General Astronomy 29:62  -  Spring 2006

Syllabus

Instructor:  Prof. Philip Kaaret
Office: 702 Van Allen Hall
Phone: 335-1985
E-mail: philip-kaaret [at] uiowa.edu
Web: http://astro.physics.uiowa.edu/~kaaret
Office hours:  12:30–2:00 pm Monday, 3:00–4:30 pm Tuesday, or by appointment

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Department of Physics and Astronomy
DEO: Prof. Thomas F. Boggess, Jr.
Office: 203 Van Allen Hall
Phone: 335-1686

General Astronomy is an introduction to some of the major ideas in astronomy and astrophysics, intended for students majoring in the physical sciences, mathematics, or engineering.  The major topics covered will include: how we determine the properties of distant objects from observations, the structure of stars, relativity and black holes, the properties of galaxies, and cosmology – the study of the universe as a whole.
 
General Information

• Lectures are from 2:30 to 3:20 PM Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, in Lecture Room 70 of Van Allen Hall.
• Laboratories are from 7:00 - 9:00 pm Mondays or Tuesdays in Room 666 Van Allen Hall.  The laboratory is a required part of the course.  All students must take the laboratory.  Note that a passing grade in the laboratory is required to receive a passing grade in the course.
• Observing will be done during `clear sky patrol' which occurs on clear nights on the roof of Van Allen Hall.  Note that each student must obtain at least 50 points of observing credit to pass the course.  Extra credit of up to 25 additional points can be obtained by additional observing.
  
• The required textbooks for the course are The Cosmic Perspective: Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology, 4th Edition, by Bennett, Donahue, Schneider, and Voit, published by Pearson/Addison-Wesley, and the laboratory manual Imaging the Universe by Robert Mutel and Justin Cook.  Most students should already have the laboratory manual from 29:061.
• Each student must have a PRS unit.  PRS units allow anonymous feedback during the class and are important for  gauging the success of the lectures.
  
• There is a website for the course: http://phobos.physics.uiowa.edu/~kaaret/genastro06s.  The website will contain the syllabus, lecture notes, and other class-related materials.
• Students are expected to attend all lectures.  Poor attendance is likely to affect success in the course.
• One hour exams will be held during the regular class period on February 15, March 8, April 5, and April 26.
• The final exam will be held at Noon on Friday, May 12.
• Make-up exams will be allowed only for the most compelling circumstances, such as incapacitating illness or death in the immediate family. Documentation of the circumstances will be required.
• The grade in the course will be determined as follows.  Each of the one-hour examinations will count for 100 points. The final will count for 200 points.   Homework will count for 100 points.  Observing will count for 50 points with a possible 25 points of extra credit.  The laboratory will count for 250 points.  Up to 50 points of extra credit can be earned for particularly original or substantial research projects carried out in the laboratory. The final letter grade distribution will be curved as recommended by the College.
• Homework will be due at the beginning of class on the dates noted in the schedule.  There will be 11 homework assignments.  Each student's overall homework score will be based on that student's 10 best homework scores.  Students are allowed to work on the homework in small groups.  However, each student should be sure to understand each homework problem.  Students should feel free to come during office hours to discuss the homework assignments.
  

• Course policies are governed by the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.  Students have the right to adjudication of any complaints about classroom activities or instructor actions. Information is available in the College's Student Academic Handbook.
• Your responsibilities to this class-and to your education as a whole-include attendance and participation. You are also expected to be honest and honorable in your fulfillment of assignments and in test-taking situations (the College's policy on plagiarism and cheating is in the College's Student Academic Handbook). You have a responsibility to the rest of the class, and to the instructor, to help create a classroom environment where all may learn.  Noise and disruptions during class will not be tolerated.  Students talking during lectures will be expected to leave.
  
• I would like to hear from anyone who has a disability which may require some modification of seating, testing, or other class requirements so that appropriate arrangements may be made.