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Intro to Astronomy -- ASTR 1301 Spring🔗

Semester 2026, University of Arkansas at Little Rock🔗

Instructor: Dr. Miles Blanton

Email: mcblanton@ualr.edu

Office: 300G ETAS

Office Hrs: Tuesdays @ 1pm and Thursdays @ 11am In my office

Monday/Wednesday @ 10am-2pm Via Zoom by appointment

GO HERE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT https://calendly.com/mcblanton/

Class Location: 101 Physics Building

Class Times: Tuesdays/Thursdays 9:25am – 10:40am

Textbook: Pathways to Astronomy, 6th Ed. Schneider & Arny

Materials: You will need a scientific calculator for this class

Course Overview🔗

This course is a synthesis of the scientific principles governing the study and practice of Astronomy AND the factual matters of a survey of Modern Astronomical topics. By studying the motions of the heavens, the nature of light, gravity, the lifecycle of stars (including the formation and nature of the planets) and the structure and evolution of the Universe in a context both historical and practical we illuminate the methods by which we acquire these facts and the scientific theories placing these objects in a consistent framework.

At the end of this course, you will have a foundation for the history of Astronomy and the general progress over time of the accumulation of this knowledge. You will know the observational basis for scientific theories in Astronomy, the timeline for the life of a star, the far-reaching effects of gravity, how light is observed at many wavelengths, how the planets formed as they did, the cosmological progression of the Universe, and have an understanding of the primary methods and techniques used to measure these properties.

The topics in this course will revolve around three main themes. (1) Observations of the natural world that are of interest. (2) Physical laws that attempt to frame these observations in a broader context. (3) Techniques for investigation led by technological innovation that allow for more and better observations (1). As you can see this is a cyclic series of themes that blend into one another, and few topics will be confined to only one theme.

This course fulfils the following Knowledge learning objectives as a Core Course*:

*Note: some of these learning objectives may only be met by the accompanying (though not required) lab course, ASTR 1101.

LO #1.1 Explain, describe, discuss, recognize, and/or apply knowledge and understanding of the history of astronomy, light/optics, solar system, celestial motions, astrophysical principles, stellar properties and evolution, galaxies, and cosmology.

LO #1.2 Gather, analyze, and model data and design and carry out an original experiment.

LO #1.3 Recognize, describe, and apply basic astrophysical processes to the world around them and understand how our knowledge (particularly over time) limits our comprehension of the universe.

Class Format and Assessment: (The Semester is worth a total of 100 points, spread among the following assessments)

Exams:

  • There will be four (4) exams during the semester. These exams are not cumulative over the whole semester, but cover the material between exams. The lowest score of the three exams will be dropped, or if you miss one it will be dropped. Make-up exams will not be held. Exams will be administered in class, are closed-book, closed-notes and you will need a scientific calculator, there may be a take-home portion to the exams. You will be provided with an equation/constants sheet. The Exams are worth 40 points

Final Exam

  • The final exam is fully cumulative over the entire semester. Like the semester exams, the final exam is closed-book, closed-notes and you will need a scientific calculator, and there may be a take-home portion to the final exam. The Final Exam is worth 30pts

Homework

  • There will be weekly homeworks that are submitted on BlackBoard, but focus on writing out what you are learning about astronomy and practicing making critical arguments about physical phenomena. Homework is worth 20pts.

Attendance

  • Attendance is mandatory. You may miss up to 4 classes and beyond that you will be dropped from the class. Excused absences will be acceptable with a doctor’s note or similar documentation for extenuating circumstances. I also find that students who miss class regularly do not achieve well in the class, so this is for your benefit as well. Attendance is met when you arrive within 5 minutes of the class start time, and late within 20 minutes. You will be counted absent if you are more than 20 minutes late to class. Attendance is worth 10pts.

Grading (100pts throughout the semester)

Attendance (miss 4) – 10pts
HW (drop 3) – 20pts
Exams (drop 1) – 40pts
Final Exam – 30pts

A – 90-100pts
B – 80-89pts
C – 70-79pts
D – 60-69pts
F – 0-59

Schedule

Part #1: Historical Astronomy - Week #1-3   - Exam #1: Thursday 2/5
Part #2: Stellar Astronomy    - Week #4-6   - Exam #2: Thursday 2/26
Part #3: Stellar Evolution    - Week #7-9   - Exam #3: Thursday 3/19
SPRING BREAK SPRING BREAK SPRING BREAK
Part #4: Galactic Astronomy   - Week #11-13 - Exam #4: Thursday 4/16
Part #5: Cosmology            - Week #14-15
         Final Exam: Tue. May 13, 2025 8:00 am-10:00 am [NOTE THE TIME!!]

E-mail policy

The official method of communication at UALR is e-mail. It is essential that you check your UALR e-mail account at least once a day (preferably more often). E-mails sent on academic business must have a salutation (Dear Professor [last name]) and must be signed with your first and last name. Please also indicate which class you are in. (I teach three classes, with 100’s of students. So it’s important to know which class you are asking about.) Be sure you use correct grammar and spelling. This is a standard of professionalism that will help you in your future life.

Email is the best way to get in touch with me outside of class. If you have questions about anything, or would like to make an appointment to meet with me outside of office hours, don’t hesitate to email me. NOTE that it is not necessary to email me if you will be missing class. If you miss class, please make sure you check Blackboard to review any material that you missed.

Policy Statements (from the Provost):

Academic Dishonesty (Copyright © 2012 by Jim Vander Putten): https://ualr.edu/deanofstudents/section-vii-administration/academic- integrity-grievance-policy/ The following definitions of the most common forms of academic dishonesty are located in the UALR Student Handbook, which is available online at: http://ualr.edu/deanofstudents/ 1. Cheating: Students shall not give, receive, offer, or solicit information on examinations, quizzes, etc. This includes the following classes of dishonesty: 1. Copying from another student’s paper. 2. Use during the examination of prepared materials, notes, or texts other than those specifically permitted by the professor. 3. Collaboration with another student during the examination. 4. Buying, selling, stealing, soliciting, or transmitting an examination or any material purported to be the unreleased contents of a coming examination, or the use of any such material. 5. Substituting for another person during an examination or allowing such substitution for oneself. 6. Bribery of any person to obtain examination information. 2. Collusion: Collusion is defined as obtaining from another party, without specific approval in advance by the professor, assistance in the production of work offered for credit, to the extent that the work reflects the ideas of the party consulted rather than those of the person in whose name the work is submitted. 3. Duplicity: To offer for credit identical or substantially unchanged work in two or more courses, without specific advance approval of the professors involved. 4. Plagiarism: To adopt and reproduce as one’s own, to appropriate to one’s own use, and incorporate in one’s own work without acknowledgement the ideas or passages from the writings or works of others.

For any instance of academic dishonesty that is discovered by the instructor, whether the dishonesty is found to be cheating, collusion, duplicity, or plagiarism, the result for the student or students involved will be that the instructor will assign a grade of F for the examination or assignment involved. The offense will also be reported to the Dean of Students following UALR policy. A ‘zero tolerance’ policy regarding academic dishonesty is in effect for this course. Please refer to the UALR Student Handbook referenced above for specific rights and responsibilities surrounding any allegation of academic dishonesty. Additionally, the UALR Dissertation and Thesis Guidelines document addresses the issue of plagiarism.

Students with Disabilities: Your success in this class is important to me. If you are a student with a disability, or if you simply want to discuss resources that might help you learn more effectively, you can contact the Disability Resource Center at any time. You are welcome to drop in or call 501-916-3143 to make an appointment. Their staff will work with you to discuss accommodations and identify resources on campus or in the community that might be helpful for you. Accommodations are established through an interactive process. For more information, visit the DRC website or review the steps to request accommodations. We want you to know you are valued, welcome, and wanted at UA Little Rock.

Inclement weather policy: https://ualr.edu/policy/home/admin/weather/

UALR Non-Discrimination Policy: UALR adheres to a policy that enables all individuals, regardless of race, color, gender, national origin, age, sexual orientation, veteran’s status, or disability to work and study in an environment unfettered by discriminatory behavior or acts. Harassment of an individual or group will not be condoned and any person— student, faculty, or staff member—who violates this policy will be subject to disciplinary action.

Any person who believes they have been discriminated against should contact the Human Relations Officer to obtain assistance and information concerning the filing of complaints. Harassment which is considered discriminatory includes actions or conduct (verbal, graphic, gestural, or written) directed against any person or group with the intent to demean or create a hostile or threatening environment.

It is not the intent of this policy to infringe upon or limit educational, scholarly, or artistic expression. At the same time the University prohibits discriminatory practices, it promotes equal opportunity through affirmative action. Nondiscriminatory affirmative action equal opportunity policies apply to: recruitment, hiring, job classification and placement, work conditions, promotional opportunities, demotions/transfers, terminations, training, compensation, choice of contractors and suppliers of goods and services, educational opportunities, disciplinary action, recreational and social activities, use of facilities, housing, and University sponsored programs.

Grievance Policy: Please follow this link {https://ualr.edu/deanofstudents/student-complaints/} for complete information for filing a complaint and other forms. Students are encouraged to seek informal resolution at the department level when possible. After exhausting the department or informal complaint process, students may file a formal complaint with the university. Student complaints may be submitted anonymously; however, including your contact information will assist the university in responding to your complaint.