ASTR 150 A: The Planets

Winter 2026
Meeting:
TTh 1:00pm - 2:20pm
SLN:
10585
Section Type:
Lecture
-- *NO OVERLOADS. FOR THE ASYNCHRONOUS FULLY ONLINE VERSION PLEASE SEE ASTR 150 E
Syllabus Description (from Canvas):

OFFICE HOURS

Instructor: Dr. Cisneros

WEEK 11 Wednesday 11-1pm PST 

Join Zoom Meeting https://washington.zoom.us/j/95431216743Links to an external site.

Teaching Assistant: Sydney Andersen Tuesday 10:00-11:00am PST PAB B325 or Zoom https://washington.zoom.us/j/3402460164 

Teaching Assistant: Tiara Anderson Thursday 11:30-12:30pm PST PAB B333 or Zoom

Zoom Office Hours  Passcode: Planets

 

Please message us on the canvas Inbox for appointments or questions ~! It helps us identify the class you're taking~! Thanks.  


WELCOME TO THE PLANETS~! 

  We're looking forward to traveling through the solar system with you all this quarter. Thanks for joining~!

Dr. Cisneros & Your 150 Teaching Team

image.png SYLLABUS

LECTURE  Tue/Thur 1:00-2:20pm   

LOCATION: ARK 147


Grade Scale for this class

Reading & Class Schedule

 

Welcome~! In this course we will travel through the solar system in 10 weeks. This is (IMO) the most fascinating space-age we have seen to date, the era of big data and big telescopes!  We will spend our time reveling in the clarity and extent of current observations of our universe. You will become a citizen scientist in this class, capable of distinguishing ``good'' science news from ``fake'' news. You will help to reduce NASA data, and will ponder the mysteries of quantum mechanics and relativity with some guidance. 

I'm looking forward to getting to know you, but because this is a large class, that will be challenging.  In week 1 I'll post a poll for weekly office hours (both in person and online) and hope to meet many of you there. This class does not have high-stakes cumulative exams, but in exchange, there is a strict no late work policy. To accommodate emergencies or forget-fullness, we will drop one assignment from each group in the last week of the quarter. This is meant to cover all things that might happen to you, including covid, so please do not ask for extra drops. If you have any learning differences that we can support, please visit with us during office hours, we are always happy to help to find new and creative ways of doing the business of learning science. 

Be well and welcome~

Dr. Cisneros

 


 

 


QUESTION How to approach the class ?
I suggest the following work flow -- though you will find your own pace.
NOTE: this is a fictitious example. Your course assignments and sections may be on different days~!
Monday
Open the module for the week and glance through the content. 
Complete/submit previous week's Demoquiz/Lab. 
Read the new lab/demoquiz and attend section with your assigned TA. 
Tuesday
Attend lecture and take the associated quiz. 
Work a bit more on Lab/Demoquiz, go to office hours if need help~!
Wednesday
Complete previous week's Smartwork.
Open next Smartwork and read the associated chapter, and start working on the homework. 
Thursday
watch imbedded lecture and take the associated quiz.
Continue working on Smartwork. 

Friday
Follow up on Discussion posts to two people  in your group. 
Discussion: open the discussion for the week and begin your research. Make your original post. 
Finish up any assignment you haven't completed yet. 

HOW TO get access to the homework:

1. CLICK ON FIRST HOMEWORK (link in Module 1) and that will take you to the publisher's landing page, there you can either purchase access to Smartwork and Ebook or enter the code you purchased from elsewhere. 

[Any of you enduring financial difficulty, there is a free 2-week grace period. So, sign up right away, so you don't get any late homeworks, and I'll post a survey soon for people who could really use a free code. ]

HOW TO do this class: 

All assigned work will be in the Module which we're working in. There are four types of work in this class (Lab/Demoquizzes, Quizzes, Discussions and Homeworks), each worth 25% of your grades.

There are no high stakes cumulative exams in this class, in exchange for no late assignments (Only exception: Smartwork has a 4-day late period for reduced credit).

We will drop 1 week of work for everyone in week 10, to accommodate illness, tragedy, travel, etc.

Please do not ask for exceptions. 


 

Catalog Description:
For liberal arts and beginning science students. Survey of the planets of the solar system, with emphases on recent space exploration of the planets and on the comparative evolution of the Earth and the other planets. Offered: AWSpS.
GE Requirements Met:
Natural Sciences (NSc)
Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning (QSR)
Credits:
5.0
Status:
Active
Last updated:
March 13, 2026 - 6:16 am