This lab is one of a series of World Wide Web labs developed for the large introductory astronomy classes at Northwestern University. The intro courses are geared towards non-science majors, and have no formal laboratory periods. The labs are intended to provide hands-on laboratory experience despite the lack of a formal laboratory facility. The Northwestern campus is wired for Ethernet, and students are provided with free Ethernet software.
Most students own their own computers, and can perform the laboratory exercises in their dorm rooms.
We have created an astronomy tutorial room with seven Power Macintoshes for those students who lack an appropriate computer, or need help with a lab. The room is staffed by teaching assistants. Funding Funding was provided by National Science Foundation grant number DUE-9354525, with Northwestern University principal investigators Drs. David M. Meyer and David Taylor. Dave Meyer has been the primary overseer of this project.