This course is designed for students who learn about modern astrophysics. It covers:

1) The greatest unsolved mysteries of the universe, including dark matter, dark energy, quasars and life in space.

2) Exoplanets – how they are discovered, their properties and how they are challenging our understanding of solar systems.

3) The Violent universe – white dwarfs, neutron stars, special relativity and black holes.

4) Cosmology – the Big Bang, nature of space and time, observational cosmology, Inflation, entropy of the universe and ultimate fate of the universe.

You do not need any prior knowledge of astronomy to take this course.

The course will assume that you have a maths and science background equivalent to school year 10, because this course is designed to take you well beyond the level of popular science books, TV shows and web pages.

This course is delivered entirely online.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Describe and explain the key issues in modern astrophysics.
2. Be able to analyse and interpret astronomical data, including images, spectra, data tables and charts.
3. Use physics and maths, including energy balance and circular motion, to estimate and explain a wide variety of astronomical phenomena
4. Be able to apply the techniques in this course to solve problem in unfamiliar contexts.

Examination Material or equipment

One A4 page with notes on both sides. Calculator (programmable is OK). Unannotated paper-based dictionary (no approval required),

Required Resources

Internet access

Recommended Resources

Recommended student system requirements 

ANU courses commonly use a number of online resources and activities including:

• video material, similar to YouTube, for lectures and other instruction
• two-way video conferencing for interactive learning
• email and other messaging tools for communication
• interactive web apps for formative and collaborative activities
• print and photo/scan for handwritten work
• home-based assessment.

To fully participate in ANU learning, students need:

• A computer or laptop. Mobile devices may work well but in some situations a computer/laptop may be more appropriate.
• Webcam
• Speakers and a microphone (e.g. headset)
• Reliable, stable internet connection. Broadband recommended. If using a mobile network or wi-fi then check performance is adequate.
• Suitable location with minimal interruptions and adequate privacy for classes and assessments.
• Printing, and photo/scanning equipment

For more information please see https://www.anu.edu.au/students/systems/recommended-student-system-requirements

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Answers to online quiz questions will be revealed once you've completed each question.
• Written homework will be marked, and online comments made available on Turnitin.
• General feedback will be give using the course discussion forum.

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Other Information

This is a purely online course, except for the final exam. You will need to watch videos, do online questions and upload written homework answers, but there is no face-to-face class time.

Please note, that where there are multiple assessment tasks of the same type, e.g weekly quizzes, a date range is used in the Assessment Summary. The first date is the approximate due date of the first task, the return date is the approximate return date for the final task. Further information is provided in the assessment section of the class summary, and details are provided on the course wattle site

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Greatest Unsolved Mysteries of the Universe	Online quizzes
2	Exoplanets	Online quizzes
3	The Violent Universe	Online quizzes
4	Cosmology	Online quizzes

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Learning Outcomes
Online untimed quizzes	20 %	*	1,2,3
Online Timed Test	30 %	*	1,2,3,4
Final Examination	50 %	19/02/2020	1,2,3,4

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information 
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website. In rare cases where online submission using Turnitin software is not technically possible; or where not using Turnitin software has been justified by the Course Convener and approved by the Associate Dean (Education) on the basis of the teaching model being employed; students shall submit assessment online via ‘Wattle’ outside of Turnitin, or failing that in hard copy, or through a combination of submission methods as approved by the Associate Dean (Education). The submission method is detailed below.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Examination(s)

There is one end of session exam.

Assessment Task 1

Online untimed quizzes

Online quiz questions.

There are 36 quizzes due over the course You will be shown whether your answer is correct and provided with a correct answer immediately after submission.

Assessment Task 2

Online Timed Test

There are four timed online tests, one at the end of each section of the course. You can do them whenever you chose, but once you start, you have only three hours to complete them. Grades are available immediately after each question is submitted, and answers will be made available once the deadline has passed.

Assessment Task 3

Final Examination

A final examination will be held on 19th Feb, 2-6pm. If you cannot make this time and date, contact the course convenor to arrange an alternative time. It is an open-book take-home exam - the exam is posted on Wattle, you work on it at home and upload your answer without four hours. You will need to get a grade of 50% in this examination to pass the whole course, regardless of your grades for the other assessment items.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of the ANU culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically, committing to honest and responsible scholarly practice and upholding these values with respect and fairness.

The ANU commits to assisting all members of our community to understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to be familiar with the academic integrity principle and Academic Misconduct Rule, uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with.

The Academic Misconduct Rule is in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Very minor breaches of the academic integrity principle may result in a reduction of marks of up to 10% of the total marks available for the assessment. The ANU offers a number of online and in person services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. Visit the Academic Skills website for more information about academic integrity, your responsibilities and for assistance with your assignments, writing skills and study.

Online Submission

Online quizzes and tests are done using the edX online system. The final exam must be submitted using Turnitin, accessed through Wattle.

Hardcopy Submission

All assignments will normally be submitted online.

Late Submission

No submission of assessment tasks without an extension after the due date will be permitted. If an assessment task is not submitted by the due date, a mark of 0 will be awarded.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Returning Assignments

Assessments will be returned online.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure. Extensions may be granted for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Resubmission of Assignments

Resubmission is not normally permitted.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information.
In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service – including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy.
If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes.

Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students