(3 Credits, Lab Required)

The topics covered in this course outline the properties of stars and planets that can be observed and the physics necessary to interpret these observations. It includes a brief introduction to galaxies and cosmology. Using lectures and laboratory sections, it provides an astronomy background and introduction to the scientific method. It ranges from introductory physical background to considering current research problems. This course is mainly descriptive, taught at a qualitative level, with simple arithmetic and trigonometry used frequently. Not to be held with the former 016.180.