Nevertheless, many students find this course challenging. Be sure you come to class, study the book carefully, do the study problems sets, attend review sessions before exams, ask questions, visit the class home page, and use the opportunities provided to earn activity points. I try to convey the wonder and excitement of our ever-developing picture of the physical Universe.
Astronomy provides a unique perspective which can be enriching at a very personal level.
It is essential for us, as world citizens, to understand how science works and how scientific ideas and methodology have evolved historically. Astronomy has for millennia been at the driving edge of scientific development and so is an excellent vehicle for studying the workings of science and scientists. Conveying the details of specific discoveries and current theories about what Solar System objects are like and how they originated. To add some focus to these goals, we will use the question of life elsewhere in the Universe as a underlying theme to which we will return throughout the semester. Only specific student questions will be discussed at these sessions, so come prepared.