This is an introductory course to astronomy, with more emphasis on active thinking than memorizing facts. The main points of this course are (1) a general understanding of astronomy, (2) what can be observed in the sky, (3) what we know about the Solar System.

Lectures: The lectures cover the material in the textbook from a different perspective. Students are expected to attend and make an effort to actively participate.

Discipline: The lecture hall will be locked 5 minutes after class starts. Students talking or causing noise or disturbance in class will be asked to leave.

Homework: There is no homework assigned in this class. However, students will be asked to read the appropriate chapters of textbook.

Quizzes: Students will be given short quizzes during every lecture. The questions will be based on that day's lecture. No advance preparation is necessary, except when assigned reading is due. For each and every class students need a scantron # 16485.

Tests:

• A one-hour tests are given during the semester, on June. 11, Monday (during class time).
• Each student must pass another exam that consists of 63 basic multiple choice questions. The questions and the correct answers are given out in advance. The test is offered 3 times during the semester, and can be repeated until passed. Passing level is 85%, but once a student passed, the score does not count into the grade. A student who does not pass this test will fail the course. The test is offered two times right after each regular test, and in addition on June 18, Monday, at 8 pm.
• The two hour final exam on June 25, Monday, 8:00 am is comprehensive.

Use of textbooks is allowed during the three tests only if there are no handwritten notes in the book. No textbooks during pass/fail tests. All students are required to show a picture ID.

Laboratory: All students must take the laboratory, and attend the section to which they are assigned. Lab is at night, according to a separate schedule for each section. Lab grades are awarded on the basis of the lab reports turned in by the students.

Absences: Missed quizzes, tests and labs cannot be made up. Each student will be given, in the beginning of the semester, two quizzes worth of free credit to compensate for medical emergencies or other excusable absences. No doctor's notes or other excuses are accepted at all.

Students with disabilities: All reasonable measures will be taken to accommodate any special needs. Inform the instructor in advance of any such need during lecture, discussion, laboratory or tests. Affected students are responsible for requesting special accomodition in time.

Important notes:

(1) Anyone missing two or more labs will fail the course, whatever his/her points would be otherwise!

(2) Anyone failing the "pass and fail at 85%" test will fail the course, whatever his/her points would be otherwise!