Introduction to Astronomy I

(UTRGV ASTR-1401)

Course Information (Fall 2025 Version)

Contact Information:

Email: ryan.oelkers(at)utrgv.edu
Phone: 956.882.6617
Office: BINAB 2.140
Office Hours: Monday 11:00 AM - 12:30PM in BINAB 2.140 or on ZOOM
Classroom: Biomed Rsrch Prof Bldg (BBRHB) 1.222
Lecture Time: Monday and Wednesday from 09:30 AM to 10:45 AM

(Left) A view from Estacion Astrofisica de Bosque Alegre. The small hexagon at the center of the image is the camera system I built for my PhD dissertation. The image is from NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day.

Image Credit & Copyright

Photogragh: Sebastian D' Alessandro; Constellations: Judy Schmidt

Please note: You will need to be logged into your UTRGV Microsoft 365 account to access the course material.

Course Syllabus

A copy of the course syllabus can be found here.

Course Textbook

You can find a copy of the free, open-source textbook here.

Course Schedule

The lecture slides are available through the links below. Generally, they will follow the textbook.

Date Topic (click link for slides) Relevant Chapters Homework

09/03/2025 Introductions & Common Misconceptions -- --

09/08/2025 Science 1 --

09/10/2025 The Universe 1 --

09/15/2025 This History of Astronomy I: Ancient Astronomy 2 HW 1 is due

09/17/2025 The History of Astronomy II: Modern Astronomy 2 --

09/22/2025 Orbits 3 HW 2 is due

09/24/2025 Gravity 3 --

09/29/2025 The Earth & The Sky 4 HW 3 is due

10/01/2025 The Moon 4 --

10/06/2025 Light & Spectra 5 HW 4 is due

10/08/2025 Telescopes 6 --

10/13/2025 Exam 1 Review 1 - 6 HW 5 is due

10/15/2025 Exam 1 1 - 6 --

10/20/2025

10/22/2025

10/27/2025

10/29/2025

11/03/2025

11/05/2025

11/10/2025

11/12/2025

11/17/2025

11/19/2025

11/24/2025

11/26/2025

12/01/2025

12/03/2025

12/08/2025

12/17/2025 Final Exam from 08:00AM - 09:45AM in BBRHB 1.222