12.410J / 8.287J introduces students to the fundamentals of planning an
observing project, obtaining the data, reducing the data, drawing conclusions
from the results, and writing a project report. The material taught in
the subject is geared toward allowing participants to carry out an independent
research project that meets the Institute laboratory requirement. It's
typically taken by sophomores, juniors, and seniors in EAPS, Physics, and
Mathematics, especially those who are concentrating in astrophysics or
planetary science. For majors it serves as the basis for more advanced
subjects, UROP projects, and/or undergraduate theses. Many students use
the written project report to satisfy their Phase II writing requirement.
Subject Requirements
Observing Lab
Attendance at your scheduled observing lab sessions is required!
Expected preparation for a night of observing includes coming to class
on-time, awake, fed, and warmly dressed (see
also ``Evening
Attire for the Sensible Observer'' from the 12s23 subject information).
You'll need to have a laboratory notebook for recording observations and
writing calculations. Get a notebook whose pages are bound together
(e. g. spiral-bound) - remember you'll be using it outdoors, in the dark,
possibly in substantial wind, and it may even find itself under someone's
feet. Firmly attach everything! Your notebook won't be graded, but
without one your project is sunk.
(week 3, Wed.) project plan due (approx. 1-2 pages)
(week 10, Mon.) data collection ends
(week 10, Fri.) image analyses (raw extracted data) due
(week 11, Wed.) tables and figures for report (including calibrated data) due
(week 12, Wed.) final report due (approx. 20 pages)
(week 14, Wed.) project symposium (optional but encouraged 5-10 min. oral presentation)
Subject Policies
Attendance in lectures and recitation sessions is strongly encouraged (you're
responsible for all material presented in class), and as mentioned above,
attending your observing lab section is required.
Collaboration with others (not copying) on homework is OK after a serious
individual attempt has been made to solve each problem. Collaborating doesn't
affect your homework grade, but on your homework you should explicitly
identify with whom and to what extent you collaborated.
In contrast, previous terms' homework solutions should not be used.
Late homework gets no credit.
Your project report should be entirely your own work, except as acknowledged
in your references.
One 8 1/2- by 11-inch sheet of information will be permitted in the exams.
