ASTR 101: Introduction to Astronomy

Instructor: Syed A Uddin, PhD

Spring 2025

Class Hours:
MWF: 12:00 - 12:50 pm (Public Hlth Res Ctr Room: 114)
TTh: 8:30 -9:45 am (Gambrell Room: 153)
E-mail: [email protected] Office: Jones PSC Room 611

Course Description
An Introduction to the Universe accomplished with Interactive Lectures and Laboratory
Experience. Designed primarily for the non-science major.

Course Overview
Astronomy 101 incorporates face-to-face lectures, together with a laboratory component
geared towards non-science majors. The lectures will cover material in three basic areas
of astronomy: the celestial globe and the historical development of heavenly observa-
tions; our solar system including planets, moons and the sun; and stellar evolution, our
galaxy and the big bang. The goal of the course is to excite and inform participants
about the vast nature of the universe in which we live.

Required Materials
• Laptop with Windows or Mac operating system. This is important for all exams
that uses Respondus Lockdown Browser. Chromebook or tablets will not work.

• Expert TA is the main platform for textbook, homework, and exam. The textbook
Astronomy Essentials is included with the subscription. Note that you will be able
to register and subscribe Expert TA from week 1 homework link in Blackboard.

• Lab 2, 4, 5, 6 : https://astro.unl.edu/naap/

1
Syed Uddin, PhD ASTR 101

• iClicker for class attendance. Join code:

MWF class: https://join.iclicker.com/YDZN
TTh class: https://join.iclicker.com/UBNV

Communication
Please communicate with me through my USC email address: [email protected]. I
will use Blackboard to post all announcement for the course. Please make sure you check
Blackboard regularly. For office visit, please email me to set a time. Zoom meeting is
also possible.

Course Objectives
Successful students will:

1. Demonstrate an understanding of the basic principles and vocabulary of astron-

omy.

2. Describe our location in the Universe and explain the relevant observational evi-
dence.

3. Describe and quantify the basic phenomena involving light and spectroscopy.

4. Describe and quantify the motions of the planets and their physical interpreta-
tion in terms of mechanics and gravity; describe how that understanding emerged
historically.

5. Discuss and interpret the physical properties of the Sun.

6. Discuss stellar evolution and demonstrate understanding of the Hertzprung-Russell

diagram.

7. Interpret properties of the interstellar material and the Milky Way using available
data.

8. Discuss evolution of galaxies and describe their distribution.

9. Understand Big Bang Theory and describe the evolution of the Universe.

2/9
Syed Uddin, PhD ASTR 101

Course Assessments
0.1 Attendance (5%)
Attendance is required. I adhere to the University policy on attendance. If you must
miss a class for official reasons, please notify me by email in advance. The iClicker
system will keep track of attendance.

0.2 Homework (30%)

Weekly homework assignments will consist of conceptual and numerical problems that
accompany each chapter under discussion. Completion of these problem sets will re-
quire the students to demonstrate a deeper understanding of the topics in both qualita-
tive and quantitative fashion. Problem sets are to be completed each week as designated
on the course timetable and announced in class. Since the computer records when you
submit your answers, LATE HOMEWORK WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED. Occasionally,
the network is slow or disabled; so plan ahead. All homework will be assigned through
Expert TA.

0.3 Laboratory (20%)

Laboratories will be in the Astronomy Center located in the basement of Jones Physical
Science Center (known as Jones or PSC) in room 008. Six laboratory exercises must be
completed during the semester. A complete schedule for all sections will be posted on
blackboard and discussed in class prior to the start of the first exercise. The labs are
scheduled as face-to-face. Please inform the instructor if you cannot meet in person.

0.4 Mid-term Exams (20%)

The exams for the class will include both conceptual and numerical problems. The
average of both exams is worth 20% of your course score. The test days are all scheduled
in advance, therefore, there is NO makeup for a missed exam.

0.5 Final Exam (25%)

The final exam is comprehensive and will cover all material covered in class. The final
counts towards 25% of your course score. All students must take the final exam. It will
be similar in style to the two tests during the semester, but it will be cumulative.

Grading Policy
Grading is based on the following formula that includes your attendance (A) homework
score (H), the average of the two midterms (M), the final score of the exam (F) and labo-

3/9
Syed Uddin, PhD ASTR 101

ratory performance (L). Note that all scores are computed as percentages of total points
available.

Course Score = 0.05 ∗ A + 0.30 ∗ H + 0.20 ∗ M + 0.25 ∗ F + 0.20 ∗ L

Grading criteria are given in Table 1:

Numerical Score Letter Grade

90.0 - 100 A
87.0 - 89.9 B+
78.0 - 86.9 B
75.0 - 77.9 C+
68.0 - 74.9 C
65.0 - 67.9 D+
55.0 - 64.9 D
0.00 - 54.9 F

Table 1: Grading criteria.

Extra Credits
You can earn a maximum of three extra points by completing the following:

1. Visit Melton Observatory activity for at least one night (1 pt).

2. Complete Q15 of lab 5 (1 pt).

Melton Observatory
The Melton Observatory – located on the historic Horseshoe across from the Russell
house (1429 Green St.) – offers public viewing every Monday evening of clear sky. Note
that viewing is weather dependent - check the web page for the current status here.

4/9
Syed Uddin, PhD ASTR 101

Schedule and weekly topics

Lectures

Week Lecture

1 Introduction, Observing the Sky: The Birth of Astronomy: CHAPTERS 1 and 2

2 Orbits and gravity, Earth and Moon: CHAPTERS 3, 4, and parts of 9
3 EM Spectrum, spectroscopy and Doppler effect, telescopes: CHAPTERS 5 and 6
4 Solar system formation and planets: CHAPTERS 7, 8, 10, 11
5 CHAPTER 12, FIRST MIDTERM
6 The Sun: CHAPTERS 15 and 16
7 Analyzing starlight and celestial distances: CHAPTERS 17, 18 and 19
8 Interstellar dust and gas, the birth of stars: CHAPTERS 20 and 21
9 Evolution of a star after the Main sequence, stellar death: CHAPTERS 22 and 23
10 Rubin Investigation-1 (Stellar Safari)
11 Black Holes (CHAPTER 24), SECOND MIDTERM
12 The Milky Way, Galaxies: CHAPTER 25, 26 and 27
13 Active galaxies, Evolution and distribution of galaxies: CHAPTERS 27 and 28
14 The Big Bang and the Evolution of the Universe: CHAPTER 29
15 Rubin Investigation-2 (Expanding Universe)
16 Life in the Universe: CHAPTER 30
17 Exam Week

0.6 Labs

Resources for Students

Academic Integrity
As a partner in your learning, it is important to both of us that any assignment submission is
a pure reflection of your work and understanding. Suspicions of alleged violations of Cheating
– defined as “unauthorized assistance in connection with any academic work” and/or Falsifi-
cation, which includes “Misrepresenting or misleading others with respect to academic work or
misrepresenting facts for an academic advantage” – will be referred to the Office of Academic
Integrity.

5/9
Syed Uddin, PhD ASTR 101

ASTR 101 Lab Cycle Schedule

Spring 2025

Week Of Mon Tues Wed Thu Fri

13-Jan-25 No Lab No Lab No Lab No Lab No Lab

20-Jan-25 No Lab No Lab No Lab No Lab No Lab

MLK Birthday
27-Jan-25 1.A 1.A 1.A 1.A 1.A

3-Feb-25 1.B 1.B 1.B 1.B 1.B

10-Feb-25 2.A 2.A 2.A 2.A 2.A

17-Feb-25 2.B 2.B 2.B 2.B 2.B

24-Feb-25 3.A 3.A 3.A 3.A 3.A

3-Mar-25 3.B 3.B 3.B 3.B 3.B

10-Mar-25 No Lab No Lab No Lab No Lab No Lab

Week of Spring Break
17-Mar-25 4.A 4.A 4.A 4.A 4.A

24-Mar-25 4.B 4.B 4.B 4.B 4.B

31-Mar-25 5.A 5.A 5.A 5.A 5.A

7-Apr-25 5.B 5.B 5.B 5.B 5.B

14-Apr-25 6.A 6.A 6.A 6.A 6.A

21-Apr-25 6.B 6.B 6.B 6.B 6.B

28-Apr-25 No Lab

NOTE: The coding for each day is: Lab number (1-6) . Lab group letter (A-B)
For example, (1.A) means "lab 1, group A"

Lab 1: The Celestial Sphere Lab 2: Planetary Orbit Lab 3: Atoms and Spectra
Lab 4: Exoplanets Lab 5: The HR Diagram Lab 6: The Hubble Law

Figure 1: Lab schedule.

6/9
Syed Uddin, PhD ASTR 101

You are expected to practice the highest possible standards of academic integrity. Any de-
viation from this expectation will result in a minimum academic penalty of your failing the
assignment and will result in additional disciplinary measures. This includes improper citation
of sources, using another student’s work, and any other form of academic misrepresentation.
The first tenet of the Carolinian Creed is "I will practice personal and academic integrity."
Below are some websites that you can visit to learn more about University policies:

• Carolina Creed

• Academic Responsitility

• Office of Student Conduct and Academic Integrity

• Information Security Policy and Standards

Plgiarism
Using the words or ideas of another as if they were one’s own is a serious form of academic
dishonesty. If another person uses the complete sentence, syntax, key words, or specific or
unique ideas and information, it must be given credit by a proper citation.

Class Conduct
Professionalism will be expected at all times. Because the university classroom is a place designed
for the free exchange of ideas, we must show respect for one another in all circumstances. We will
show respect for one another by exhibiting patience and courtesy in our exchanges. Appropriate
language and restraint from verbal attacks on those whose perspectives differ from your own is
a minimum requirement. Courtesy and kindness are the norm for those who participate in my
class.

Use of Generative AI
In this course, students shall give credit to AI tools whenever used, even if only to generate ideas
rather than usable text or illustrations. When using AI tools on assignments, add an appendix
showing (a) the entire exchange, highlighting the most relevant sections; (b) a description of
precisely which AI tools were used (e.g. ChatGPT private subscription version or DALL-E free
version), (c) an explanation of how AI tools were used (e.g., to generate ideas, turns of phrase,
elements of text, long stretches of text, lines of argument, pieces of evidence, maps of the concep-
tual territory, illustrations of key concepts, etc.); (d) an account of why AI tools were used (e.g.,
to save time, to surmount writer’s block, to stimulate thinking, handle mounting stress, clarify
prose, translate text, to experiment. Students must not use artificial intelligence (AI) tools during
in-class examinations or assignments unless explicitly permitted and instructed. In general, AI
tools should be used wisely and reflectively with the aim of deepening the understanding of the
subject matter.

7/9
Syed Uddin, PhD ASTR 101

Student Disability Services

The Student Disability Resource Center (SDRC) empowers students to handle the challenges and
limitations imposed by disabilities. In order to receive reasonable accommodations from me,
you must be registered with the Student Disability Resource Center (1705 College Street, Close-
Hipp Suite 102, Columbia, SC 29208, 803-777-6142). Any student with a documented disability
should contact the SDRC to make appropriate accommodations. Once registered, students with
disabilities are encouraged to contact me (within the first week of the semester) to discuss the
logistics of any accommodations needed to fulfill course requirements.

Student Success Center

In partnership with USC faculty, the Student Success Center (SSC) offers a number of programs to
help you better understand your course material and support your path to success. SSC programs
are facilitated by professional staff, graduate students, and trained undergraduate peer leaders
who have previously excelled in their courses.

Writing Center
The University Writing Center is an important resource that you should use. The center open
to help any USC student needing assistance with a writing project at any stage of development.
The main Writing Center is in Byrnes 703.

University Library Resources

University Library have access to books, articles, subject-specific resources, citation help, and
more. If you are not sure where to start, help is available at Ask a Librarian. Remember that
if you use anything that is not your own writing or media (quotes from books, articles, inter-
views, websites, movies, everything) you must cite the source in MLA (or other appropriate and
approved) format.

Counseling Services
The University offers counseling and crisis services as well as outreach services, self-help, and
frequently asked questions.

Mental Health
If stress affects you or hinders your ability to do schoolwork, maintain relationships, eat, sleep,
or enjoy yourself, contact any of the mental health resources at USC. Most of these services are
offered at no cost as they are covered by the Student Health Services tuition fee. For all available
mental health resources, see Student Health Services Mental Health and the quick reference list
below.
• Wellness Coaching can help you improve in areas related to emotional and physical well-
being (e.g., sleep, resiliency, balanced eating and more) – schedule an appointment at (803)
777-6518 or on MyHealthSpace.

8/9
Syed Uddin, PhD ASTR 101

• Access virtual self-help modules via Therapy Assistance Online (TAO).

• Access additional articles and videos on health and wellness topics on the ThriveatCarolina
Wellness Hub, or by downloading the CampusWell (https://www.campuswell.com/) app
and searching for University of South Carolina.

• Counseling & Psychiatry offers individual and group counseling and psychiatric services
– schedule an appointment at (803) 777-5223 or MyHealthSpace.

• Access the 24-hr Mental Health Support Line at (833) 664-2854.

• Access an anonymous mental health screening program.

Interpersonal Violence
Interpersonal violence - including sexual harassment, relationship violence, sexual assault, and
stalking - is prohibited at USC. Faculty, staff, and administrators encourage anyone experiencing
interpersonal violence to speak with someone, so they can get the necessary support and USC
can respond appropriately. If you or someone you know has been or is currently impacted by
interpersonal violence, you can find the appropriate resources at the Sexual Assault and Violence
Intervention & Prevention (SAVIP) website.
As faculty, I must report all incidents of interpersonal violence and sexual misconduct, and
thus cannot guarantee confidentiality. Please know that you can seek confidential resources. If
you want to make a formal report, you can report interpersonal violence and sexual misconduct
or contact the Institution’s Title IX Coordinator, or one of the Deputy Title IX Coordinators listed
on the SAVIP website. You can also file a police report by contacting USC Police at 803-777-4215.

Diversity and Inclusion

The university is committed to a campus environment that is inclusive, safe, and respectful for
all persons, and one that fully embraces the Carolinian Creed. To that end, all course activities
will be conducted in an atmosphere of friendly participation and interaction among colleagues,
recognizing and appreciating the unique experiences, background, and point of view each stu-
dent brings. You are expected to apply the highest academic standards to this course and treat
others with dignity and respect.

9/9