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Horizons: Exploring the Universe by Michael A. Seeds, 10th Edition
Prerequisites
This is a course for non-science majors. We will use elementary algebra in class and on homework.
For anyone needing help with the math, the TA and I will always be willing to provide it. The quiz
and exam questions will be conceptual, not mathematical. If you are a math or science major, this
is not an appropriate course for you.
Grading
Grades will be based on homework (25% of the grade), the exams (10% each), and quizzes (20%),
the final (25%), and attendance (5%). Quizzes will happen roughly once a week during class.
Help
The TA's and I will do everything we can to help you do well in the course. Help will be available outside
of class several times every week. Help sessions and office hours are listed in Table 1. These times and
locations are subject to change. Please check the on-line version of this syllabus next week and periodically
thereafter. Since we will be going over the problems in the homework assignments, we ask you not to be late
to the help session if you want to hear a discussion of the first problem in the assignment. Endless repeating
of the first problem discussion for 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 page for
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.