<p>This course is supposed to be one of the most interesting and worthwhile classes at Cal. Filippenko is a renowned professor who makes the class notably enjoyable AND the class fulfills the physical science breadth req for l & s students. I'm posting this because there's currently low enrollment due to a change in course listings and people wrongly figure Filippenko is not teaching the course. Here's a note from Filippenko if you're interested:</p>
<p>"Dear Astronomy C10 or L&S C70U students, Fall 2006:</p>
<p>Thank you for signing up for my course, "Introduction to
General Astronomy." I look forward to teaching it!</p>
<p>I have a favor to ask you. My course has traditionally
been listed as "Astronomy 10, Section 1" -- but in Fall
2006, that number has been given to a different professor's
course. Instead, mine is confusingly listed as both
"Astronomy C10, Sec. 1" and "L&S C70U" (one of the
"Discovery Series" courses). Hence, a lot of students
have not noticed the fact that I <em>will indeed</em> be teaching
Astro 10 this Fall (as I do every Fall), and the current
enrollment is alarmingly low. "C10" really means "10" --
but the "C" is for "cross-listed" I think.</p>
<p>Please encourage your friends to sign up for either
Astronomy C10 (Filippenko) or L&S C70U (Filippenko)!
Ask them to spread the word to <em>their</em> friends, too.</p>
<p>It doesn't much matter whether they sign up under
"Astronomy C10" or "L&S C70U" -- the course lectures,
content, structure, etc. will be identical (it's the
same class, at the same time, with the same lecturer
[me], etc!), and they satisfy the same breadth
requirements. But with Astro C10, "General Astronomy,
Astron C10" will show up on your transcript, whereas
with L&S C70U, "General Astronomy, L&S C70U" will
appear.</p>
<p>So -- again, the numbers are Astronomy C10 or
L&S C70U. Please encourage your friends, and their
friends, to officially sign up soon using Tele-BEARS!
(You can simply forward my message to your friends.)
Otherwise, I might be forced to start dropping some
discussion sections because of low enrollment.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Alex Filippenko
(just call me "Alex")</p>
<p>ps. There are 26 discussion sections for the course.
Each student should sign up for one discussion section
(as well as the main lecture, which will be MWF 3:10-4 pm).
Note that the main lectures will be available on
"webcast" (computer video playback, available at all
hours of the day/night, so students don't have to physically
show up to each lecture if it's not convenient to do so)."</p>
<p>and information about the course from the discovery course site:</p>
<p>"L&S C70U: Introduction to General Astronomy
Alex Filippenko *
MWF 3:00-4:00, Wheeler Auditorium, 4 units, CCN: 51965
Also listed as Astronomy C10</p>
<p>This course is designed to provide, for both non-science and science majors, a description of the fantastic Universe in which we live. We cover the structure and evolution of planets, stars, galaxies, and the cosmos as a whole, gaining insights into amazing objects like quasars, exploding stars, neutron stars, and black holes. Recent newsworthy events such as the detection of planets around other stars, the possible evidence of primitive life on Mars, and the discovery of gravitationally repulsive "dark energy" are also featured. Major themes include our origins (such the origin of the chemical elements, stars, planets, and life), the methods by which astronomers investigate and eventually understand various aspects of the Universe, the scientific unification of many seemingly disparate phenomena, and the excitement felt by astronomers doing ground-breaking research on some of the most far-out topics imaginable. This course will inspire students to become more inquisitive about the world around them, and will develop their skills in arriving at conclusions based on logical, physical reasoning.</p>
<hr>
<p> Distinguished Teaching Award recipient
* Winner of Donald Sterling Noyce Prize for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching</p>
<p>Satisfies the Physical Science Breadth Requirement.
Students have said:
"His passion overflows into his lectures. He explains thoroughly and is very approachable. Goes to the end of the world for his students."</p>
<p>L&S Discovery Courses are exempt from the rule prohibiting the use of more than two courses from one department to satisfy breadth. It is perfectly possible and allowable to fulfill all of your breadth requirements by taking Discovery Courses."</p>