policy

• In-Person Lab Deadlines: After each in-person experiment, a lab report must be submitted within one week unless otherwise specified. Deadlines are firm and enforced automatically by Brightspace (the submission folders close automatically at the deadline).
• Online Lab Deadlines: Each remote lab has interactive tutorials and exercises on the Pearson portal. The remote labs and their due dates can be found on the Pearson platform. No late submissions will be accepted under any circumstance. The dropped-score policy is the safety net for any emergencies or technical issues.
• Format: All in-person lab reports must contain an instructor-signed data sheet. It is your responsibility to embed any necessary images directly into your PDF document. Reports must be handwritten individually. Reports without a data sheet or reports that are computer-typed will NOT be accepted.
• Resubmissions: The system will only keep your most recent submission. You may replace your work within the deadlines as many times as you want. Please ensure your final upload is the version you want to be graded.
• Late Work: Late reports will not be accepted after the deadline for any reason.

2. Lab Session Policies

• Upon completion of the lab, students must seek the instructor’s signature on their gathered data. This signature validates the authenticity of the data. No credit will be given for a report submitted without a signed data sheet.
• Students are expected to arrive on time to avoid missing important instructions. Late arrival: 1 point deduction per five minutes. More than 45 minutes late = absent with no credit given.
• During the labs, you are to only discuss within your group or talk to the instructor. Talking to other groups will be considered cheating and may result in deducted points.
• Although you are encouraged to discuss within your group, please make sure to do so quietly. Excessive loudness, laughing around, etc., disturbs other students, and such repeated behavior may result in your or your group members’ removal from the lab session and lost points.
• Please inform the instructor if you want to step out of the lab mid-session for any reason.

3. Communication Protocol

For questions about the course or the content, check the following: the syllabus, recent announcements, the course discussion forum on Brightspace. Only if you do not find a solution in any of the above, or if you have a private matter to discuss, feel free to contact me.

4. AI Usage Policy

AI tools are recognized as valuable resources for exploring course concepts, provided they are used as supplementary learning aids. However, all homework, lab reports, and examinations must be completed independently without AI assistance to ensure students master the necessary problem-solving skills. Using AI will only prevent you from understanding the material, which will harm your quiz scores. Unauthorized AI usage in assignments/reports will result in point deductions, a zero penalty, and may be reported to the college for academic dishonesty in accordance with the college’s policy.

P/NC Grading Option

Hunter has adopted a P/NC designation. Under this designation, P represents A, B, C, and D. Please notice that certain programs such as the pre-health programs require letter grades, and the Department will not approve course repeat applications from students who already passed the course with a P.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a guiding principle of the Hunter College learning community because all students should have the opportunity to learn and perform on a level playing field.

Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to, cheating, plagiarism, obtaining an unfair advantage, and falsifying records or documents (see examples) whether intentional or not. Hunter College upholds the right to promote academic integrity on its campus as an educational institution of the City University of New York. The College has the responsibility to review all charges of academic dishonesty and implement sanctions, including, but not limited to, failing the course, official transcript notation, suspension or expulsion from the College when it has been determined that academic dishonesty did occur.

The College cannot stress the importance of zero tolerance in plagiarism. You can discuss the lab with your peers in class and ask questions, but you have to take your own measurements, answer questions, and write your own report; include your lab partners’ (collaborators’) names with your report. Plagiarism is enforced with software monitoring.

For more information: Hunter College Academic Integrity Statement

Services for Students with Disabilities (ADA Policy)

In compliance with the American Disability Act of 1990 (ADA) and with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Hunter College is committed to ensuring educational parity and accommodations for all students with documented disabilities and/or medical conditions.

It is recommended that all students with documented disabilities (Emotional, Medical, Physical, and/or Learning) consult the Office of AccessABILITY, located in Room E1214B, to secure necessary academic accommodations.

For more information: http://www.hunter.cuny.edu/access

Hunter College Policy on Sexual Misconduct

In compliance with the CUNY Policy on Sexual Misconduct, Hunter College reaffirms the prohibition of any sexual misconduct, which includes sexual violence, sexual harassment, and gender-based harassment retaliation against students, employees, or visitors, as well as certain intimate relationships.

Students who have experienced any form of sexual violence on or off campus (including CUNY-sponsored trips and events) are entitled to the rights outlined in the Bill of Rights for Hunter College.

Reporting Resources

• Sexual Violence: Students are strongly encouraged to immediately report the incident by calling 911, contacting NYPD Special Victims Division Hotline (646-610-7272) or their local police precinct, or contacting the College’s Public Safety Office (212-772-4444).
• All Other Forms of Sexual Misconduct: Students are also encouraged to contact the College’s Title IX Campus Coordinator, Dean John Rose ([email protected] or 212-650-3262) or Colleen Barry ([email protected] or 212-772-4534) and seek complimentary services through the Counseling and Wellness Services Office, Hunter East 1123.

CUNY Policy on Sexual Misconduct: Full Policy Document