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Home , Gordon Eklund, Jerry Pournelle, John Scalzi, John Varley (author), Larry Niven, William Rotsler

SCIE607 – Exploring Astronomy through

Instructor: Roy Kilgard Office: Room B-3, Van Vleck Observatory Phone: 860-685-3664 Email: [email protected] Office Hours: by appointment

I. Course description: Our conceptual understanding of the world around us is shaped by our experiences, often in subtle ways. In this media-dominated world, the public’s predominant exposure to science comes from science fiction in popular culture, especially TV and movies. In this course, we will examine the way in which popular fiction has influenced our collective knowledge about astronomy: the good, the bad, and the really bad. Wide-ranging topics will include asteroid and comets threatening the Earth, travel through space and time, and life in the universe. Through lecture, discussion, and observation of the heavens, we will examine these topics through the lens of science to expose the reality of the universe that is our home.

II. Course Goals: This course will provide an introduction to many of the astronomical concepts most commonly portrayed in science fiction and pop culture at large. While we will make extensive use of film, television and literature, this is not a course in film, lit crit, etc. It is a science course and, as such, will involve discussion and demonstration of scientific concepts, laboratory exercises, telescopic observations, and quantitative problem solving. Emphasis will be placed on conceptual understanding and critical evaluation of scientific topics.

III. Preparation, commitment and classroom policies: This course assumes no formal background in astronomy or other physical sciences. The course will involve some high school level math, and students should be comfortable with basic algebra and geometry. Students are expected to complete all assignments. This is a small class so participation in class discussion is absolutely mandatory. There will be no use of electronic devices (laptops, tablets, phones, etc.) without prior approval of the instructor. Offenders of this policy will be required to bring donuts for the entire class at its next meeting.

IV. Components of the course: The class will meet on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. There will be telescopic observing sessions throughout the term as the weather allows.

V. Evaluation: There will be several in-class group work and occasional homework assignments. In place of a final exam, there will be a final oral and written project.

Group work: 15% Homework: 15% Short writing assignments: 15% Participation: 20% Oral Presentation: 10% Final Paper: 25%

1 VI. Readings/viewings: Reading assignments will consist of articles from the popular scientific literature (e.g., Scientific American) and short works of science fiction, as well as one novel. In most cases PDFs will be provided on the course Moodle page. A tentative reading list is below. In addition, there is a suggested viewing list of science fiction films below.

VII. Final project (brief synopsis): For the final project, each student will select a novel from a list provided by the instructor. Students will write a 10-page paper describing the major astronomical topics covered in their novel. Students will also prepare a brief (5 – 10 minute) in-class presentation on their novel and the astronomical topics covered therein.

VIII: Topics to be covered: 1. The nature of science: Astronomy as observational science and why humans are terrible observers 2. Get some perspective: knowing our place in space and time. 3. Less than 12 parsecs: Size and distance in space 4. Practically astronomy? The Sun, stars, and the greatest science story ever told 5. Let there be light! 6. Death of a star and coping with leftovers 7. Shakespearian astronomy plus a crash course in physics 8. Vulcan has no Moon: Exoplanets and their environs 9. Death from above! Asteroids, comets, and other minor matters 10. Oz is always floating: Gravity and weightlessness 11. Ludicrous speed: GO! Black holes, worm holes, and faster than light travel 12: Tales from the dark side: dark matter, dark energy, dark thoughts 13. On being your own grandfather: time travel and relativity 14. Extraterrestrial life, or something like it: ET, habitability, and the nature of life 15. The truth is out there: the ongoing search for intelligence 16. Multiverses: real, imaginary, or both? 17. The most dangerous science fiction: Astrology, doomsday predictions, and crackpot theories 18. The undiscovered country: the future of science fact and fiction

Tentative short story reading list: Jerry Otlion, In the Autumn of the Empire Arthur C. Clarke, The Sentinel , There Will Come Soft Rains Stephen Baxter, The Sun People Arthur C. Clarke, Summertime on Icarus , A Dance to Strange Musics , The Hole Man , Nightfall Arthur C. Clarke, The Star Gregory Benford, Bow Shock Shara & McDevitt, Lighthouse

2 Suggested sci-fi movie viewing list: (2009) Apollo 13 (1995) 2001, A Space Odyssey (1968) Contact (1997) The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951) Gravity (2013) Europa Report (2013) Ender’s Game (2013) Alien (1979) Prometheus (2012)

Possible novels for final projects: Supernova, Rover Macbride Allen and Eric Kotani (1991) Tau Zero, (1970) Flux, Stephen Baxter (1994) Timescape, Gregory Benford (1981) Shiva Descending, Gregory Benford and (1980) Mars, Ben Bova (1993) The Chronicles, Ray Bradbury (1950) Cold Dark Matter, Alex Brett (2005) Earth, David Brin (1990) Ender’s Game, (1985) 2001, Arthur C. Clarke (1968) 2010, Arthur C. Clarke (1984) The Hammer of God, Arthur C. Clarke (1983) Fireball, Paul Davies (1987) A Thunder on Neptune, Gordon Eklund (1989) Dragon’s Egg, Robert Forward (1981) , (1974) The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, Robert Heinlein (1966) , Frank Herbert (1965) The Black Cloud, Fred Hoyle (1957) Impact Parameter, Geoffrey Landis (2001) Lucifer’s Hammer, Larry Niven and (1977) , Larry Niven (1970) World Out of Time, Larry Niven (1976) Pushing Ice, (2005) Red Mars, (1992) Contact, Carl Sagan (1985) Calculating God, Robert Sawyer (2000) Old Man’s War, John Scalzi (2007) Aftermath, (1998) Cold as Ice, Charles Sheffield (1993) Redshift Rendezvous, John Stith (1990) The Ophiuchi Hotline, John Varley (1977)

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