Welcome to Astronomy 1001

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Welcome to Astronomy 1001

• Dr. Richard Gray, Professor

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This course is the first in a two-semester
sequence that satisfies the General Science
Requirement. This semester covers the solar
system planets, the moon, comets, meteors, and
some basics of physics light, optics
telescopes.
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Textbook Seeds Astronomy The Solar System and
Beyond.
Read this textbook!! The class outline lists the
relevant chapters for each lecture. Do not
purchase the shrink-wrapped lab notebook in
the Bookstore!!!
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Do buy this notebook!
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Bring to Class everyday!
Student Response Cards
Scientific Calculator
your textbook!
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What things should I bring to class every day?

My iPod
My cell phone
Student response cards and a scientific
calculator
Student response cards, a scientific
calculator and the textbook
Im not planning on attending class, sorry!
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Lab Lab takes place on Monday/Sunday evenings
in Room S306 in South Rankin. Section 101
Monday 8-10 pm lab, Section 102 Monday 10-12
midnight lab Section 109 Sunday 8-10pm
lab The lab is an essential part of this course
and counts 20 of your grade.
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Bring to Lab
If available
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Website There is a website for this course.
It contains information on assignments, exams,
labs, extra-credit opportunities, etc. Check it
at least once weekly!!
http//www.phys.appstate.edu/ast1001101.html
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• Subject Material
• Constellations, the Celestial Sphere, time
• Lunar phases, lunar and solar eclipses
• The History of Astronomy
• Physics of Astronomy (light, electromagnetic
  radiation,
• telescopes)
• A detailed survey of the Solar System

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Attendance Lecture attendance is required,
as quizzes and exams will be primarily based
on lecture material. Three or more un-excused
absences will seriously affect your
grade!!! Attendance will be monitored and
counted in your final class grade (5). Lab
attendance is also required. A total of two
missed outdoor labs or three indoor or outdoor
labs will result in an F for the class. If you
fail the lab, you fail the course!
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Homework Quizzes Homework will be assigned
each week covering lecture and reading material,
and will be completed and submitted using
WebAssign. Your syllabus contains detailed
instructions for logging onto WebAssign.
WebAssign will be used for both the lab and the
lecture, and will enable you to monitor your
current grade in the class. A WebAssign account
(valid for a semester) costs about 20. The
WebAssign homework plus occasional quizzes on the
lecture and reading material will constitute 18
of your grade.
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WebAssign http//www.webassign.net
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Exams Three one-hour exams will be given, as
well as a Comprehensive final exam. All exams
are multiple-choice, and will include material
from the lecture, reading assignments, homework
and labs.
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Grading The course grade will be determined
according to the following weights 39 3
one-hour exams 18 Homework Quizzes 5
Attendance 18 Final Exam 20 Lab
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A Quick Tour of the Solar System
Earth Our home and the abode of life. An
example of a Terrestrial planet.
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Mercury and the Moon
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Venus
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Mars
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Jupiter
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The Moons of Jupiter
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Saturn
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The Outer Solar System
Eris
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Asteroids
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Meteors and Comets