Astronomy 10: 
Introduction to Astronomy
Astronomy is an exciting and cutting-edge physical science concerned with understanding everything from the origins of Earth to the fate of the universe. In this class we will survey the universe and just about all the stuff in it (No small feat for a one semester course!). In doing so, you will become not only conversant in topics of modern astronomy but an active observer of (and thinker about) the universe. This is a “hands on” course, where you’ll work through challenging questions, conduct a “lab experiment,” and actually look through telescopes. While memorization of material is an inevitable requirement to some degree, problem sets and exams will stress understanding and application of tools you will learn in this class.
Course website: Log in with your CalNet ID to http://bspace.berkeley.edu. If you are registered for the class, you will see a tab for the class website in your bspace homepage. There is a discussion board, a calendar for the course, and a posting site for all course handouts. This will be the definitive location for course announcements and problem set postings.
Text: Astronomy Today, 5th Edition, Chaisson and McMillian. There are several copies of the text on 2 hour reserve at the Physics and Astronomy library (Hearst Field Annex; Building B).
Course Lectures: Tuesdays & Thursdays 11am - 12:30pm, Evans 10. You are expected attend all lectures in person.
Instructors: 
	Josh Bloom                                     Office: Campbell 447, Hours: Wed 1:30 - 3pm
           Course professor & lecturer                     email: jbloom@astro.berkeley.edu                            
         Jeff Silverman                                 Office: Campbell 533, Hours: TBD
           Head GSI                                                   email: jsilverman@astro.berkeley.edu
         Anna Treaster                                  Office: Hours: TBD
           GSI                                                             email: treaster@astro.berkeley.edu
                        
         Onsi Fakhouri                                  Office: Hours: TBD
           GSI                                                             email: onsi@berkeley.edu
         Peter Williams                                 Office: Hours: TBD
           GSI                                                             email: pkwill@astro.berkeley.edu

Course Structure:
                     Week  1                  Cosmic Orientation       			             29, 31 Aug
                     Week 2                   Waves & Radiation in Space                            5, 7 Sep
                     Weeks 3 - 4            Observing the Universe                                   12, 14, 19 Sep
                     Weeks 4 - 5            Earth-Sun-Moon System                                  21, 26 Sep
                     Week 6                   The Solar System                                             28 Sep, 3 Oct
                     Midterm I                                                                                        (Oct 5)
                     Week 7                   Stars & Star Formation                                    10, 12 Oct
                     Week 8                   Fate of Stars                    			             17, 19 Oct
                     Week 9                   Brown Dwarfs and Stellar Explosions            24, 26 Oct
                     Week 10                 Neutron Stars and Black Holes                       31 Oct, 2 Nov
                     Week 11                 Our Galaxy                                                      7 Nov
                     Midterm II                                                                                      (Nov 9)
                     Week 12                 Galaxies                                                          14 Nov
                     Week 12 - 13         Clusters and the Growth of Structure              16, 21 Nov
                     Thanksgiving                                                                                  (Nov 23)
                     Week 14                 Big Bang                                                         28, 30 Nov, 5 Dec
                     Week 15                 Life in the Universe and the Ultimate Fate     7 Dec
Grading Policy:
   Final Exam:                                               30%                     [Dec 14; 5pm]
   Midterms I and II:                                     12% each             [Oct 5; Nov 9]
   Participation:                                             10% total            
         This includes attendance and participation in section, attendance at 1 “star party”,
          and performance on the one in-section quiz. 
   Assignments (Problem Sets & Lab):        36%

The best way to prepare for exams is to attend lectures, complete the problem sets and participate in section discussions. The final exam, while covering all the material from the course, will be focused more on the last third of the class material after the second midterm.

Missed Exams: If you know that, for legitimate reasons, you cannot be present for a midterm or the final you must let the head GSI know immediately, AT LEAST 3 weeks in advance. We will try to find an alternative testing time & date for you. If you fail you to inform us with sufficient notice you will be responsible for taking the exam along with the other students.
 
Late Assignments: The due date for problem sets is Wednesday at 11am in the basement of Campbell Hall in the labeled boxes. Please put your homework in the correct box!  They will say Ay 10 - Bloom and will be labeled with your section number, the time and day of the week of your section, and your GSI's name.  There is a 20% penalty per day for the late submission of assignments. Sometimes it’s impossible to keep up with all your classwork, so everyone is entitled to turn in ONE problem set late by up to three days past the due date without penalty (no questions asked). Use your freebie wisely! Those that turn in all problem sets on time throughout the semester will have their lowest problem set grade dropped when we figure the assignments portion of your total grade at the end of the class.

The final distribution of letter grades will be determined “on a curve”; that is, relative versus absolute.

Academic Integrity
You are asked to read and abide by the "Department of Astronomy Policy on Academic Misconduct" (http://astro.berkeley.edu/classes/cheating.html).

Any test, problem set or lab report submitted by you and that bears your name is presumed to be your own original work. You may not simply copy the work of another student.  To be clear, you are encouraged to work with and learn from your peers -- this often means working in study groups on problem sets -- but you must demonstrate your own comprehension of the problems and the solutions in the work you turn in.

In all of your assignments, including your homework, you may use words or ideas written by other individuals in publications, web sites, or other sources, but only with proper attribution. "Proper attribution" means that you have fully identified the original source and extent of your use of the words or ideas of others that you reproduce in your work for this course, usually in the form of a footnote or parenthesis.

If you are not clear about the expectations for completing an assignment or taking a test or examination, be sure to seek clarification from your instructor or GSI beforehand. Finally, you should keep in mind that as a member of the campus community, you are expected to demonstrate integrity in all of your academic endeavors and will be evaluated on your own merits. So be proud of your academic accomplishments and help to protect and promote academic integrity at Berkeley. The consequences of cheating and academic dishonesty—including a formal discipline file, possible loss of future internship, scholarship, or employment opportunities, and denial of admission to graduate school—are simply not worth it.

Student Announcements
	We will allow no more than on student announcement per class (limited to 2 minutes), on a first come first served basis, and must be cleared with Prof. Bloom before the start of lecture.

AY 10: Introduction to Astronomy (Fall 2006; TTh 11-12:30, Evans 10)