Really dedicated teacher. Definately harder tests than Tolbert, but likely a better teacher who is very engaging and truly cares about his students. He encouraged students to write reviews of him online.

Tests entirely from the lectures, and mostly the classroom exercises. Classroom exercises not only help keep you awake, but the tests are partially taken from them. Very clear lectures and not that hard of a class as long as you actually go.

Ed's the man.

you're my boy ed

Very good professor that teaches a very clear and interesting class.

very nice man who tries really hard and obviously cares a lot about his students. perhaps not the most stimulating class but a good choice for humanities majors looking to fulfill requirements.

Great Job! Really knows his information and is able to relate it well to those of us who are not rocket scientists!

Cares a lot about his students and does a great job presenting the material clearly. One of the two best professors I had in 6+ years of college. A pretty easy grade as long as you read/go to class. Also, he's 700 feet tall.

Mr. Murphy is the MAN. His lecture slides are online. His quizzes are not bad if you pay attention in class. Makes class interesting. He is so freaking tall. He wants his students to do well. Explains things clearly. Even gives extra credit if the class in general is not doing so well.

Extremely knowledgeable, good lecturer, good humor, and his class is not difficult and quite enjoyable. Recommended.

Class is harder than I expected going into it

he is a good teacher. lectures can be a bit dry sometimes. first quiz is easy, but the next two are harder.

Overall good. Gives many chances for easy points, provided you just do the activities. Approachable, interesting lectures.

Murphy rules. There are alot of freebie points, but the tests (atleast the last two) are not total pushovers. Subject is very interesting and Murphy is enthusiastic. Don't let the fact that is a giant or that he has power of this mysterious "DARK ENERGY" scare you away.

I really enjoyed Murphy's class. He does talk fast; pay attention in class and it's not bad. The quizzes were more difficult than I expected, but not totally ridiculous; sometimes it seems the multiple choice are worth too much. Wants to see his students do well and offers extra credit if needed

He is very enthusiastic about the course and presents the material in a clear manner. The tests are mildly difficult, but if you attend class and do the classroom exercises it's good. I am definitely taking his ASTR121 course next semester.

Extremely knowledgable, good lecturer and interesting material. Pay attention to discussions and review slides online and the class is no problem. I like the updates on current astronomical findings, makes everything more relevant to today. Very nice guy, really tall like everyone says.

Basically all you have to do is go to class, stay awake during lecture, and briefly review the slides and classroom exercises for tests. Reading textbook not necessary so long as u go to class.

Prof Murphy is wonderful! He's funny and really wants you to do well in his class. He tries hard to make the subject interesting and relevant and goes out of his way to be helpful. The tests can be a little tricky, but not bad. Highly recommended!

Murphy is a good lecturer - very clear powerpoints with all the info you need spelled out. Tests right off the lectures and classroom excercises - study those. Very enthusiastic about his subject and involved in cutting-edge research.

The class is really boring but Murphy's very passionate about it so that helps some. If you need to fill a science requirement, definitely take it.

as a non-science person i thought these tests were really hard but it was still worth taking this course to finish my math/science requirement. as far as i can tell, he's the best astron. professor...he actually makes this stuff bareable

he was fine, i wasn't interested in the course, but some of his lectures were really cool. the quizzes aren't anything to worry about and the other grades help out.

Go to class and stay awake, which is hard but gets easier, and you'll be fine. Tests all from lecture notes. Probably will NOT do well if u don't go to class and instead read textbook and online slides.

this class sucked hardcore. it was really boring & I studied my butt off and did terribly. I'm definitely in the minority though. just beware this class isn't a gut for EVERYONE. murphy was mediocre.

An interesting class. In retrospect, I shouldn't have picked this class (as a non-science person) just for an "easy" class to fulfill my math/sci requirement. tests were not easy. You can tell Murphy knows what he's talking about and he's really interested in what he teaches.

Best teacher for astronomy, lectures are clear and contain everything needed for the test. You don't need to buy the textbook for this class. The class is a little more math based than you might expect. Overall the class is interesting and you will enjoy Murphey's passion for the subject.

Great professor with a lot of knowledge and passion for astronomy. Class is more conceptual than mathematical, which can be good depending on what kind of learner you are. Only bad thing is he posts old, irrelevant lectures online, so you really have to go class and take notes. If you attend most of the time you'll be fine.

Murphy is my favorite professor! knowledgable, funny, interesting, passionate about the subject! Don't bother reading (tests are straight from lectures). I loved this class!

Ed Murphy absolutely rocks. He is the coolest man of all time. HIGHLY recommended- you will learn so much from him. Great guy.

Excellent lecturer and his class was really interesting, but don't underestimate the difficulty an astronomy class can have. His quizzes were really difficult b/c it combined different things that you learned from the class. Highly recommend taking him but make sure you study your stuff. (3 quizes, 1 final)

interesting class, fair professor, fair grading

very very good. really enjoyed the class, very clear, tests were clear and comprehensible. but study! it may seem basic but can be detailed. i greatly enjoyed this class.

Murphy is fair, fun, and extremely helpful. Go to class; he makes it as interesting as possible and it will be worth your while when it's test time. Probably the best Astronomy professor you can get.

Professor Murphy was extremely helpful and cared about his students, legit. He brought in some neon tubes one day. He doesn't overuse the laser pointer. His tests are pretty hard. Don't bother reading the textbook, just study the slides. You have to go to class towards the end of the semester as his slides turn into all pictures. Other than tha

A truly great professor that is extremely passionate about the subject and teaching. Going to class and just paying attention is easier than reading the book, as he is very easy to follow and posts his slides online. Tests were more challenging than I expected, but not terrible: just make sure you really understand the broad concepts.

Murphy makes astronomy interesting. It's a great class but the tests are more difficult than I expected. Go to class because the book is a waste of time and money.

great class! fun and interesting. Prof Murphy is awesome.

This guy rocks! period. You can definitely tell how much he cares about his students and how he wants them to learn. Once, I couldn't study for an exam because of a rehearsal I had had the night before; I explained everything to him and he let me take it on another day. Tests are ok, you only have to pay attention to the class and you'll do fine.

Decent teacher but could work on delivery of material

Do not waste your money on the book, you will not crack it once. Murphy is a nice guy with a good sense of humor. Probably need some general interest in astronomy to enjoy his class though; he can make the concepts interesting but can't make you care. Not an easy A, but study for the tests and do the labs early and it's attainable.

Mr. Murphy is a decent teacher. However he doesn't do well in presenting the material in the way that he tests you. The lectures are mostly easy to understand and then the test comes and everything is much more complicated than any lecture made it out to seem. By the end of the semester, I dreaded going to this class.

Lectures are good because he demonstrates everything and repeats things for emphasis. He'll also keep you updated on space news. His tests may seem harder than lecture, but its only because they are not fact regurgitations. Study applications of the stuff you learn, and you will be fine!

This guy's name is Eddie Murphy. He's also a very good teacher, his explanations are easily understood and he repeats everything that's important. Very enthusiastic too

He is awesome!

You need to study a whole lot for his tests. 50 minutes isn't enough to fully complete his test.

He's amazing! Don't take astronomy unless you can get him! His tests are pretty hard, but nothing you can't get through and they do take the whole 50 (plus some). Do the labs early because weather can be awful! You do use your textbook some for the online homework but not much.

Great professor, makes the lectures very interesting and you can tell he really cares about his students. He would send out emails to the class letting us know of interesting astronomical events. Because he's very enthusiastic about his subject, it makes the class very enjoyable. It's not that hard either.

Great class! Murphy is a very enthusiastic teacher who really cares about this subject. His 121 and 124 classes are pretty easy (if you attend class) and are very worthwhile. The tests require studying but if you go to class you won't have to study much. Definitely take this class if you are at all interested in astronomy.

If you are not naturally apt in Math/Sci, avoid this class at all costs. He makes the material seem a lot easier than it does on the quizzes. The class average for the three quizzes was always in the D-C range(around 109/150).

Probably one of the best Professors I have had at UVA. I Originally took the class because I needed science credits. However I now am very interested in astronomy and wish I had taken more classes as an undergrad.

Class seems very easy during the first couple weeks, then you take your first quiz and you realize that you made a mistake signing up for ASTR 1210. Do not take this class. The quizzes are ridiculous (much harder and more in depth than lecture/homework) and lecture is painful to sit through. Don't take this

Murphy is a cool guy. He knows what he's talking about and covers everything you need to know in lectures. I stopped reading the chapters because as long as you pay attention in class, you will do well on the quizzes. On quizzes he expects you to be able to apply the material, not just know the facts. Kind of boring, but not very hard.

Prof Murphy is engaging and helpful. He had us work on our presentational skills while teaching us about a really interesting subject. He will now be by academic advisor for my stay at UVA. I highly recommend taking a COLA by him if he offers again

Murphy's a great teacher! He's really passionate about what he teaches and the class is pretty interesting.

He's a great teacher, I came into the class with a pretty good interest in Astronomy and am now looking at becoming an Astrophysics major. Tests are tricky but it is because there are parts that are actually application instead of regurgitation.

This class is not as interesting as it sounds - be careful!!! It's not difficult, but it's quite boring. Murphy isn't unpleasant - actually seems like a pretty nice guy! If astro is your thing, go for it.

Don't be deceived, you will not be learning about aliens. This class is not difficult, and is kind of interesting. The tests are from material in the book and a few online readings. If you like astronomy, this is a good class.

You have to study to do well and you have to know the textbook very well. There are probably 3-4 relatively easy math questions on each test, if you understand the equations. Other questions come from the "Study Area" from Mastering Astronomy. Murphy is a cool teacher and really knowledgable. Just study! (I expect to receive an A/A- in the course)

Murphy is a really nice guy and is adorably dweeby about astronomy, but the actual material is really boring. The online quizzes help a lot when studying for tests, but this class is not an easy A -- you have to put in a lot of work to do well.

Murphy is a great guy and is extremely passionate about astronomy, however this is not an easy class by any means. I took it thinking that it would help my GPA, but it's actually lowering it. If you are interested in the subject and willing to put in the effort, take this. However, you need to try very hard to do well on the tests.

This class isn't too bad, but I didn't particularly like the class size. Murphy is a really enthusiastic teacher. I didn't know astro was actually going to be so much work. The tests are actually pretty hard, but if you're super excited about astro, then take it with Murphy.

Murphy's "quizzes" are very challenging. If you're looking for an easy A or an easy math/science requirement, this is not it, although you do pick up some interesting astronomy tidbits along the way. Put in the work by reading the chapters, and you will probably do well. Test questions often come right from Mastering Astronomy.

I highly recommend Professor Murphy. He is very approachable and helpful. I struggled in this course and he was always willing to take extra time to explain and review concepts with me. His lectures are very interesting and he strives to make sure his students understand the material.

Lectures are good at explaining things, but if you want to do well you need to read and take notes on the chapters, which are long. The stuff you learn in general is pretty interesting (even though the book is dry), but don't take this class as a GPA booster. If you put in the work you can get an A, but you can't just show up and do well.

Mr. Murphy is great! If you want to learn about Astronomy, learn it form him. He is clear, entertaining, and fair. Assignments are helpful towards studying for the tests and as long as you went to lecture and read the textbooks the tests are not too bad!

Professor Murphy is clear and straightforward giving lectures with a good sense of humor. I'm actually doing an astronomy minor inspired by his enthusiasm for astronomy and teaching

If you want to take a class with someone who is very passionate about their field, ASTR 1210 with Edward Murphy is the one to take. Wonderful, engaging lectures, and interesting material, I'm very glad to have taken this class. There is weekly homework that goes along with the readings. The exams are challenging, but not bad if you study well.

He's extremely knowledgeable and passionate about his subject. The lectures are fantastic, even for non-Astronomy majors. He's extremely helpful, and has tremendous clarity in lectures. His quizzes tend to be hard, but taking the class is definitely worth it; it's been a very eye-opening experience.

I took astronomy because I wanted an easier science course than biology or chemistry. Its not too bad if you read the textbook and attend lectures however the quizzes are very tough. Ask for help and go to office hours if you need to. He is very helpful and better in one-on-one teaching scenario than a 400 person lecture.

Such a nice guy and very passionate about the subject, if you need a science credit and you're a conscience major I would 100% this class with Murphy. Very interesting and I had no previous knowledge

He is awesome and makes the lectures super cool!

Professor Murphy is an amazing professor. He enjoys what he does, and makes the material interesting. I have absolutely no complaints about him. However, the class is harder than it should be. The quizzes are pretty difficult and almost impossible to study for. Getting a B is pretty easy, but the quizzes are brutal.

Professor Murphy is a great teacher who makes sure that you learn a lot without the lectures being too overbearingly boring. Be warned, though: the quizzes can err a little bit on the difficult side, so make sure that you take good notes.

Dr. Murphy is a must-take. While the class is a challenge, and you will have to put the time in to understand the concepts, you will be better for it. He is inspirational and a fantastic source of advice and information.

I took Mission to Mars the 1st semester it was offered. Murphy is a pretty good lecturer & his lectures were pretty engaging. The homeworks were very simple a&easy, same for the tests. Unfortunately, however, this course didn't have much Mars-related content and was more just about space travel in general. Mars was only really looked at in detail

Fantastic course! I took ASTR1210 and ASTR3450 with him, and he was great both times! 3450 Mission to Mars is writing heavy, so beware of that going in, but it's a really fun course. Murphy is a great lecturer. He loves the topics and gets really invested, and if you have him online he has really cute cats. 10/10 would recommend.

Prof. Murphy is a really nice guy and good lecturer. He loves the subject. This class is way more difficult than I expected because the quizzes are very specific and challenging. The homework is pretty easy however, and he offers in class questions as a way to bump up your grade. Pretty easy to get a B, but challenging to get an A.

Murphy was a great professor and I really enjoyed ASTRO 1210!!! It was not too difficult and I felt like I learned a lot. He is obviously very passionate about the topic which led to an engaging lecture. I liked how the class was set up and it is evident he wants you to succeed. I definitely recommend this class to future students.

The best teacher ever

I LOVED THIS CLASS. I took mission to Mars as a first year (I'm a drama major). I have an A in the class right now. One of the most passionate professors ever. I never get tired of his lectures. We watch cool rocket videos, Neil Armstrong vids, and homework is online, lectures are recorded, and exams online and open note.

Great professor's lectures felt long, but occasional jokes were made. Most labs can be done later, but it's better to do them before finals. I skipped most lectures to watch them online, but PollEverywhere, a participation grade worth 10% of the final, is crucial. Midterms are long and the final is over 100 questions. Homework and labs are easy.

Really loved this guy and this class. Highly recommend for the science credit.

I am not a STEM major, but I definitely enjoyed this class. It was more difficult than I anticipated as I ended with a B+. The exams were pretty difficult, but take home so that was nice. The class is quite lecture heavy and I think you do need to spend some time outside of class preparing if you want to do well on the exams. Lots of homework.

Very understanding professor; rounded my grade up. The course is pretty easy, just listen to astronomy researchers present. However, the homework could be quite advanced if it regarded coding or advanced math, especially because there are astronomy nonmajors. All assignments are graded out of 5, so do well on them.