If you are a freshman who is considering the Astronomy & Astrophysics concentration at Harvard, then we encourage you to take Astronomy 16. This course will count towards concentration credit should you decide to concentrate in Astronomy & Astrophysics.

If you would like to take a self-contained course in astronomy based in mathematics and physics, then you should consider one of Astronomy 16, Astronomy 45 (fall term) or Astronomy 145 (spring term), depending on your interests and experience. Note that Astronomy 145 has more stringent prerequisites and covers more advanced topics than do Astronomy 16 or Astronomy 45. If you are enrolled in another concentration, you should consult with your head tutor to determine whether any of these courses can count for concentration credit.

If you already have a good background in astronomy from other courses, then you are welcome in Astronomy 16, but you may find that you are already familiar with much of the material (check the course calendar for a list of topics covered). More advanced courses to consider are Astronomy 45 (fall term) and Astronomy 145 (spring term). Note that both these courses have more stringent prerequisites than Astronomy 16. If you are not an Astronomy & Astrophysics concentrator, you should consult with your head tutor to determine whether these courses can count for concentration credit.

If you do not have a physics/mathematics background, and would like to take an introduction to astronomy for a core or elective class, courses to consider are Science A-35 (spring term), Science A-36 (fall term), Science A-47 (fall term, offered every other year) or Astronomy 1 (spring term).

Differences between Astronomy 16 and Astronomy 45

Astronomy 16 and Astronomy 45 are intended to complement each other and form a sequence, but both can also be taken as stand-alone courses. It is not necessary to take both these courses as part of the Astronomy & Astrophysics concentration. (Note that at least one of Astronomy 16 or Astronomy 45 are required for the "Basic" concentration, but not for the "Honors" concentration.)

The main differences between these two courses are as follows: