AST 301 - Unique No. 50528Introduction to AstronomyFall 2007 MWF9-10RLM 15.216BProfessor: Daniel Jaffe T.A.: Ross FalconOffice: RLM 17.218 Office:RLM 15.202APhone: 471-3425 Phone:E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]: Horizons: Exploring the Universe by Michael A. Seeds, 10th EditionPrerequisites: This is a course for non-science majors. We will use elementary algebra in classand on homework. For anyone needing help with the math, the TA and I will always be willing toprovide it. The quiz and exam questions will be conceptual, not mathematical. If you are a math orscience major, this is not an appropriate course for you.Grading: Grades will be based on homework (25% of the grade), the exams (10% each), andquizzes (20%), the final (25%), and attendance (5%). Quizzes will happen roughly once a weekduring class.Help: The TA’s and I will do everything we can to help you do well in the course. Help will beavailable outside of class several times every week. Help sessions and office hours are listed inTable 1. These times and locations are subject to change. Please check the on-line version of thissyllabus next week and periodically thereafter. Since we will be going over the problems in thehomework assignments, we ask you not to be late to the help session if you want to hear adiscussion of the first problem in the assignment. Endless repeating of the first problem discussionfor the benefit of latecomers bores the students who were on time and drives the instructor crazy.Extra help sessions will be held before exams. Check the Notices section of the course web pagefor locations and times.Observing: If you wish, there is a 9-inch telescope available for observing planets and stars,operated by an astronomy graduate student. It is available to you each clear Friday night 8:00 -9:00 p.m. and each clear Saturday night 8:00 - 10:00 p.m.Contents and Approach: The emphasis in this course will be seeking an explanation for thephenomena and objects that occur in the Universe. We will discuss physical laws and howastronomers use them to understand their observations. Much of the time during class will be spentdiscussing explanations and concepts rather than descriptions of astronomical objects. You willhave to learn some of the descriptive material from the reading assignments. This will be a smallclass where you will get personal attention and be able to interact directly with the prof. Tosucceed in this class you will have to keep up with the reading and come to class and be willing toparticipate in discussions and activities.Homework: A homework assignment will be handed out most Wednesdays beginning 9/12 and bedue the next Wednesday. Some assignments may involve observations of the sky. You must handin homework to the prof in class. If you are unable to deliver your homework in person, you areresponsible for seeing that it gets delivered. Late homework or homework not handed directly tothe prof. will be worth 50% of its grade up to one week past due.Students are encouraged to work and learn together. The homework you hand in, however, must beyour own. Copied or paraphrased homework will receive no credit and may result in academicpenalties.Tests: There will be three 50 minute exams (September 28, October 26, and November 28). Therewill also be a short quiz almost every week about the reading and about what we have done inclass.Most questions will require short written (grammatically correct) answers. We will take points offfor poorly written or illegible answers. Cheating will absolutely not be tolerated. We prosecute!If you are unable to attend a quiz or exam due to illness, you must notify me IN ADVANCE. Youcan do this by e-mail or by phone (leave a message). If you fail to do this, you cannot be excusedunless you were demonstrably unconscious at the time of the exam.Class Participation/Attendance: Active participation in class discussions and activities isrequired. This means do the reading ahead of time and come to class and get involved. You arenot expected to know the "right" answer to every question. Attendance in class is a requirementfor this course.Help Sessions/Office Hours: There will be several help sessions and office hours each week (seeTable 1). We urge you to take advantage of these sessions to get help with homework or to askquestions about the material. You are welcome to arrange another time if you can't make one of thefixed times. If you have personal issues to discuss, please see Prof. Jaffe during his office hours ormake an appointment to see him at another time.Reading Assignments: It is essential for the success of this class and for your success in it thatyou do the reading BEFORE we discuss it in class. We will be going through the book in order. Iwill give you the reading assignments about 10 days ahead of time.Table 1: Help Sessions and Office Hours DayWhatTimeRoomInstructorMondayOffice2PM-3PMTBDFalconMondayHWKHelp6PM-7PMRLM 15.216AFalconWednesdayOfc10AM-11AMRLM 17.218JaffeThursdayOfc2PM-3PMRLM
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