Astronomy 101.002 (Call No. 14181) Syllabus: Spring 2008

Course Description and Goals:
In this class we will learn about the Earth, our Solar System, the Milky Way Galaxy, and the Universe we live in. We will discuss current ideas about our place in the Universe, how we got here, and where we are headed. By the end of the course you should have a good enough grasp of the fundamentals and vocabulary to easily follow articles on astronomy in the popular press. You will also learn about the methods and telescopes used by modern astronomers.

Instructor: Prof. Greg Taylor; gbtaylor@unm.edu; 277-5238; web page www.phys.unm.edu/~gbtaylor

Class Time: Mondays and Wednesdays, 2:30 - 3:45pm

Class Location: 103 Regener Hall

Course Text: Astronomy: A Beginner's Guide to the Universe, Chaisson and McMillan, 5th ed.

Office Hours: Tu 9-11am Room 180, Physics and Astronomy Bldg. (NE corner of Lomas and Yale, or by appointment)

Required Materials: i-clicker, course textbook, two number 2 pencils. NOTE: You will need to register your i-clicker at http://panda.unm.edu/clickers/taylor101.phtml following the directions provided on both registration pages (you start at the UNM registration page and then if all goes well you are taken to the i-clicker registration page. You have to complete BOTH pages to register your clicker. Be sure to write down the CLASS-ID that you obtain from the first registration page as this is how your test scores will be listed since we are not allowed to post scores by name or Banner ID.

Pre-Requisites: None. We will learn some physics concepts and make use of occasional high-school level algebra and trigonometry.

Homework: There will be regular reading assignments. These should be completed BEFORE the class time. At the end of each chapter you will find a set of True/False and Multiple Choice questions. You should answer these questions as you finish each chapter. The answers are in the back of the book. You are not required to turn in your answers, but know that one or two of the questions from each chapter will be on the test, so by doing the homework you are preparing for the test.

Lectures: I will present lectures in powerpoint, with occasional demonstrations. Some material drawn from my own research, or current events, may not be covered in the book. The lectures will be interactive in that I will ask true/false or multiple choice questions of the class and then review the answers. Your participation in responding, and in asking questions of your own is strongly encouraged and will count toward your grade in the class.

Grades: There will be four tests including the final exam, which will not be cumulative, but will only cover material from the last quarter of the class. There will be NO make-up exams, but the lowest exam score will be dropped, so even if one exam is missed it will still be possible to obtain an A in the course. Grades will be based on the exams (90%) and class participation (10%). Answers given during class using the i-clickers will not be scored, but participation will be recorded - note that you must answer more than half the questions during each class to get credit. Clicker questions are also likely to show up on tests. You are responsible for bringing your i-clicker to class - it is not possible with a class this large to arrange for loaned clickers.