View the video orientation for all astronomy classes. The detailed video orientation goes through the class syllabus section-by-section. The video orientation is in the class Canvas but the class syllabus is available outside of Canvas in the class syllabus section below.
Registered "Online Flexible" (asynchronous) course students: Get started on the Syllabus Quiz on the class Canvas (in the "Start Here" module) by 5 PM Friday, August 30 or you will be dropped. You must do the Syllabus Quiz completely correct to get access to the rest of the course modules. The syllabus quiz must be completed successfully by 5 PM Friday, September 6 or you will be dropped. You can do the Syllabus Quiz as many times as you need to get it completely correct. Also, fill out the "Getting to Know You" survey in the "Start Here" module. All students: The bookstore may have a Chromebook laptop listed as "recommended". You can use any desktop or laptop you want.
There is a lot of FREE help at BC for non-astronomy class specific stuff.
The main class website is on Canvas that you access via the InsideBC server. Go to the InsideBC server and select the appropriate class link for the current semester in the "My Courses" tab. If InsideBC is down, use: https://kccd.instructure.com and sign-in with your campus username/password. Unfortunately, according to Kern Community College Disrict policy, only enrolled students will have access to the class Canvas, which is why I have this page and the class syllabus on my Astronomy Notes website---accessible to everyone!
The Class Canvas website for Fall 2024 will be ready on August 17. In the meantime, use the links on this page to get the freely accessible materials posted on the Astronomy Notes website => Jump to class syllabus section below. MacOS or iOS users: see the "Use Chrome" page.
If you have problems with InsideBC, call the Help Desk at 877-382-3508 or use the Renegade Online Hub.
Syllabus for your Astronomy class
The class syllabus gives you my contact information, the when/where of class sessions, office/student hours, course materials to buy (though everything now can be accessed for free electronically!), grading policy, homework+quiz+exam information, late assignment policy, expectations of student+instructor, exam dates, and a little background information about me. Choose the appropriate syllabus link for your class below. Note that if it is still a few weeks before the semester starts, the syllabus links might still be pointing to the previous semester's class. The upcoming semester's class syllabus will be very similar but with appropriate date changes.
Astronomy B1 (Science of the Cosmos)
Fall 2024 Syllabus for Astronomy B1 Face-to-Face (8 AM class)
Science of the Cosmos ---Syllabus for Astronomy B1 ONLINE Science of the Cosmos . (Choose the appropriate syllabus for your section)
You do not need the Astronomy Notes textbook on the first day. I will distribute hardcopies of the Student Guide on the first day of class. Registered purely Online asynchronous class students: Do the Syllabus Quiz in the class Canvas completely correct to get access to the rest of the course.
Registered students who have not accessed (begun) the syllabus quiz by 5 PM of the first Friday of the semester will be dropped. Students who have not successfully completed the syllabus quiz by 5 PM of the second Friday of the semester will be dropped (you can do the syllabus quiz multiple times).
Get to the class Canvas from the "My Courses" tab of InsideBC. If InsideBC is down, use: https://kccd.instructure.com and sign-in with your campus username/password.
Waitlisted students:Link to Science of the Cosmos first two weeks. I will get waitlisted students enrolled into the class before the first required assignment (Homework #1) is due.
Waitlisted Online Class students will have until the second Friday of the semester to complete the syllabus quiz successfully.
Syllabus for Fall 2024 Astronomy B3 Face-to-Face (9:35 AM class) Solar System --- Syllabus for Astronomy B3 ONLINE Solar System . You do not need the Astronomy Notes textbook on the first day. I will distribute hardcopies of the Student Guide on the first day of class. Registered purely Online asynchronous class students: Do the Syllabus Quiz in the class Canvas completely correct to get access to the rest of the course.
Registered students who have not accessed (begun) the syllabus quiz by 5 PM of the first Friday of the semester will be dropped. Students who have not successfully completed the syllabus quiz by 5 PM of the second Friday of the semester will be dropped (you can do the syllabus quiz multiple times).
Get to the class Canvas from the "My Courses" tab of InsideBC. If InsideBC down, use: https://kccd.instructure.com and sign-in with your campus username/password.
Waitlisted students:Link to Solar System first two weeks. I will get waitlisted students enrolled into the class before the first required assignment (Homework #1) is due. Waitlisted Online Class students will have until the second Friday of the semester to complete the syllabus quiz successfully.
Bakersfield College Email: College-assigned email will be the sole email address that is used in this class and by Bakersfield College. Select the link to find out how to get your email and set it up to automatically forward class+BC messages to another address.
View the video orientation for all astronomy classes. The detailed video orientation goes through the class syllabus section-by-section. The video orientation is in the class Canvas but the class syllabus is available outside of Canvas in the class syllabus section below.
The main class website is on Canvas that you access via the 
There are a lot of computers in the Library Commons and 
Bakersfield College Email: