Astronomy 110 - Observing the Sky

This course will introduce students to how to observe and understand a variety of phenomena in the daytime and nighttime sky. The lecture portion of the course will focus on the history of our understanding of the universe and how observations of celestial phenomena provided clues at each stage of this journey, which continues to this day. The nighttime laboratory portion of the course will focus on naked eye, telescopic, and photographic observations of the sky. The course will make extensive use of Amherst’s on-campus observatory on the roof of the new science center, as well as the planetarium.

Limited to 25 students. 15 seats reserved for first-year students. Fall semester.