AST 180 - Introduction to Astronomy

General Information

College of Arts and Sciences; Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
Course Prefix AST 180; Course Number 1097-4917
Fall Semester 2009
Meeting Time: TTh 12:45-2:00 (3 Credit Hours);
Location: Wettaw 130 Instructor: Dr. Dave Koerner
Office Address: Physical Sciences (bldg 19) 315
Office Hours: 3:45pm-5:15pm Tues and 10:30-12:00 Wed. or by appointment
Office Phone: 928-523-4562
Course Prerequisites: None

Course Description:

Diurnal motion, motion of solar system objects on the background of stars, light rays and spectra, the planets, Kepler's laws, space travel, coordinates and time, the moon and eclipses, meteors, comets and the sun, stars, stellar distances and stellar evolution, galactic structure, galaxies, quasars, big bang cosmology, and the search for extra-terrestrial life.

Course Objectives: Basic understanding of the physical universe and principles underlying astronomy as a science.

Course Structure/Approach:

Material will be presented in a Lecture/Tutorial format. Lectures will present course material, and tutorial exercises will be assigned as needed to assess class understanding of lecture material.

Textbook and required materials: "Discovering the Universe" by Neil Comins & William Kaufmann (eighth edition)

Course Outline (approximate):

  • Week 1 (Aug 25-27) -- Discovering the Night Sky
  • Week 2 (Sep 1-3) -- Gravitation and Planetary Motion
  • Week 3 (Sep 8-10) -- Light and Telescopes
  • Week 4 (Sep 15-17) -- Atomic Physics and Spectra
  • Week 5 (Sep 22-24) -- Formation of Planets, Earth and Moon
  • Week 6 (Sep 29-Oct 1) -- Other Bodies in the Solar System
  • Week 7 (Oct 6-8) -- The Sun
  • Week 8 (Oct 13-15) -- Stars
  • Week 9 (Oct 20-22) -- Stellar Evolution and Death
  • Week 10 (Oct 27-29) -- The Milky Way
  • Week 11 (Nov 3-5) -- Galaxies and Quasars
  • Week 12 (Nov 10-12) -- Cosmology
  • Week 13 (Nov 17-19) -- Astrobiology
  • Week 14 (Nov 24) -- & Thanksgiving
  • Week 15 (Dec 1-3) -- End of Term Week and Final Review
  • Week 16 (Dec 8) -- Final Exam - 12:30-2:30 pm
    • Evaluation Methods and Deadlines:
  • Assignments -- Online Quizzes and assignments, and Problem Sets
  • Examinations -- Three Mid-terms and a Comprehensive Final; The lowest Mid-term exam score will be dropped.
  • Grading System -- Grade will depend on Mid-term Exams:Homework:Final in the following ratio: 30:30:40
    • Course Policy
  • Retests/makeup tests -- Written medical excuse required
  • Statement on plagiarism and cheating -- This course requires professional and ethical behavior. Plagiarism, or any form of cheating, violates this principle and will not be tolerated. The University regards acts of academic dishonesty as very serious offenses. Students charged with academic dishonesty are subject to the Arizona Board of Regents Code of Conduct and Procedures established by NAU.