Just the most inspiring, passionnate, generous, and dedicated of professors. He makes science meaningful, not just in and of iself, but in the larger context of life. He can transform science into a liberal art or music. Filippenko, my magician-professor.

Go on his overnight trip, it's f***ing awesome!

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I've taken over 140+ units and this is by far the BEST class & BEST professor at Cal. Unparalleled instructor, quirky/fun/knowledgeable/respectable GSIs, & awesome lectures! Exams are easy if u study and know straight facts (don't think too hard! he doesn't try to trick u!). Book = good supplement. Work hard and u'll get an A+! Take this class!!

This was by far the best class that I have taken at Cal. His passion, enthusiam and ease with students make the experience so much fun. If you get a chance, you should take this class!

WOOO ALEX!! Love his sense of humor and energy (cracked up at the sophomoric dble entendres during his demonstrations with balls). His enthusiasm is really infectious. Probably the best professor at Ca and a great guy in office hours. The only teacher you can call by his first name and not feel weird about it.

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This class puts the universe in perspective, literally. During my 4 years, this was one of the best classes I had. It had nothing to do with my major, but everything to do with life and the world around us.

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Pink Floyd on the first day of class?!? That's all good by me!

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Through all of college I met only a handful of teachers who made their material as compelling as Alex can. He's energetic, lively, funny, thoughtful, steeped in lore --- all things a good lecturer should be. In short, he's a good, good man.

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Amazing

Great guy who always knows to the very bottom of what he teaches...he always tries his best to be helpful... I can actually stay awake for his lectures

He is truly a great guy and a great teacher. I love someone who is passionate about their work!!!!!!!!!!!!!

He's freaking awsome

bomb diggity

He's super cool. He makes astronomy hot.

One of the best professors ever. Great guy. Saw him on TV once on the NOVA station. I even watch some of his lectures from time to time even though I took the class 3 years ago. Tough tests though.

He's just so enthusiastic!!! Astro is cool before, but he makes you want to come to lecture, just to listen to him talk!!! Plus, he's cute for an old guy!!

As a Liberal Arts major taking this class to satisfy the Physical Science breadth, I found it VERY difficult. Homework is tricky, midterms are HARD! 3 of 600 people got a perfect score. This is not to say Alex isn't a wonderful professor. People who are not strong in science or math, though, should NOT expect to earn an A without A LOT of work.

Too many people at this school are used to getting perfect scores all the time. The truth about the midterm is that 27% of the class got A's, and another 43% got B's. Sounds easy enough...Plus he's an amazingly engaging lecturer, and a lot of the hype is true. Definitely a course worth taking.

dont be fooled by people who say this is an easy class. it isnt!! the gsis write the midterms so they are pretty hard. other than that alex is a good teacher!!

First off, this isn't an easy A — yes, you have to learn the material. But Alex is the kind of professor you see in movies, leaping from floor to chair to desk to demonstrate electrons flying off/on photons of light;hurling a doughnut into the crowd to mimic centrifugal force.Even the tests have jokes in the word problems.Great reader, handwritten

Most overrated class ever. I didn't have physics in hs, so maybe that's why this class was harder for me. Filippenko is very animated, but don't expect an easy A. You have labs to do, and you're competing with crappy weather to do them. The midterm and final were hard too, but the curve is fairly generous. Don't think this is an easy A, but it's fu

Class is very fun; the prof very engaging and awesome. If you have any interest in science or math at all, this class is very easy. I think the reason most people said it is hard is because most of them are humanities majors. Any calculations are VERY simple and you only need to know the big concepts. Now, rethink the grade stats. HIGHLY RECCOMEND

Best professor at Cal. His lectures are always enjoyable, and he is an approachable and genuine guy. While he probably could be making lots more money working somewhere else, his passion for teaching and research keeps him here.

Interesting guy.

such a cool guy. he makes the class what it is. the material isn't as easy as you'd think. but not hard to pull off a good grade if you work at it.

He's a very good professor, makes the class very interesting and have "star parties"! But tests are hard...hard to get an A, but easy to pass. Nice Person tho!

A little over-rated but still good. He's awesome in a very dorky, lovable way. The material is quite difficult but he is incredibly good at explanation. Watch out for GSI's, they can make this class horrible. If you are not fond of beauracracy, don't take the class, it's very impersonal.

This clas is not an easy A. But if you work hard, anything is possible. It's mainly physics. If you can memorize and do calculations, it's fairly easy to pass the class. Watch out for killer GSI's who make hard midterms and finals. Do labs early.

I didn't think I'd find astronomy so interesting, but he has a great sense of humor, great lecture style, and is very clear in his teaching. I actually liked to go to the voluntary projects- I'm now somewhat interested in learning more about Astronomy. It was a hard class, but he's a great teacher!

He's awesome!

A terrific lecturer. Really does a splendid job of making concepts crystal clear. There's a fair amount of physics and math for an intro science course, so if you're a lib art major, you'll have to work for that A. The GSI's can be tough. Still, this is one of the best courses at Cal, taught by one of the very best professors on campus. Take it!

Absolutely amazing class. Make sure you go on the trip to the Lick Observatory! I wound up riding in his car on the way back and he took us to In-N-Out! Fascinating guy, he knows a lot and is very good at keeping you interested, helping you understand material, and he keeps the class VERY easy and fun. Best class at Cal.

Best Professor Ever!

Absolutely fantastic professor! You'll love coming to class...make sure not to miss the Halloween lecture or the lecture on eclipses. He's brilliant and loves teaching an introductory class to undergraduates. Sit up front, and he might learn your name. Take the class!

It's been said 100 times but he's great. he's an interesting and passionate lecturer, brilliant and experienced, and also friendly and funny. You absolutely must take this class, whether you need to or are interested in the subject or not. His class is a must for any Cal student. You learn so much and don't even realize it, he's so entertaining.

You must take this class with this professor no matter what your major is or whether or not you have any interest in the subject. I cannot praise him or the course material enough. He deserves every standing ovation he gets, and he receives many.

Amazing professor, amazing subject. The material isn't that hard, but the tests are. Stay on top of the game in terms of homework, quizzes, labs, and your discussion section if you want a good grade. Easily the best professor I've had at Cal--besides John Khilstrom.

There are very few great professors that you will have at Berkeley. This guy might be the best of them. He has taught the class many times before, and he treats it as a comedian would treat his act; everything he does is for the enjoyment of the audience. Enjoy it while it lasts, because Berkeley is all downhill after you're done with this class.

take this class!!! he's such a great professor and really enjoys teaching. gives amazing lectures that are really fun and interesting.

he is really great but his tests are hard. HARD TO GET A in this class because of the exams

awesome professor. loves his job and it shows. i mean, the man blew up a pickle in class.

.....................................

Alex is a great lecturer, and he is very enthusiastic about what he is teaching, which makes the class much more interesting. However, astronomy is complicated stuff and this is a hard class. I'd recommend taking it Pass/Not Pass to ease your stress. Then you can just sit back, relax, and learn about the stars!

This class is not and easy A.

Filippenko's class is simply a MUST. He is the most passionate, funny, enthusiastic, and unique professor on campus. He is a leader in his field, and he relates his research to explain class concepts. This class is not as easy as some others would say, but it is definitely worth taking. I was told to take this class before I chose Berkeley! Superb!

Lesson Learned #1: Just because it is a discovery course, doesn't mean it's easy. Lesson Learned #2: Just because you turn on the webcast lecture doesn't mean you are going to pay attention to it (*ahem* Myspace, Facebook, AIM, etc.. distractions) #3: APPRECIATE THIS GUY. Great professor but I was more excited about not having to go so I didn't.

Wonderful Professor! He's very enthusiastic about his field, and loves his students. This class is definitely worth taking, but unless you want to work pretty hard to get an A, I would take it P/NP. Midterms and the final are fairly difficult but the curve more than enough makes up for it. I HIGHLY recommend this class.

Easy and interesting class. Fillipenko clearly cares about his students and is a fun lecturer.

Filippenko is an amazing teacher. However, do not take this class if you think that it will be an easy A. It's not. If you want the A, you have to read the textbook alot, which can be pretty dense, and committ yourself to the complex subject matter. However, if you have an interest in the subject, this will not be too difficult.

AMAZING!!! yes, it takes work to get an A or A-. it helps to watch the lectures twice. the material is so interesting- take this class if you love space! he is so passionate about the subject it makes the class that much more interesting. i loved studying for astro:)!

There's a reason he won a national Professor of the Year award... just look at every other comment. The class is easy (especially after completing Phys-7AB), but not an "easy-A": some of his test questions can be tricky, but that's to separate the B's from the A's. Just go to lecture and you'll pass. You may also begin to love astronomy.

Awesome class, I really loved taking it. Very fair-- but I agree that some of the test questions were very tricky or confusing (it was really easy to make many careless errors, so be careful). You need to do work, but it's not horrendous-- and labs are easy/fun! :) Nobody enrolled in the class has ever gotten a perfect score on the final though.

Filippenko is an amazing professor! His class is awesome. If you like astronomy you will love this class. With webcasts and course slides given to you, attending lectures is not necessary. His tests aren't that hard but you have to study to do well. I would highly recommend taking this class unless astronomy doesn't interest you.

Take this class if you really are curious about all the intricacies of the universe. I love pondering about the universe as much as anyone, but I still found myself falling asleep in class(though it was a late class)Take from that what you will. Fileppenko is a great, passionate professor and I'll always remember his last lecture of the semester.

Filippenko's enthusiasm is infectious and inspiring. His lectures are always fun, especially the ones where he does special demonstrations, e.g. Halloween. He wrote the textbook, and both lecture and mid-terms correspond to it closely. Don't take this class lightly; a "B" is easy, but getting the "A" requires that you study. Do the reading!

This is the only class that I actually attended in person as often as I could even though it was webcast. It's an honor to sit 50 feet from Alex as he takes you through the universe. It's also the only class in which the material was so engaging that I absorbed everything instantly and didn't have to cram at all.

This guy is awesome. He's a really great teacher who definetely knows what he is talking about and he knows how to deliver this information to an audience that will keep them interested. The class was very easy with little work required to get a good grade.

6 years later this is the class I talk about more than any other I took in college. Alex is amazing, inspiring, brilliant. He brings you into his spectacular world in a way no other professor can. Not only do you learn about astronomy but you learn about the world, about Berkeley, about Alex.

His lecture is wonderful!! He is very nice in person too!! Take this class!!!!

An amazing professor, what can I say? He knows and loves what he's teaching, is amazingly helpful, and does some amazing demos. Great guy to talk to, made me want to minor in Astrophysics! I wish I could take his class again and again.

What a funny man! Every time I sat down for lecture, I just kept thinking ROBIN WILLIAMS!!! This class is easy to pass, but hard to get an A in since his midterms are tricky

phenomenal, amazing, one class I will not forget. While the class may not be easy per se, Alex does such a good job in lecture I didn't need to study more than a couple of hours to get an A. I recommend going to his office hours, Alex can answer any question no matter how challenging + he is fun. The best professor at Cal, by far. Take this class.

Hands down, this professor is funny, great, helpful etc. etc. etc. (I didn't need to write this rating to tell you that.) HOWEVER-- as interesting and eye-opening as this class is, if you are not great at science, math, memorization, consider taking this class pass/not pass. Trust me. Or take the first midterm and find out for yourself.

He's awesome. From the song of the day to the crazy science shirts, I guarantee you won't fall asleep in lecture. Not an easy A, but definitely a meaningful and fulfilling course.

He is a great professor. Very interesting and insightful. I highly recommend this class!

Awesome professor. Sincerely cares about the students and loves his job as a professor. If you have the chance, take this class.

Best! 1st science cls there i always undstnd what prof. says, feel good and not frustrated. Then U read the chapter and notes in his reader together u feel he is studying with U, plus reader sums impnt concepts. He does EVERYTHING to help u succeed. He's so thrilling, sometimes girls cry in lectures boys deeply touched too:)more people like him!

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AMAZING! BRILLANT!COOL! This class is truly inspiring! I love it and look forward to it every week! The material is really interesting and Alex's teaching methods are very engaging! Best class I have taken yet!

He's amazing, and has great eccentric sense of humor. Enthusiasm for his field overflows, and he's very approachable. His friendliness and easy-going personality sometimes make me forget that he's a "college professor." The class motivated me to seriously consider Astrophysics, which has always been one of my top interests, as my major.

The best class I've taken at Cal. Alex is engaging and you can't help but be drawn into the subjects of his lectures.

If your good at science and conceptual stuff this class is an easy A, because his tests are extremely fair. If your more of a memorizing/humanities major you may have to work hard for the A. Anyhow, this guy is the funniest/most inspirational professor I have ever had. He gives you goose bumps an laughs and explains mind boggling concepts with ease

Take this class! Alex is awesome. The class will give you a whole new perspective on life. It's fascinating and fun. You will have to actually try/study to get an A, but its definitely easy to pass.

SO INCREDIBLE. I love this man. Definitely a course every Berkeley student should take. He is so well spoken and so passionate about the material. GO to the last lecture - incredible. & definitely write the essay to go on the research trip. We got to learn about the research he does & on the way back he took us to in'n'out. Plus he's funny.

I wasn't sure if this class would live up to my high expectations, and I was right... it surpassed them. If you take one "discovery" class here, take this one... the work is worth it!!!

Alex made Astro C10 exciting and interesting and clearly had a passion for both astronomy and teaching. It was NOT AN EASY A, but it was easy to get interested in the subject and motivate myself to do the work because Alex is one of the few inspirational professors I've had. Do the work, go to class or watch the webcasts, and you'll pass.

Alex will probably be the best professor I will ever have at Berkeley. I am so incredibly happy that I took Astro C10. The subject matter was breathtaking and eye-opening and very interesting. You will really appreciate what the class teaches if you do the work. Wonderful class, wonderful professor!

I watched his astronomy class from fall 07 online. I'm a community college student in Iowa and I managed to understand nearly every word and concept he presented. He, as with all the professors I have had the pleasure of watching on the Berkeley webcasts, seems to have a genuine passion for his subject and profession. I loved this course.

Incredibly brilliant and knew exactly what was talking about. If you don't take him you're definitely missing out from this Caltech graduate who has by far been my favorite professor!

He was one of the most fun professors that I have ever taken class with. He really sparked an interest in this interesting subject by making classes so much fun.

He's a great man! He's passionate and funny and an EXCELLENT professor. His lectures are lively and they actually cover all you need to know for exams. He really knows how to break down difficlut concepts for students and is a very friendly man. You really learn to appreciate him and his class. You seriously won't regret taking this class =)

BRIlLlIANT! BRILLIANT! BRILLIANT! You'll love him and whatever he's teaching!

hes a champ

really interesting prof; class/exams are easy if you just look over the practice questions in the reader (most quests are direct) or past exams. Section doesn't really help, but doing the homework does! overall, class is pretty fun =D

This class was not an "easy A" but it is easy to get an A if you put in some effort. I am the type to skip lectures regularly, but the exams are based 90% on the lecture so if you go, you won't have to study much. Material is straightforward and assignments don't take too long. He made me like Astro even though I had no previous interest.

Amazing! Even though I had already learned all this information, he still managed to make it clear and even more interesting. He is a great guy and loves to teach. Go to the Bull Sessions! They are very informative especially if you like to learn about abstract ideas such as relativity and quantum physics. He manages to put everything in simple ter

best professor. take the class but work is not that easy but it is enjoyable material

The material in this course is not easy. Filippenko does his best, but I barely studied and went to every lecture (which is pretty standard for doing well in a Discovery Course) and I got a B+. Contrary to what they say, attendance at section WON'T bump your grade. Filippenko makes the material as easy as possible. You have to work hard for an A.

Take it. Its amazing how much more meaningful looking up at the sky has become with the knowledge gained from this class. That feeling in itself is completely worth it. And the fact that this material is taught by Filippenko makes it THAT much better. He inspires me to find and pursue my passion in life because it is so obvious he certainly has.

GREAT LECTURER. Get on the labs early, do the hw. Don't get too behind on webcasts (he's definitely more interesting live than on webcast). Do practice and previous midterm/final exams (the questions get recycled a lot). Definitely study for the final, it's a doozy.

Filippenko is a great teacher. Just keep up with webcasts or lecture (go to the Halloween lecture especially), and you should do fine. Do labs early. The textbook is helpful if you don't understand part of lecture, but for the rest, it's not really needed. Study hard for the final. Overall a fun and interesting class!

such a great teacher. he is one of those that you HAVE to take while you are at cal. he makes the cal experience.

one of the best teachers @ cal. truly cares for his students and loves teaching. go to his halloween lecture! he dresses up as a black hole and gives candy! (my year he accidentally threw his camera into the crowd instead of candy but no one was harmed) and he always finds new ways to make astronomy interesting. all teachers should be like him.

He is one of the greatest professors i have ever had at Cal! everyone should take him before they graduate. I hated astronomy before i took this class, but now its interesting because he taught it. classes are interesting, no need to read book, and just watch webcasts and you will do well!

Okay, I had to say that I took Astro C10 to write a comment. I've viewed his Great Courses lectures and love them! He seems to be a very sweet and unassuming man. He is obviously very passionate about astronomy and that passion is contagious.

This is an easy class if you have any competence whatsoever in sciences. There are a lot of classmates that complain, and all I can say is that their math is terrible and they have no skill for science, period. Alex is very motivating and passionate and you will learn a lot if you're new to astronomy. Great professor.

AMAZING PROFESSOR! I really enjoyed this class a lot just because of Filippenko! People should definitely take this class for a physical science requirement and it is webcasted! He is very passionate with what he teaches and although some of it may be hard it was still a lot of fun! You'll be missing out if you don't take this class here at CAL!

Spazzy Prof. everyone loves. Tell "dirty" jokes in class, there is a lot of homework (labs+ HW). You don't have to come to class because everything is webcasted, but if you don't watch the videos then you'll fail the midterms. The midterms are difficult but curved. Not the most amazing class ever, very difficult to sit through sometimes.

Professor Alex Filippenko is education at its best. His teaching style is comprised of a pure, raw passion for the subject and he is able to effectively communicate that passion to his students. Although the class is webcasted, this is one class that you'll actually WANT to attend. Filippenko is a rare breed of inspiring mentors.

Alex is a really fun guy tries to reach out to his students as much as possible. He wants to stimulate students' interest in the the subject. He dresses up for Halloween. Lectures are webcasted. The textbook isn't all that important, but can help with the homework. Take this class. Its easy totally worth it.

Filippenko is the best...but the class is not easy. He is very funny and asks for good jokes. He has told "dirty" jokes in class, some accidentally. I truly enjoyed taking a class from him, but you should be prepared to work hard for the class. I recommend going to his bull sessions if you truly want to learn something.

Best lecturer I've had at Berkeley. Very knowledgeable and very enthusiastic about the subject.

Great teacher...passionate about astronomy, enthusiastic in teaching. Easy homework and labs. Tests were not TOO easy, but generously curved and didn't require much studying. Definitely one of the best professors at Cal.

Filippenko is THE best professor I've ever had! He is the embodiment of what a real professor should be: knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and fun. He is really childish spirit, but super smart. His labs are fun and easy. Exams are fair, with a generous curve. Keep up with work load, (not much). Star parties, and he dresses up for H'ween as a black hole

My 1st class at Cal and the best in 4 years. Loved Alex and almost became an Astro major! Sit in the front and go to OH and you will adore the class. The exams are not easy, but if you do all the HW and read the book, you'll be fine. For years, he always said hi to me on campus, while now I see him on Hist. Channel and smile. Best at Cal. Miss you!

Great.

One of the best professors at Cal, for sure! I really wish I got into the class more, shouldn't have signed up for 18 units. Tests are easy if you read the book, labs are fun and interesting. Make sure you go to the Halloween lecture! :)

I took this course not because I was interested in Astronomy but rather because I did not want to leave CAL without having taking a course with Filipenko. Amazing professor and mentor. I wish all professors were required to put in at least half the energy and enthusiasim into their lectures as he did. I see him on tv and say "thats my professor!!"

Fillipenko is a truly amazing professor, as everyone knows. It's not the easiest class, but I still strongly recommend it. The exams are generously curved and the labs and homework are essentially free points. Expect to put some work in to get an A, but more importantly, expect to learn a LOT about our universe.

This is not a class that's an easy A unless you have a lot of previous astronomy or physics knowledge. Alex loves astronomy but unless you go to his office hours and really get to know him, his class itself is overrated. You absolutely must buy his book and course reader or the class will be extremely difficult.

Filippenko is very quirky and excited about the subject material. The class was engaging, informative, and easy. Be sure to sit up front and attend the extra bull sessions. I had a lot of fun and highly recommend the course.

He was awesome

One of the best professors at CAL.

I had this class in 1995 and he was electric. One of the 2 best instructors I had at Cal (along with E. Rosch).

Awesome guy, so animated, really helpful outside of class with OH's. Really interesting class, I learned a lot (having never paid attention to astro before hand). I really enjoyed going to these lectures.

Super cool and funny lectures. I thought it was going to be easy, but it wasn't. I am P/NP this class because. There is a lot of material and I am not interested in the material enough to put effort to get the good grade. Awesome professor though.

Great lectures.

Filippenko is a beast. If you're a humanities major looking for an easy A, turn away now. If you're looking for one of the most stimulating classes at Berkeley with one of the nicest, clearest, best professors you'll ever have, take this class.

Quite Good Indeed

Alex Filippenko is absolutely one of the best professors that you will ever have without a doubt. He''s engaging funny and very clear in his explanations - and he also cares a lot about his students and works hard to make sure that they have the best possible learning experience. He''s the ideal professor.

He is the best professor at Cal in my mind... notice how I don't say "one of" I miss sitting in the last row and secretly drinking coke while watching his lectures, kinda like what I do when I watch discovery channel documentaries. That's how funny and amazing he is.

Leagues better than the second-best professor at Cal

The exams are tricky but not in a way to purposely make you fail, they're there to see if you actually understand the material. Midterm's are always curved super generously. The class' middle portion is extremely boring but the last third of the class is super interesting. This class is a MUST TAKE. Seriously. It's mind blowing

Prof. Filippenko was impressive with his knowledge base and experience in astronomy. The class was very interesting and assignments were extremely interactive! I'm always proud when I watch Discovery Channel programs on the Cosmos and Prof. Filippenko is one of the experts. It's a great feeling to know that you where educated by the world's best!

Just not very impressed. I thought this was going to be a fun, engaging class but it's actually fairly monotonous and dull. This class really is like drinking from a firehose-- so much material covered in little time. Make sure you get a good GSI-- the quizzes they give (some are harder than others) will decide your grade.

SO INSPIRATIONAL AND AMAZING

This is my first semester at Cal, and I'm so glad that I took this class with Alex! The course is not easy- lots of abstract concepts if you haven't taken astrophysics before, but honestly it's MIND BLOWING :) So take it, work hard, and have fun!! It's not an easy A, but the people and the material make all the studying worth it.

Filippenko is the star (pun intended) of UC Berkeley; his lectures are interesting and he's very passionate about his field. He can be a bit full of himself (he loves to talk about his work in the field and he's salty about not getting a Nobel prize... he'll talk about it for so long that it runs into class time) but I enjoyed him nonetheless!

Should've taken this class P/NP, but still a wonderful class. Alex is energetic, intelligent, and hilarious. Must take before leaving Cal

Good! GOOD! very good! SUPER GOOD

You have to take this class if you go to Cal. It's only offered with Alex in the fall, though. Also, go on the Lick trip if you can. It was awesome.

Fantastic. Funny. Amazing lecturer. Everything you could possibly want in a class but the final was very hard.

My favorite professor at Cal so far. Alex is inspiring and engaging. The final was difficult, but none of the questions were out of nowhere, so if you studied you could do well. You should go to office hours at least once, I guarantee you'll learn something mind-blowing.

Amazing professor who opened up my eyes to the world of astronomy and inspired me to rediscover my love for science. Must-take class at Cal.

All of the lectures are webcasted, one of the most passionate professors Ive encountered. He genuinely wants everyone of his students to learn. Even though I was not always interested in the subject matter, I still loved the class.

Solid class with a solid professor. Would highly recommend.

I learned so much about Astronomy. AF is a model professor - he makes material interesting, is a fair grader, and gives great lectures. Highly recommend.

Most inspiring, engaging, and interesting professor I've ever had. Such fascinating lectures, even if you have no previous interest in Astronomy. This class is NOT AN EASY A!! He makes the midterms/final very challenging, and I P/NP the class because it got really hard. Still would 100% recommend!!!

Awesome lecturer and you don't have to be interested in Astro to find his talks truly inspirational. He does occasionally tangent into politics and stuff like that, but even as someone who doesn't share his political leanings, I found the tangents didnt really detract from just how good and enjoyable it was to go to his lectures. Awesome professor.

Challenging. I learned a lot. Definitely recommend to any Cal student. Specifically, I recommend Pass/No Pass option. Too many details to memorize to ensure an A although the curve is definitely fair.

Incredible professor who changed my life. Whether you are in engineering, L&S, or anything, TAKE ASTROC10!

It was super hard for me since I'm not a science major. Really makes you work for it.

Amazing subject, professor, GSIs, and class. It was harder than expected but Alex is so inspirational that it was well worth it. Reviewer below me said that he throws shade at people who fail his midterms; you literally have to put in zero effort and/or never watch lectures to fail the exams.

This class and this professor is something every student should experience. It is manageable regardless of your science skills and Professor Filippenko makes every topic absolutely fascinating. His office hours are also more like mini lectures that will blow your mind.

Filippenko is an incredible lecturer! The class was really engaging and it felt like an amazing science documentary, taking us on a journey through space. Easy midterms and final, all MC. Definitely take this class to get your physical science breadth out of the way!

Hands down, the best professor I have ever had. His professional accomplishments alone made me so intimidated, I mean we are talking about the only person who was in both teams that discovered the accelerating expansion of the universe!! He is very approachable, gives amazing inspirational lectures, very passionate about his area, me switch minors.

AWESOME!!!!!

Amazing lectures, super inspiring.

Lectures can be a bit boring, so watch on webcast at 1.5 or 2x speed. Other than that clear grading criteria and m/c tests. Very fair in terms of workload (HW and labs) and very interesting, knowledgeable, and down to Earth. Definitely take this class with him even if you have to P/NP it.

Probably the best prof/teacher I have ever had. Super enthusiastic, engaging, and interactive guy who also happens to be one of the smartest astronomers in the world. The way he runs the class (in terms of grading, hw, etc.) is awesome, and he knows how to make the most abstract concepts understandable and entertaining. Best prof at Cal hands down

Alex is funny, warm, and brilliant beyond all bounds. Whether you actually go to class or just watch a sped-up webcast, the material covered is often mind-boggling and really makes you question all the whys and hows of the Universe. I loved this class, definitely take it during your time at Cal!

Prof. Filippenko is a fantastic professor with a very open, accessible method of lecturing. Even though the material is quite dense, he brings a sense of levity to class. If you are not a science person or are taking this for the Phys Sci Breadth, Pass/No Pass it, give it your all until after the second midterm, and then you shouldn't have to worry

Dont underestimate this class, because its not an easy A. Lectures are awesome and GSIs are caring though, but make sure you either put in the effort or P/NP

The class covers a lot of material and you should be prepared to do a lot of work (labs, weekly HW, quizzes, and 2 midterms). But the class is definitely worth taking and Filippenko is super chill and incredibly passionate about astronomy so the lectures were absolutely AMAZING!!!

One of the best lecturers at Berkeley, period. Professor Filipenko presents everything you need to know for the class in lecture very clearly while making lectures fun. I'd highly recommend attending in person as opposed to watching the webcasts. Also, this man holds office hours AFTER EVERY LECTURE talk about accessible!

HE IS A GOD. Seriously, I don't think anyone cares about students with as much as passion as Alex. Astro C10 is a must take class.

His Astro C10 course is one everyone at Berkeley should try to take before they graduate. Very engaging, entertaining, caring, has a good sense of humor and inspiring and respected. Made me strongly consider majoring in a field I had no prior interest in. The class is webcast if you ever need to miss one. The BEST breadth class you can ask for.

He is probably one of best professors here at Berkeley. His lectures are very inspirational. Pretty easy course regardless of your intended major, as long as you keep up and memorize important points in his lecture slides. This course opened up my mind to a world far greater than the humdrum daily life, and made me want to major in astrophysics.

One of my favorite professors and I love his lectures

TAKE HIS CLASS; HE'S THE BEST PROFESSOR I HAVE AND YOU WILL APPRECIATE THE COSMOS EVEN MORE!!! AND GO TO LICK OBSERVATORY WITH HIM IF YOU CAN.

By far the best professor I have had at Cal! He's such an amazing man, and has so much passion for teaching and for his students. Going to his lectures was the highlight of my day, and he was always willing to take questions and stay extra time during office hours to help his students. Take his class before you leave Cal - he is incredible!!!!

He is incredibly respected in his field, obviously cares for his students, and delivers enthusiastic lectures that are succinct and well organized. Midterms were both pretty easy; Final was a bit more tricky but the curve made up for it. An A was definitely achievable, but be prepared to work for it! Lectures are course-captured; DO NOT get behind!

The more I learn from this professor, the more I respect him and feel inspired by him. He (quite literally) wears his passion on his shirt. I developed a sense of awe and wonder toward the universe in his class. Go to as many star parties and office hours as you can! Not a free A though, I worked my butt off to get my A+:)

LOVED this class. He's an amazing lecturer, and the class moves quickly but its fine as long as you don't fall behind on watching the lectures. The textbook and course reader are both essential for doing the homework, which is kind of annoying, but its really easy to just take notes on the printed slides in the reader.

super interesting class!! if you don't want to put the work in, take it P/NP and just enjoy fillipenko's super fun lectures

Hands down the best class I've taken so far. Alex is incredibly renowned in his field and his lectures are incredible. You will have to put in work to get an A, but the results will follow. Some of my parents' friends have taken this course over 30 years ago, and Filippenko left them as inspired as myself. Don't miss the chance to take this course!

One of the BEST professors at Cal and maybe my favorite class I've taken! He is so sweet&passionate and that enthusiasm really shows in his lectures. Exams are fair and as long as you study, you'll do fine. The material is super interesting and inspiring, so definitely take it before you graduate :) Go to star parties and Lick observatory!

Alex is an incredible professor who knows how to teach complicated content in an accessible way. He uses various props and demos during lectures to help students understand the concepts. He is funny, caring, enthusiastic, and absolutely brilliant. In a class of 800 students, he tries to remember every person's name that he talks to or calls on.

One of my favorite classes taken at Cal. Fillipenko is encouraging, inspirational and accessible. I highly recommend going to his office hours--he provides helpful insight if you have questions and he really makes an effort to learn your name in OH which is very nice considering the size of class. Do the work and you will learn so much!

Must-take class at Cal. Filippenko is incredible in every respect. The class does make you work for a grade though, midterms are HARD! Grade is based off two 25pt midterms, 75pt final, 15 pt labs, homework, 2 quizzes, and attendance. Pay attention, work hard, if you don't go to class watch lectures online. Class is so wroth it if you put in effort

ONE THING NOBODY WILL TELL YOU: DON'T TAKE THIS CLASS IF YOU DON'T LIKE PHYSICS OR MATH filipenko is great and all, but the content of the class is just not that well taught. I passed the class as most people do, but i'm not gonna sit here and say that it was an easy a because hell it wasn't. i don't recommend this class for non stem majors tbh

Alex is an awesome lecturer and a great person. He will make time to answer questions or just discuss whatever is on your mind. He presents abstract concepts in a creative yet understandable way. Regardless of your major, take this class before graduating!

Alex is an amazing professor! He has a real passion for what he is teaching which makes the lectures so much more interesting. The topic is sometimes difficult to grasp but he explains it very well. Just a note: his OHs are meant for exploratory questions rather than course help. The set up of the course is great; GSIs help a load in OHs.

What a wonderful professor--the best at Cal! I am so glad I took his class. It's interesting, informative, and actually fun. The course reader is a must-have, and the textbook isn't as needed. If you take this class in the fall, make sure to go on Halloween! He dressed up as a black hole and gave out chocolate. One of my best memories in class!

love him with all my heart. will give you his 100%.

Professor Filippenko (though he insists you call him Alex) is the best professor or teacher I've ever had. He's a leader in his field with incredible accolades, and is a peerless educator. He is kind, funny, and lucidly explains concepts with examples and stories. He also makes himself very available outside of class to answer questions.

Alex is incredible, and astron is a must during your time at Berkeley. The lectures are eye-opening and a real treat to sit in. The class is not easy, but if you're taking it PNP it should not be hard to pass at all. Go to TALC if you have any trouble at all with HW; GSI's are super approachable and helpful!

Alex is absolutely amazing and his passion for astronomy encourages you to try your hardest. The lectures are integral to the course, but not everything is discussed in detail so asking questions in office hours is really important. If you do the work, this class should be an easy pass.

Alex was one of my favorite professors! His lectures are very clear and pretty engaging- you can tell he has a real passion for astronomy and it makes the class more enjoyable! The midterms and quizzes aren't easy, but if you put in decent effort and do the weekly homework you will be in good shape! You will really learn a lot in this class!

Professor Filippenko is an amazing lecturer it's astonishing how much he knows. The GSIs are super super helpful. Go to TALC. If you are a freshman and you SUCK at physics do not take this class. Tests are extremely extremely hard. However, you learn so much.

The class was definitely not easy. Really helps if you know some physics and are comfortable with math. Lectures were pre-recorded from Fall 2019. Highly recommend watching the pre-recorded lectures and doing the homework. Textbook required for HW. Study MC Qs in textbook to do well on the midterms and final. Funny lecturer and his demos are great!

Take this class!!! It's so eye-opening, and Alex is a great professor

This class was fantastic; Alex truly is the best! So inspirational. I am a legal studies major and had no math background, yet I got an A in this class (took a lot of work though). The curve can also be harsh, so if you want to fully enjoy the class as a humanities major, take it pass/fail! Several friends did that and had so much fun :))

What an amazing, truly inspirational professor. Alex is so passionate about what he teaches, you cant help but get excited too. The homework and midterms may be hard, but help is very available to you. My only regret is not seeing Alexs lectures in person.

I took this in Fall 2020 and the students really helped me with passing this class. I really wish I could've taken this class in person because he is so sweet and if you have any interest in astronomy, take this class!

He's a really good and engaging professor, but don't take C10 without a special interest or background in physics/astronomy. He goes through everything fast because there's so much content and it definitely wasn't the easy class everyone says it is. He's nice though and offered all his classes online which was helpful because he talks pretty slow.

Filippenko is hands down the greatest teacher Ive ever had. His passion for science makes the class extremely fun and enjoyable I will remember his class for the rest of my life. Some of material covered in class was so crazy it felt almost illegal to know 10/10 I wish he taught more classes.

Hands down funniest prof I've had, and as a non-STEM major I felt he explained the concepts well (but discussion and GSIs really helped). Def go in person (I recommend fall semester bc of Halloween) but all his lectures are recorded. Lots of reading (not mandatory) and homework but there were weekly help sessions with GSIs. Tough exams though

everyone and their mother recommended the class and tho its not easy, filippenko is a rare commodity of a professor. he is genuinely passionate about his work, cares deeply about his students, tries his best to make lectures entertaining with his jokes, and his last lecture was one of the greatest speeches ive ever heard -- would def recommend!!

One of the greatest professors I have had so far! Very a great lecturer and engages his students well in the content. The assignments and quizzes are a bit rough, but not as rough as the tests.

This is, hands-down, one of the best professors I've ever had. He's so passionate about his work and he explains it in a way that is both interesting and accessible to everyone. He also provides many amazing opportunities to engage in astronomy, like field trips. I might major in astrophysics because of him. His GSIs are also amazing teachers.

Alex made an otherwise very dry subject interesting. The class was a lot more difficult than I expected, but it has inspired me to take the Physics 7A series. There are regular optional evening GSI office hours for homework help, go to them! Buy and take notes in the course reader, pass the textbook unless you're REALLY interested.

I went into C10 hearing great things about Alex and he certainly did not disappoint. I enjoyed each and every lecture and would love to take this class again. I have always been interested in astronomy, and because of this class I might make it my focus. He is passionate and cares about his students, with plenty office hours and other resources.

This is class is definitely NOT for stem majors, and I would not recommend taking it for a breadth. It's very difficult and not intuitive if you're not good at physics. Filippenko is a very passionate and amazing lecturer, but this class just wasn't for me

He is the true definition of "Passion". He loves his profession so much that each class, he wears a T-shirt, made by him, that goes according to the topic he will talk about. This a hard-class, but he makes it enjoyable. Best Proff at CAL!

He is the true definition of "Passion".He loves his profession so much that each class, he wears a T-shirt, made by him, that goes according to the topic he will talk about. This a hard-class, but he makes it enjoyable. Best Proff at Cal

Some say he's the second coming of Jesus, others the second coming of satin. I think he's the second coming of 21-22 Andrew Wiggins. Maybe not quite worthy of starting the all star game, but still a very solid player on a championship team and worthy of maybe a 4.6/5.

He is amazing. Such a good introductory professor for freshmen here at Cal. The topics he discusses are confusing but fascinating! He is the funniest professor and understands that people who take his class are not necessarily ASTRON-intended majors. The homework was tough but you can easily get help from TALC sessions or the GSIs. Alex is a nerd.

Really awesome guy. Lectures were so fascinating. Really passionate about teaching and astronomy. Exams and Homework are difficult but the curve is really good. Take the class pass/fail if you just want to enjoy the concepts. I failed every exam and still got a B.

People often say "I would take this class again", but I'm honestly kinda sad that I CANT take his class again. His love and passion for astronomy is contagious and is making me consider an astrophysics minor. For non-stem people, the class will be difficult, so be prepared. Otherwise, Enjoy Alex's "Journey through the cosmos"!

He's a good prof and teaches well. Exams were difficult this semester and he got salty during a lecture which was pretty funny honestly. He's a nice guy and really knowledgable, definitely a lot of opportunities to interact with him through office hours and bull sessions. He's the the prof that made me realize how prestigious Berkeley is.

Filippenko is an amazing professor and one you should take before leaving Berkeley. His lectures were always entertaining and he explained everything in detail. If you need your physical science breadth course, this is a great choice.

Best professor ever. W lectures. Had fun. 100% would take again. Very helpful and knowledgable GSIs.

Good professor, but lectures could have been a little more clear. Would often go on tangents during lecture. Other than that incredible. Would suggest starting labs early and buying the physical coursebook over the digital copy because you're not allowed to edit/download the digital copy.

This was a really cool class but it was incredibly challenging. I'm an English major and this class tested me unlike any class ever has before. I took it P/NP and did pass but it was by the skin of my teeth. Attendance not mandatory, course reader required and textbook heavily encouraged but you can do without. Alex is sick though.

The professor gives interesting and funny lectures. If you watch them and do the homework and labs, you'll do fine. There are lots of resources to help with homework and the labs were very easy. Tests are multiple choice. The hardest thing was the two quizzes in discussion section, which weren't worth much anyway.

Alex is passionate about astronomy and he loves to share that with his students.There are 2 quizzes, both free response. Two midterms, both multiple choice. However, the questions are tricky. You really need to pay attention to the wording. Homework is assigned weekly but go to TALC and OH's! If you study and put in the effort you'll do amazing!

Best professor on campus. All the lectures keep me engaged and this is the only class I actually looked forward to going to every day, so much that I even went to optional discussions Alex puts on for students who want to learn more. If you are unsure about taking this course, please do, it will be one of the best decisions you make at Cal.

Very good lecturer and fun in office hours. If you need the science requirement this course is a great choice, however it's fairly difficult and a decent amount of work so I would not personally recommend taking it otherwise unless you have a light schedule one semester or already know a lot about astrophysics.

Lectures are all recorded and posted + no attendance, with discussions once a week that require attendance. I strongly recommend going to the lecture in person tho!! There were lots of interesting demos and great demonstrations of the content! HW may have some difficulties but exams are all multiple-choice and similar to past exams. curved grade.

Professor Filippenko is a passionate lecturer, though the class can be challenging. With engagement and tools like unstuckstudy ai, you'll learn a lot. Recommend taking it P/NP if just wanting to explore the concepts.

I took Astronomy C10, and it was really fun! The explanations of where to find course material and how to receive help with anything course/life-related were very clear. He always makes time outside of class for intrusive astronomy class and will never turn down an answer. Only downside is buying a course reader for about $22.

Adore this man. Alex is so funny and makes the content come alive with his enthusiasm. There is a reason why this class has a reputation! Granted, if you're not willing to put in the work to go to office hours or want an easy GE this might not be the class for you, but ultimately a great course and an inspiring professor and speaker.

glad i took the class for the experience, he is an awesome guy GENIUS** + super passionate! unfortunately with little physics background, this class got quite difficult for me. weekly workload for this class ( 3 hrs = lecture, 1 hr = disc, 4 hrs = TALC (hw help) 8ish hours of work per week was too much for what was supposed to be a breadth

Great professor. Incredibly passsionate about the subject which makes lectures fun. Great relationship w/ students and GSIs (office hours/discussions are fun). Class is difficult if you have no prior knowledge of physics (LOT of astrophysics content). Overall a really enjoyable class, definitely NOT an easy A though. Be prepared to study.

Absolutely the best class and best professor I have ever had. Alex is incredibly passionate and well-spoken; lectures were highly engaging and informative. Tests were tricky but fair, get the textbook since the examples in there were really similar. I would take a bullet for this man (full glaze)

Amazing class! Definitely wasn't easy, but always felt fair. Genuinely one of the most organized classes I've ever taken as far as communication and expectations, which makes sense since he's been teaching it for decades. He always tried to make it a fun and interesting experience whether with star parties, demos, or the infamous Halloween lecture.

Alex is genuinely the best professor I have ever had and its not close. He is clearly incredibly passionate and knowledgable about the course material and makes every lecture interesting and engaging. The content can be challenging at times but the workload is by no means unmanageable. Do yourself a favor and take this course with him.

Definitely an interesting class. Alex is funny, has engaging demonstrations, but the lectures often felt like too much material in a single hour. It's certainly a lot of work for a breadth so don't take it if you're not interested in physics at all. Start labs early, GO TO TALC, practice from tb, go to lectures regularly for entertainment + HWs.

DO NOT TAKE IF YOU HAVE NO STEM BACKGROUND / DO NOT CARE ABOUT SPACE! i took this class thinking it would be a chill breadth but it required WAY more studying and attention than I thought - which isn't bad you just need to be prepared for that. he is an amazing lecturer and cares very deeply but if you are like me, don't make my same mistake!

Not a science guy so this was supposed to be a chill breadth - not rly the case. harder than expected. very interesting tho and alex is great. hard quizzes/midterms/final. homework is easy but not worth much. i attended lectures but could totally just skip and look at course reader or watch from online recordings. lots of info packed into lectures

This class was easy to pass, but the material was in no way easy to understand. With that being said, however, Alex is a wonderful lecturer who clearly has a passion for teaching and astronomy. His lectures are fun and engaging and the GSIs are great too. Highly recommend this class, though it may be more work than you'd expect.

Alex Filippenko is a legend. He genuinely cares so much about his students, and even though the class is tough, I learned so much and he made the subject super interesting. That being said, this is a strenuous class and I'd recommend attending every lecture and truly paying attention, or else you might fall very quickly behind.

This class changed my life. Fileppenko is an extraordinary lecturer. The key to success in this class is going to TALC (GSI-led peer tutoring). Apparently you can get every math problem wrong in the class and still get an A, so I wouldn't say a physics/math background is necessary. Just stay curious and enjoy the lectures. A must-take!

Probably the best lecturer I have ever had. He's funny and engaging, he's actually amazing. Super fun class too, and it's super easy if you've had any experience with physics before this point.

Alex is a very good lecturer, obviously knowledgable/enthusiastic, and makes material interesting. He lectures very fast, so it's easy to fall behind, but all recordings are released online, so it's always re-visitable. The material is not easy by any standards, but with the generous curve in the class, it should be easy to pass.

Alex is an entertaining, inspiring lecturer- best Berkeley class I've taken. The course is organized, with light weekly homework, and Alex/TAs are accessible. It's fun to take with friends! This isn't as easy an A as some say (you still have to do work), but I'm not in STEM, wasn't top of the class, and still got an A with the curve.

It was so fun! The energy was really different from other big lecture hall classes, and everyone (the professor, the GSIs, the students etc) was super friendly and excited. Make sure to apply to go to Lick Observatory, go to as many office hours/star parties as you can, and sit in the first few rows. Also read the course reader, verry carefully...

Alex is an amazing professor. His lectures are engaging and inspiring. Attendance is not mandatory, but you should definitely go to lecture. Weekly hw but it is manageable and related to the lectures. Tests were very similar to the practice tests. Overall great class plus hes funny and cute

Beyond incredible professor. He truly cares so much about his work and his students, and it shines through in everything he does. The class gives you lots of insight into astronomy & is really easy to pass, and get an A if you try a bit. The class is graded based on a heavily curved point system and the assignments are not difficult.

I took this class in my Sophomore year, and I still receive updates about astronomy events. This is hands down one of the best classes you can take at Berkeley, and the professor is also very passionate and friendly. Solid 5/5 class

Took him for the Fall 24 semester; he was really engaging and super passionate! Did his best to make the content interesting, and was always open to discuss topics with students.

SUCH A GOOD LECTURER. He's literally the best lecturer I've ever had in my life. He's funny and makes his topics really interesting. His exams were pretty easy too. Highly highly recommend!!

There is a reason Professor Filippenko was named best professor 9 years in a row. His lectures are funny, and he is a great person to talk to during office hours, where he answers questions about pretty much everything. The best part of the class was the optional field trip to Lick observatory, it's the first time I got to see a real observatory!

A must-take class.

Alex Filippenko is one of the greatest teachers I have been blessed to have. I had no experience with Astronomy, yet he made me excited to come to lecture. Overall he is hilarious, makes the material engaging, and is simply an amazing human. I cannot recommend enough. PS: All midterms and final are MC and T/F which makes it very easy to practice.

Such an amazing lecturer, always open to talk with students, and really teaches the course because he loves teaching. One of the best profs at Berkeley

DO NOT TAKE THIS CLASS!! If you do not have a religion please adapt one and PRAY!!! Took this class for a breadth and spent 40+ hours a week to study. I recommend to do anything but take this class.

Genuinely the most enthusiastic professor I've ever had, I'm not a STEM major but he made me so excited about STEM stuff and just generally happy to take a 9 am, 3-days a week class, which I think is pretty hard to do sometimes. Would definitely recommend!

So enthusiastic and intelligent, truly a gem at Cal. His lectures are sometimes like poetry. Love him would highly recommend for anyone who's even just a little bit interested in astronomy. Not super hard for non stem major.

Prof. Filippenko truly puts in a lot of effort in his course. I took this class as my first ever course here at Cal and I do not regret a thing. This course is not an easy A and will be challenging if you don't care or try hard. That being said if you put in the effort and stay WELL organized you will be fine. I highly recommend this class.

👏👏👏

Filippenko is a great professor and lecturer, but he is logistically a horrible instructor. Although his class is very interesting, and he gives great presentations, the class is just so logistically challenging that it is hard to do well.

Probably the most goated teacher ever. has been teaching astro c10 for like 20+ years and that class is genuinely an incredible experience every freshman should take it. Super funny super chill, iconic halloween and end of semester lectures!

FANTASTIC lecturer and professor. Very kind, passionate, knowledgable. Class is very abstract, especially towards end of semester, but plenty of opportunities to get questions answered inside and out of lecture by both Filippenko and GSIs. Not too hard of a class if you put in the effort. Would take astro again for the prof alone.

Prof. Filippenko is an amazing professor and one of the coolest people ever. However, Astronomy C10 is one of the hardest courses ever. Each test applies the knowledge in a way that is inconceivable and there is next to no study material given. Such an interesting course and fabulous teacher, but incredibly hard to grasp the content effectively.

Professor Filippenko is the best of Berkeley in every way. He is an absolute genius which is shown not only by his incredible knowledge of the course material, but also how easily digestible he makes extremely difficult concepts. Class is more difficult than advertised, but not too bad. His bull sessions were legendary as well.

Hilarious guy, super involved with the class, clearly loves his work, super well respected. Great guy

He's very funny and loves his work. But I personally didn't find the material kind of boring. Majority of your grade is based on exams, the midterms are fair but the final was hard. Boring material and some math required.

Course can be challenging to those who have no physics experience. Alex is a truly wonderful guy and it's evident that he loves teaching astronomy, but the class was quite dense and there was a LOT to take in. Take it only if you have time to devote to truly enjoying every aspect — I regret not taking it as a freshman. Is not an easy breadth.

Alex is an amazing professor and it's evident that he deeply cares about astronomy and space. You are expected to memorize a lot of content and you are screwed if you don't go to lecture. Overall such an interesting class and increased my interest for space by a ton.

Incredible lecturer!! Classes are engaging, and the material is super interesting. All lectures are recorded and attendance isn't mandatory, but the material itself is very challenging. I would definitely recommend taking the class if you have any interest in astronomy, but be prepared for a lot of work; it's not the "easy A" that some say it is.

Alex is very passionate about science and wants to make it accessible to the general public as well. This class was fun, but slightly harder than I expected as you have to actually study and find time to complete the homework and labs. Not an "easy A," but an interesting breadth if you are willing to put in the work. Exams rely on memorization.

If you are taking the class for credit or even pass/fail, make sure to attend the lectures. The explanations in class make much more sense in person than trying to comprehend them online. Also, do not miss the Halloween lecture.

Very passionate professor who can make students far outside of their comfort zone feel engaged in astronomy. Lots of regular assignments in this class: weekly homework, two sets of labs and two quizzes. Takes more time than you would think for a breadth course if you're taking it for credit but the curve at the end is very generous.