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ASTR 205

Astronomy and Astrophysics
(ASTR) 205
Universe—The Ultimate Frontier

This version of ASTR 205 closed. To current version.

View previous version.

Delivery mode: Individualized study with a video component,* or grouped study.
*Overseas students, please contact the University Library before registering in a course that has an audio/visual component.

Credits: 3 - Science.

Prerequisite: None.

Centre: Centre for Science

ASTR 205 has a Challenge for Credit option.

Télé-université du Québec equivalency: PHY 2001.

Course website

Overview

ASTR 205 will show the student our natural world on a cosmic scale. The universe may be seen better and understood through scientific methods which are described and viewed.

This course is suggested for students beginning their study of astronomy.

ASTR 205 has the following goals:

  • to describe the universe as we presently
    understand it
  • to explain how our present understanding came about
  • to show the scientific method in action as the basis for tools and theories in astronomy.

Outline

Unit 1: Exploring the Sky

Unit 2: The Stars

Unit 3: The Universe of Galaxies

Unit 4: Planets in Perspective

Evaluation

To receive credit for ASTR 205, you must achieve a course composite mark of at least a “D” (50 percent) and a grade of at least 50 percent on the final examination. The weighting of the composite mark is as follows:

4 Quizzes
(5% each)
Tutor-marked
Exercises
Mid-term
Exam
Final
Exam
Total
20% 20% 20% 40% 100%

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbook

Seeds, Michael A. 2002. Horizons. Belmont, 8th ed. CA: Wadsworth Publishing Co.

Other materials

The course materials also include a student manual and an assignment manual.

Special Course Features

Students receive the study guide Universe—The Ultimate Frontier: Student Manual to accompany the video (or televised) component of the course. Copies of the course videotapes may be borrowed from Athabasca University Library.