Instructor

Class meetings

Office hours

Text

Electronic Access

If any of this doesn't make sense, ask me or the IACC Help Desk (1-8685).

Grading

• Homework will be assigned approximately once per week. Homework and in-class questions will count for 25% of the final grade.
• Three tests will each count for 15% of the final grade, and the final exam will count for the remaining 30%.
  • All tests (including the final) are closed-book, but open-notes (in your handwriting only!).
  • Each test emphasizes material covered since the last test, except the final exam, which will be comprehensive.
  • I will give makeup tests only with prior consent, and they will be more difficult than the original test.
• Extra-credit projects can be done for up to 5% of the final grade, but you must find a topic and clear it with me by November 22.
  

Grade cutoffs will be close to 80% for an A, 67% for a B, 55% for a C, 40% for a D.

Emphasis throughout the course will be placed on understanding how we know what we know about objects in the universe:

• how astronomical quantities are measured;
• how observations are organized into theories and theories tested by observations;
• what is and is not currently known.

Typical test questions will ask for an application of a general principle, or will be of the "How is ... measured?" or "What is the evidence that ...?" variety.

Tentative overview

1. Inferences from the night sky.
   (Approx. 3 weeks)
   Supplementary notes

2. The solar system.
   (Approx. 4 weeks)
   Selections from chapters 5-10

3. Features of stars, and their life cycle.
   (Approx. 4 weeks)
   Selections from chapters 12-16

4. Galaxies, exotic objects, and cosmology.
   (Approx. 4 weeks)
   Selections from chapters 18-20

Material from chapters 1-3 will be introduced as needed.

"Any students who need special accommodations for learning or who have special needs are invited to share these concerns or requests with the instructor as soon as possible."