There are two undergraduate, introductory, lecture courses in astronomy, AST 203 and AST 205. The former meets three days a week (3 credit hours) and the latter meets two days a week for two hours each day (4 credit hours). Because of the additional hour of meeting time, AST 205 treats some material in more depth and considers extra material not covered in AST 203.

            W. H. Freeman and Company, 5th  Edition, 1999

           Introductory Astronomy Web Site,  Jon K. Wooley, 1999

The required texts can be purchased at any of the local bookstores. The monthly magazines can be found in the EMU library and Union bookstore. Access to the world wide web is available at the library and union computer labs.

You should consider the text as a source for supplementing and clarifying lecture material. Not everything covered in the text will be discussed in lecture and some material discussed in lecture will not be covered in the text. However, you should read all assigned chapters and try answering the questions at the end of each chapter.

The astronomy lab, AST 204, can be elected with either AST 203 or AST 205. The lab is a separate, one credit hour, course. If you wish to take the lab you must enroll in it. While the lab is optional it is recommended that it be taken in conjunction with one of the two lecture courses. The astronomy lab can be taken either concurrently with AST 203 or AST 205 or in any semester following the completion of either one of these courses

The new astronomy lab is on the fourth floor of Sherzer Hall and is equipped with more than a dozen computers that will run sophisticated astronomical software. These computers can be used to access the world wide web at very high speeds and have excellent graphics capabilities. The lab also has a small planetarium and other multimedia facilities.

The lab supplements and extends lecture topics. The additional exposure, and individual attention received in lab usually increases understanding of material and hence has a beneficial effect on exam performance. However, lecture exams will only cover material specifically discussed in the lecture and will not contain any lab specific material.

Weather permitting, a number of observing sessions will be scheduled at the new Sherzer Observatory. This observatory houses one of the best instructional telescopes in the state. The apochromatic, 10-inch refractor is suitable for both visual, photographic, and photoelectric observations. Specialized equipment for solar observations is also available. A seminar room, photographic darkroom, and computer facility compliment the use of the new telescope. In addition, the large outside observing deck gives a panoramic view of the sky and Eastern's campus and facilitates the use of a number of portable telescopes.

Times and dates for observing sessions will be announced in lecture. Attending one or more observing sessions is optional but recommended. You should feel free to bring friends and/or family to any of the scheduled observing sessions. The Sherzer Observatory is on the top floor of Sherzer Hall. Enter the building from the back door (north side) and take the elevator to the fourth floor. Stairs next to the elevator lead to the observatory.

                EXAM II

                    Outline Section 2: The Sun and Solar System

                EXAM III

                    Outline Section 3: The Scientific Tradition

                EXAM IV

All projects will be done on the internet using the  Introductory Astronomy Web Site.   Any computer with an internet connection, browser, and QuickTime or other movie viewer can be used to access the Projects. Some projects may also be done using the StarryNight program CD disk included with the textbook or on the web at the W.H. FreemanIt  StarryNight web site. The StarryNight program is one of the best and most innovative instructional programs available. In many ways it is better than an actual planetarium costing hundreds of thousands of dollars. What it took astronomers centuries to discover you can do in a matter of a few hours. The sky really is the limit with StarryNight!  This program runs on both Macs and Windows computers.  Computers and access to the internet are available in the library, free of charge to any student enrolled at EMU.   You must have a student ID to identify yourself . The staff at the library can help you with any technical problems relating to the computer network but will not be able to help with the projects. The library is open seven days a week at the posted hours but the computers are extensively used so plan ahead and don't wait till the last minute to do your projects.

Each of twelve projects are detailed at the introductory astronomy web site. These projects are a very useful aid in learning about the motions of celestial objects and many other topics that will be discussed in the course.

The projects are optional for Astronomy 203.  If you elect to do extra credit projects, project points will be averaged along with exam points according to the following formula:

Ast203 students have the option to turn in up to 5 projects worth a possible 4 extra credit points each. Should you receive the maximum 20 points you would increase your average score by about 5 percentage points, the equivalent of half a letter grade.

Projects can be done in any order throughout the semester but they must be handed in only during Monday class meetings. No more than two projects can be handed in per week . All projects must be turned in at least one week prior to the last Monday class meeting.

Ast 205 students are required to complete 10 projects. Five of the projects will be worth 10 points each for a total of 50 points, the equivalent of one half an hour exam. This is why the sum in the above equation is divided by 450 rather than 400.  The other five projects, will be worth 5 points each and will be counted as extra credit. Should you receive the maximum 25 points you would increase your average score by about 5 percentage points or one half a letter grade.  Project points will be averaged along with exam points according to the following formula:

                Average Score = (Sum of Exams + Required Projects + Extra Credit Points) x 100

                                                                           450

Specific projects will be assigned and must be handed in on the indicated due dates, usually on designated Tuesday class meetings. No more than two projects can be handed in per week . All projects must be turned in by the last due date.

Letter grades will be assigned according to the following scale:

                                                                A-                 90-94

                                                                B+                85-89

                                                                B                 80-84

                                                                B-                75-79

                                                                C+                70-74

                                                                C                 65-69

                                                                C-                 60-64

                                                                D+                55-59

                                                                D                 50-54

                                                                D-                45-49

                                                                E                 0-44