ASTRONOMY 161 - SPRING QUARTER 2009
                         11:30-12:48 MWF, Campbell Hall 0200

     Professor :  Anil K. Pradhan     Graduate Teaching Associate:
                  4017 McPherson Lab  Rubab Khan: M,T 4-5 PM
                  292-5850            4000 McPherson, 292-3099
                  pradhan.1@osu.edu   khan@astronomy.ohio-state.edu
     Office Hrs.  MW 4:30-5:30        Inst. Asst. Dina Drozdov
 (www.astronomy.ohio-state.edu/~pradhan -- click on `Astronomy 161')

     Text:  21ST CENTURY ASTRONOMY - HESTER ET.AL. Second Edition

                       COURSE OVERVIEW
          (Detailed outline is posted on the website daily)

     Dates:      Chapters        Main Topics

  Mar 30         1-2   Tests, Outline,
  Apr 1,3              Heavens, Sun-Earth-Moon

  Apr 6,8,10     3-4   Gravity, Relativity,      Friday, Apr 17, Quiz 1
   13,15,17               Atoms, Light

  Apr 20,22,24   5-6   Radiation,Telescopes     

  Apr 27,29      7-8      Solar System           Friday, May 1, Quiz 2
  May 1                Terrestrial Planets               

  May 4,6,8     9-11   Jupiter,Saturn,
      11,13,15         Uranus,Neptune            Friday, May 15, Quiz 3

  May 18,20,22    12   Pluto,Astetroids,Comets   Friday, May 29, Quiz 4  
      27,29             Extra-solar planets                           
  June 1,3
  June 5               No class: Extended Office Hrs

  Bi-weekly test, Fridays, 40 Min. + Lecture (DO NOT MISS LECTURE)
  FINAL EXAMINATION: JUNE 11, THURSDAY, 11:30-1:18 (HERE!)
   All comprehensive final exam, approx. 100 multiple choice questions

 N.B.: PLEASE READ THE TEXTBOOK ! The 4 bi-weekly Friday tests (40
min, about 40 multiple choice questions) will have questions
on material covered in the lectures in the previous 2-week period. 
The lectures will cover most topics in the text, but not all and not
always in the same order as the chapters listed above.
The lowest test score is discounted (no makeups except emergencies). 
Please keep all tests and grade sheets until the final grade. 
Grading: 3 Tests = 60%, Final (100 Q's, all comprehensive) = 40%.

 GRADES: 1-49 = E, 50-56 = D, 57-59 = D+, 60-62 = C-, 63-71 = C, 
 72-74 = C+, 75-77 = B-, 78-83 = B, 84-86 = B+, 87-89 = A-, 90-100 = A. 

 COURSE GOALS: Understanding the theories and methods of modern astrophysics, 
investigating the relationship between science and technology,exploring the 
effects of science and technology on the environment.
 OBJECTIVES: To investigate the basic facts, principles, theories and methods of
modern science as practiced in astrophysics: To learn important events in the 
history of astrophysics, particularly the discovery of the size and age of the 
Universe and our place within it; To explain the role of modern technology in 
the investigation of astrophysical phenomena; To consider the effects of
human activity on the Earth, including topics such as energy balance.