HOMEWORK INFORMATION FOR VARIABLE STAR COURSE

There will be six homework assignments due throughout the semester. These will be done using the on-line CAPA homework software, at http://capa.etsu.edu/. For directions on how to use the software, go to http://www.etsu.edu/physics/bsmith/variable/capa_directions.html. User names and passwords will be emailed to students at the beginning of the semester.

The due dates for these assignments are posted below. The assignments can be done ANY time before the due date (they can all be done during the first week of classes, if the student desires), but they MUST be done before the posted due date. After that time, access to the assignment will be prohibited by CAPA. It is advised that the homework be done as soon as possible. The first three assignments must be done before the student is allowed to use the telescope on their own.

It is advised that, before trying the homework, the student print out the assignment and review it. You are only allowed THREE TRIES at each problem, so review the material well before starting the homework set, and be sure that you have the correct answer before entering it. Most of the first and second assignments will be review of material covered in Astronomy I and II (the night sky, celestial coordinates, magnitudes, and basic information on telescopes). Most of this material will be in the astronomy textbook and lab manuals used for Astronomy I and Astronomy II. Some additional required material on coordinate systems is available on-line at the University of Colorado at http://lyra.colorado.edu/sbo/astroinfo/coords/coordinates.html. In addition, the Kitt Peak Observer's Calendars at http://www.noao.edu/kpno/skycal/skycal.html and the SIMBAD database at http://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/Simbad will also be needed.

The third assignment covers the basic equipment and setup of the 14" telescope at the ETSU observatory. This homework assignment must be done before the student is allowed to use the telescope on his/her own. A detailed manual describing how to set up and use the telescope will be provided at the beginning of the semester. After the students have studied these, there will be a telescope orientation session for the class at the telescope, where the instructor will review this material. The student should then study this material and then complete the homework set, before using the telescope on their own.

The fourth assignment covers CCDs and photometry. At the beginning of the semester, the instructor will hand out a copy of a manuscript on photometry using CCDs, written by W. Romanishin at the University of Oklahoma. To prepare for this homework assignment, review this manuscript.  There are also numerous websites on CCD's you may use for reference.  In particular, the CCD university site at  http://www.ccd.com/ccdu.html  has lots of detailed information.

The fifth assignment will cover stellar evolution. Most of this material will be review of material covered in Astronomy II. This material will be in the textbook used for Astronomy II.

The last assignment will cover more detailed information on variable stars. Additional material on variable stars (from the American Association of Variable Star Observers) can be found on their website:  http://www.aavso.org/vstar/  and links from that site. This material should be studied before attempting this homework set.

The homework assignments and due dates are:

1. The Night Sky, magnitudes, and Coordinate Systems: Friday of the second week of classes.

2. Light and Telescopes: Friday of the third week of classes.

3. The ETSU Telescope: Friday of the third week of classes.

4. CCDs and Photometry: Friday of the fourth week of classes.

5. Stellar Evolution: Friday of the sixth week of classes.

6. Variable Stars: Friday of the eighth week of classes.