Astronomy 101: General Astronomy Kartik Sheth
Office: CSS 0261
Phone: (301) 405 - 1533 (voice-mail)
E-mail: kartik@astro.umd.edu
URL: http://www.astro.umd.edu/ kartik
Office Hours: Mondays- 4:00-5:00pm Tuesdays- 1:00-2:00pm

When I heard the learn'd astronomer,
When the proofs, the figures, were ranged in columns before me,
When I was shown the charts and diagrams, to add, divide, and measure them,

When I sitting heard the astronomer where he lectured with much applause in the lecture-room,
How soon unaccountable I became tired and sick,
Till rising and gliding out I wander'd off by myself,
In the mystical moist night-air, and from time to time,
Look'd up in perfect silence at the stars.

Walt Whitman, 1865

Hello, welcome to Astro 101. My name is Kartik Sheth and I am a 3rd year graduate student in astronomy. Contrary to popular belief, I am not your teaching assistant; I am your learning assistant. I am here to help you learn more about astronomy, the oldest of human curiosities which fascinates and will continue to fascinate our race for many millennia. I hope that at the end of this semester, when you find yourself looking up at the stars and the galaxy on a clear, dark night, you too, like Walt Whitman, find yourself drifting away into the "perfect silence of the stars." At the same time, I hope that unlike Whitman it is not because "the learn'd astronomer" has bored you with "the proofs and figures and charts and diagrams."

I hope that I can help you appreciate the beauty in astronomy which lies in the understanding of the universe around us. We will use math and physics in the class in every discussion, exercise and homework. I know this may be a bit intimidating to many of you but I will be here to help you with any math or physics difficulties. In return, I want you to use the following survival tips and come prepared to lecture, discussion, lab, office hours and review sessions to ensure that you do well in this class:

SURVIVAL TIPS

• At the beginning of every week, please read the relevant chapters in your textbook emphasizing the topics highlighted in your syllabus. You should have a brief written summary of what you have read and understood and a list of specific questions on material that you did not understand. Please expect to put in 5-8 hours per week of work outside of lecture and discussion into this class.

• Before coming to discussion on Monday, please read the relevant lab exercise in your lab manual. Be prepared to tell me what questions or section of the lab manual were unclear. Then before your lab, read the lab exercise again so that you know what you will be doing for the next two hours.

• Start your homework as soon as you have read the material relevant to the problems assigned. I expect you to come to my office hours and ask for help when you are stuck. I will do my best to guide you in the correct direction and answer your concrete questions. Vague questions like, "Is this right ?" or "What do I do next ?" cannot be answered.

• In addition to these survival tips, there are certain guidelines which I would like to set for the discussion sections so that the administrative details, which I will describe below, take as little time as possible.

• GUIDELINES FOR LAB AND DISCUSSION SECTIONS
• THE GRADING POLICY
• ACADEMIC DISHONESTY
• About this document ...