Astronomy 1a
Fall, 2003

Introduction:

Text: "Foundation of Astronomy" (7th Ed) by Michael A. Seeds

This course should be a fun cultural course, but the student will, as always, benefit from the efforts which he puts into the course.

An overview of the course material may be obtained by reading the Contents and the author's "A Note to the Student", pages xv-xvii. We shall be covering Chapters 1-9, 19-25, and perhaps others including 11-13 as time permits.

One attendance at the planetarium at RCC-Riverside may be done for extra credit, as will be discussed in class. Also, we shall try to schedule a night to use the telescopes on hand here at the Moreno Valley Campus.

The course is designed to be non-mathematical/ technical, but will teach expect the use of arithmetic and calculations based on proportions, scientific notation, logarithms, angles, etc. as taught in the course itself.

Grading:

Grading will be based on a curve (College policy), with 1,000 points being the total obtainable. The weighted values of points obtainable are:

Attendance

200 (one absence will be thrown out for grading)

3 Tests

400

Homework

200 (one homework will be eliminated for grading, no

homework will be due for the first and last classes)

Final Exam

200

Total

1000

Schedule: proposed schedule is:

Chapter

Date

 

Exams

1,2

September

  4

(no homework due)

3,4

11

 

5,6

18

7

 

25

Test 1 (through 5)

8,9

October

2

 

19

 

9

20

16

21

 

23

Test 2 (through 20)

22

 

30

23

November

6

24

 

13

25,10

 

20

11

December

4

Test 3 (through 11)

12

 

11

Review for Final

 

18

FINAL

 

The homework is for the student. It will be checked to see if important concepts are properly used, and for correct answers. The correct answers can always be supplied at the time the homework is gone over, hence attendance is doubly important. Also, homework not handed in at time of assignment will not be accepted later. If an absence is expected, hand in the homework prior to the absence! Tests are expected to be taken when scheduled.

Я веру душу твою!

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