Here is an example of a cool image from this course. This picture, called the Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF), is the deepest visible-light image ever made of the Universe. It consists of a one million-second exposure taken by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2004. It reveal the very first galaxies forming in the Universe and engaging in violent interactions more than 13 billion years ago, shortly after the Big Bang.

• Course Description: This course is an introduction to astronomy, one of the greatest quests of humankind to understand the origin and evolution of the Universe. In this course, you will learn about the constituents of the Universe, such as stars, galaxies, planets, dark matter, and the recently discovered dark energy. We will study the beautiful physical laws that govern their formation and evolution. How did the universe begin in a Big Bang? Over the course of time, how did the cosmic fluid assemble into galaxies like our own, the Milky Way? How do stars, planets, galaxies and black holes form and evolve? What are current predictions for the future of our Galaxy and Universe? Can science solve the ultimate mystery of Nature?

• Course Pre-Requisites: Before enrolling in this class, please read carefully the "Memo to Undergraduate Astronomy Students regarding Astronomy Courses." , and the pre-requisites below. This is a SCIENCE class designed for non-science majors. No prior college-level science or math courses are needed, but please note the following: (a) In all astronomy classes, including this one, you will have to learn physical principles and demonstrate scientific reasoning; (b) you will be expected to understand and apply formulae and astrophysical laws, such as those in this list. (c) you will be expected to use math at the level of high school algebra.

• Course Textbook and Calendar: The course will be primarily based on the lectures, where I will cover material not discussed in the textbook and use interactive fun learning aids (movies, animations, etc) to clarify new concepts. The course textbook ``The Cosmic Perspective'', 4th or 3rd edition, by Bennett, Donahue, Schneider, and Voit, and online material will provide complementary reading. The course calendar provides an approximate timeline and reading list (for the 4th and 3rd editions of the textbook) for the topics to be covered in class. This calendar will be regularly updated as needed, so make sure to consult the online version each week.

• Guidelines for Exams, Homeworks, and Quizzes: The quizzes, homeworks, and exams will test the following: scientific reasoning and critical thinking; knowledge of material covered in class and in the assigned reading; ability to apply physical principles, concepts and astrophysical laws covered in class to simple problems. There is no need to memorize numbers, formuale, and constants for the quizzes and exams as they will be provided. Before lecture 2, please cover all examples in the primer on basic mathematical skills (taken from Appendix C of the textbook). I will assume in all future lecture and assignments (exams, quizzes, and homeworks) that you can work out such examples.

• Course Grade and Policies: The final grade and grades for individual assignements will be posted online on eGradebook. If you want to do well in this course, make it a point to attend class, as the assignments are primarily based on the lectures. The final grade will be divided between exams (45%), homework (30%), and in-class activities (25%), as outlined below.
  1. Three in-class exams will make up 3x15% or 45% of your final grade. There will be no final comprehensive exam.
  2. Your homework score will make up 30% of the final grade. Late homework will not be accepted unless you have been granted an extension prior to the due date, and in such a case, only partial credit (50% or lower) will be given.
  3. Your lowest in-class activity score will be dropped, and the remaining scores will make up 25% of the final grade. The in-class activity typically consists of multiple choice quiz questions, based on the last lecture or reading.
  4. When converting your final numerical grades to letter grades, I will use the scheme below or one that is slightly more lenient.
  

  Letter Grade	Numerical Grade
  A	85% to 100%
  B	75% to 84%
  C	60% to 74%
  D	45% to 59%
  F	0% to 44%

  
  5. You are encouraged to study with other students, but you must write up your own homework, exams, and quizzes. Cheating will be severely punished: if you copy someone's homework/quiz/exam or let someone copy yours, both of you will receive zero credit, and I will consider filing a report to the Dean of Students.
  6. Under some circumstances, you may earn extra credit (EC) that can contribute up to 5% in your final score. To earn EC, carry out steps 1 to 4 on the certification site and once you pass the test, bring me a note from the observatory assistant stating clearly that you have passed the certification test to use and check out the Painter Hall 9-inch refracting telescope. Please note that you should do this as early as possible in the semester: if you wait till the last weeks and there are weather or technical problems that require dome closure, you will not qualify for this option.