Table of Contents
This is an old revision of the document!
AST 100: Our Cosmic History
This course, co-offered with PHY 100: Physics for the Next Generation, explores the grand narrative of the universe—from its origins to the emergence of life and our cosmic future. Designed to be accessible, the curriculum avoids complex mathematics, instead utilizing sight, sound, telescopes, and imagery to help students discover their place in the cosmos.
To cultivate students as “citizens of the universe,” the course integrates astrophotography as an art form. Using Unistellar eQuinox and iTelescope equipment, students capture and process images to forge a personal connection with the cosmos. This artistic practice allows learners to not just study the universe, but to actively visualize and feel their place within it through their own observations.
1. Content
Students can use this curated Google NotebookLM for asking questions, creating learning materials and learning on their own pace.
2. Assessment
| Assessment | Sections 1, 3, 5 | Sections 2, 4 |
|---|---|---|
| Attendance | 10% | 10% |
| Punctuality | 10% | |
| Infographics | 20% | |
| Investigations | 20% | |
| Astrophotography | 10% | 10% |
| Quizzes | 10% | 10% |
| Midterm presentations | 25% | |
| Final presentations | 25% | |
| Total | 100% |
The details of the continuous assessments of different sections are given below.
Asad: Sections 1, 3, 5
The continuous assessments for the sections of KMB Asad.
Uddin: Sections 2, 4
The continuous assessments for the sections of SA Uddin.
| Attendance | 10% |
| Investigations (4) | 20% |
| Astrophotography (2) | 10% |
| Quizzes (4) | 10% |
| Total | 50% |
|---|
3. Reference books
- Eric Chaisson, Epic of Evolution, Columbia University Press.
- Thomas Arny and Stephen Schneider, Explorations: Introduction to Astronomy, McGraw Hill.
- Fred Spier, Big History and the Future of Humanity, Wiley.
- Jay M. Pasachoff and Alex Filippenko, The Cosmos: Astronomy in the New Millennium, Cambridge University Press.
- David Christian, Maps of Time: An Introduction to Big History, University of California Press.