ASTRONOMY 161 - SPRING QUARTER 2012
                      2:00-3:18 MWF, Stillman Hall (SH 0100)

  Professor :  Anil K. Pradhan     Graduate Teaching Associate
               4017 McPherson Lab  Courtney Epstein
               292-5850            4020 McPherson, 292-7785
               pradhan.1@osu.edu   epstein@astronomy.ohio-state.edu
     Office Hrs.  MWF 11:30-12:20  T 11-12, R 1:30-3

        Homepage: www.astronomy.ohio-state.edu/~pradhan

     Text:  ASTRONOMY TODAY, Chaisson and McMillan, 7th Edition

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

     Dates:      Chapters        Main Topics

  Mar 26,28,30   1-2        Tests, Outline,
                         Heavens, Sun-Earth-Moon

  Apr 2,4,6      3-4         Motion,Gravity         Friday, Apr 6, Quiz 1

  Apr 9,11,13    4-5    Relativity, Atoms, Light
                       Radiation, Spectroscopy, 
                           Telescopes     

  Apr 16,18,20    6          Solar System           Friday, April 20, Quiz 2

  Apr 23,25,27   7-10      Terrestrial Planets               
  Apr 30,May 2,4          Earth, Moon, Mercury      Friday, May 4, Quiz 3

  May 7,9,11     11,12     Venus, Mars, Jupiter

  May 14,16,18   14       Saturn,Uranus,Neptune     Friday, May 18, Quiz 4

  May 21,23,25                Planetesimals, 
                          Astetroids, Comets        
  May 30                 Life, Exoplanets (Last Class)

  June 1                Review / Extended Office Hours

  Bi-weekly test, Fridays, 40 Min. + Lecture (DO NOT MISS LECTURE)
  FINAL EXAMINATION: JUNE 5, TUESDAY, 1:30-3:18 (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.