Introductory Courses and Courses for Non-Concentrators.
Astronomy 101/111 discusses our explorations of the solar system.
Astronomy 102/112 deals with stars and the rest of the Universe
beyond the solar system. Students in Astronomy 101 and 102 attend
a weekly discussion section. Students in Astronomy 111 and 112
actively participate in a laboratory which meets in the evening
each week. None of these courses is a prerequisite for any of the others. High school mathematics through plane geometry is
useful. All students in each course will have opportunities for
a planetarium visit and for evening observations with telescopes.
101. Introductory Astronomy:
The Solar System. No credit granted to those who
have completed or are enrolled in 111, 130, or 160. (4). (NS).
(BS). (QR/2).
Astronomy 101 students attend the same lectures as Astronomy
111 students (see course description below). (Cowley)
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Times, Location, and Availability
102. Introductory Astronomy:
Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe. No credit granted
to those who have completed or are enrolled in 112, 130, or 160.
(4). (NS). (BS). (QR/2).
Astronomy 102 students attend the same lectures as Astronomy
112 students (see course description below). Instead of laboratory
sections, Astronomy 102 incorporates weekly one-hour discussions
and associated exercises, which is considered along with examinations
and quizzes for course grades. Cost:2
WL:4 (Section 001:Bregman;
Section 007:MacAlpine)
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111. Introductory Astronomy:
The Solar System. No credit granted to those who
have completed or are enrolled in 101, 130, or 160. (4). (NS).
(BS). (QR/2).
This course presents an introduction to the field of astronomy
and astrophysics with an emphasis on the discoveries from space
exploration. The first third of the course deals with understanding the history of astronomy, orbits, gravitation, optics, and the
properties of light and matter. The rest of the course explores the properties, origin and evolution of the major planets, asteroids, comets, the Sun and other components of the Solar System with
particular emphasis on comparative aspects with respect to the
Earth. The origin and formation of the Solar System and the origin
of life will also be discussed. This course is intended for non-science
concentrators with a basic high school math and science background.
Astronomy 111 has a two-hour laboratory section every week. Astronomy
101 has a one-hour discussion section. Course requirements include
assigned reading, section meetings, homework, observations, quizzes, midterm, and a final examination. Laboratory sections include
observations with telescopes. Cost:2
WL:4 (Cowley)
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112. Introductory Astronomy:
Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe. No credit granted
to those who have completed or are enrolled in 102, 130, or 160.
(4). (NS). (BS). (QR/2).
Section 001. Three lectures and a two-hour evening laboratory
section each week. Lectures deal with such topics as the properties
and evolution of stars; interstellar luminous nebulae; recent
discoveries involving galaxies, quasars, and black holes in space;
and the present state of our knowledge regarding the origin and ultimate fate of the universe and possibilities of finding and communicating with life outside the solar system. The laboratories
and discussions feature planetarium demonstrations, observation
with telescopes, and student-inspired dialogue. Familiarity with
logarithms and basic geometry is recommended. Cost:2
WL:4 (Bregman)
Section 007. This course is intended primarily for
non-science concentrators, who wish to understand the phenomena
and properties of the universe beyond our solar system. There
are no astronomy prerequisites, and a basic high school math background (e.g., not calculus) will suffice. Students examine the
widest possible range of interrelated natural phenomena, from
sub-atomic particles to the Universe as a whole. Lectures inventory the different types of stars and examine how red giants, white
dwarfs, black holes, supernovae, and people all fit together in
one grand, remarkable scheme. The larger picture includes our
Milky Way galaxy, less hospitable exploding galaxies, and enigmatic
quasars. The present state of knowledge or speculation regarding the origin and ultimate fate of our universe will also receive
special attention. It all came from somewhere, but where...and why? Course grades will be derived from scheduled quizzes or exams, and laboratory exercises. Laboratory sections, which meet for
two evening hours each week, will include planetarium demonstrations
and observations with telescopes (weather permitting). Cost:2
WL:4 (MacAlpine)
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Times, Location, and Availability
125. Observational Astronomy.
No credit granted to those who have completed or
are enrolled in Astro. 120. (4). (NS).
This course will teach how astronomical discoveries are made, from what naked eye observations tell us about the solar system
and the universe (example: why is the night sky dark?) through
what modern telescopes on the ground and in space tell us. We
will use all available optical telescopes on campus to explore the different types of telescopes and how they are used to explore the universe. Through this, students will learn how modern astronomical
research is conducted. The course will involve lectures, assigned
readings, written assignments, and one evening laboratory session
per week. Cost:2
WL:4 (Bernstein)
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Times, Location, and Availability
127. Naked Eye Astronomy.
(1). (NS).
The purpose of this course is to examine and understand the
observational phenomena that everyone has observed and become
familiar with. Students will learn about the nature of the most
common astronomical objects that can be observed by eye, such
as the Sun, Moon, planets, and the stars. Students will come to
understand astronomical phenomena such as the motion of these
objects on the sky and their implications: seasons, phases of the moon, solar and lunar eclipses, and the perplexing motions
of the planets. Another important topic is the changing stellar
sky, including the identification of the brighter stars and constellations
during the different seasons. Transient objects such as comets
and meteors will be discussed, and a meteorite shower will be
observed. The course will conclude with a discussion of ancient
observatories and the historical efforts by humanity to measure
important astronomical phenomena. A planetarium will be one of the primary teaching facilities, but students will make their
own observations and also work with computer programs, such as
"The Sky." There will be homework assignments and a
final. (Bregman)
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Times, Location, and Availability
135/AOSS 135. Exploration of the Solar System. Astro. 101 or 111. (3). (NS). (QR/2).
Over the last 30 years we have learned most of what we know
about the planets, and the space environment on the Earth. This
will present the development of space exploration with a concentration
on the major scientific breakthroughs resulting from the exploration
of the solar system by U.S. and Soviet spacecraft, from the earliest
rockets to the latest GALILEO and HST measurements. Topics will
include the constraints that the environment of space places on the designs of space probes, the history of space science in studying the Earth's environment, and the deep-space missions of the other
planets. The course is intended for science and non-science concentrators, and all exams will consist of conceptual, not mathematical questions.
The course will be an extension of the Intro. Astronomy courses
with a focus on the methods of space exploration and the solar
system. Assigned reading from a textbook, tentatively The
Planetary System by Morrison and Owen, weekly homework sets
with mainly conceptual questions, two hourly exams, and one final
exam with conceptual questions. (Clarke)
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Times, Location, and Availability
160. Introduction to Astrophysics.
Math. 115, and prior or concurrent enrollment in
Phys. 140. No credit granted to those who have completed or are
enrolled in 102, 112, or 130. (4). (NS). (BS). (QR/2).
Some of the most exciting phenomena and concepts in astronomy
and astrophysics are explored in this survey course. One major theme is the structure and evolution of stars from their birth
in giant molecular clouds through their death as white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes. Another important theme is galaxies, with discussions about the missing or dark matter in galaxies, galaxy-galaxy interactions, and the large-scale distribution of
galaxies in the Universe. We conclude with an examination of the
Big Bang, the Inflationary Universe, and the Cosmic Background
radiation. This course is directed toward students with an interest
in science and mathematics. There are problem sets and a weekly
two-hour laboratory using telescopes. Cost:2
WL:3 (Mateo)
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Times, Location, and Availability
361. Astronomical Techniques.
Astro. 160. (4). (Excl). (BS).
This course is intended primarily for students concentrating
in astronomy, but other science and engineering students may elect
it. It is an introduction to various techniques for obtaining
and analyzing observational data. The areas covered are stellar
trigonometric distance (parallax), imaging and photometry with
electronic detectors, radiometric techniques, and interferometry.
In addition, there will be a series of lectures on error theory
and least squares, to provide expertise needed in the analysis
of observational data. Students will use optical telescopes and instrumentation and the Radio Observatory near Dexter to make
observations. Three lectures and one two-hour laboratory period
each week. Course work will also include homework exercises and reading in original sources but there are no examinations. (Aller, Sears, and Seitzer)
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Times, Location, and Availability
389. Individual Studies
in Astronomy. Permission of instructor. (1-3). (Excl).
(INDEPENDENT). May be repeated for credit.
Individual reading and study in astronomy under the guidance
of the instructor.
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Times, Location, and Availability
399. Introduction to Research.
Permission of instructor. (1-3). (Excl). (INDEPENDENT).
May be repeated for credit.
For students in astronomy who are prepared to undertake a
limited research project under the guidance of a member of the
staff of the Department of Astronomy. Open to qualified students
in other departments subject to approval by concentration advisors
and members of the staff of the Department of Astronomy.
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Times, Location, and Availability
404. Galaxies and the Universe.
Math. 216, and prior or concurrent enrollment in
Phys. 340. (3). (Excl). (BS).
This class focuses on the content of the universe on size
scales larger than individual stars. We will study the mechanics
of stellar orbits and the structure of galaxies, the evidence
for dark matter in our galaxy and others, the interstellar gas
in galaxies, the morphology of galaxies, and evolution of stellar
populations. On scales larger than individual galaxies, we will
study the structure and dynamics of clusters of galaxies and larger
scale structure. On even larger scales, we will look at the evolution
of the universe as a whole, the cosmic microwave background radiation
and inferences from its smoothness, and the formation of galaxies
and structure on larger scales. This class is designed for science
concentrators interested in a fairly serious introduction to the
subject, and for upper-level astronomy concentrators. Cost:2
WL:3 (Mateo)
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Times, Location, and Availability
406. Computational Astrophysics.
Math. 216, prior or concurrent enrollment in Phys.
240, and some knowledge of programming. (3). (Excl). (BS).
This course provides an introduction to numerical techniques
used in astrophysics, both for analyses of observational data
and for constructing theoretical models of astrophysical systems
and processes. Topics: programming and coding; error theory; interpolation
and curve fitting; analysis and display of data sets; solutions
of differential equations; Fourier methods; matrix methods; statistical
techniques. Some prior acquaintance with astronomy will be helpful, although astrophysical concepts will be explained in as much detail
as necessary. Some prior knowledge of computer programming will
be helpful, although the course will begin with elementary coding
exercises and illustrations of computer limitations and pitfalls.
The computer language used is FORTRAN; users of BASIC or PASCAL
will have little difficulty in translation. The course work will
consist primarily of coding, running, and displaying various astrophysical
algorithms, from simple to complex. One or more term projects
will be undertaken. Students will also use, and perhaps adapt
and improve, various nationally used standard programs. The recommended
text is Numerical Recipes in FORTRAN, Second Edition,
by Press et al. (Cambridge, 1992). Not all of this classic
will be covered, but it will be useful for anyone involved in
scientific computing. Cost:2
WL:3 (Sears)
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Times, Location, and Availability
520. Cosmochemistry. Astro.
401, 402, and 404. (3). (Excl). (BS).
This is a general survey of the chemical evolution of the
universe and its contents – from terrestrial materials to the
contents of the most distant galaxies. The introductory sections
cover traditional differentiation, Goldschmidt's laws of ionic
substitution and the Bowen Principle. There is a resume of thermodynamics
and statistical mechanics, since these disciplines provide the
basis for an understanding of many of the regularities of cosmic
chemistry. Radioactive dating is discussed within the context
of the chemical history of moon rocks and meteorites. Special
emphasis is placed on the derivation of a standard (cosmic) abundance
distribution for the solar nebula, and the evidence for deviations
from it. Sufficient nuclear structure is introduced to allow an
understanding of the synthesis of the chemical elements through
stellar and cosmological processes. Students run programs that
solve the CNO reaction networks illustrating equilibrium abundance
ratios and the rate of approach to them. Atomic and molecular
structure are reviewed and applied to the chemical analysis of
stars and diffuse matter (dust and gas) in our own and external
galaxies. Analytical models of the overall chemical evolution
of galaxies are compared to observations and more elaborate numerical
predictions. Text: Cowley, An Introduction to Cosmochemistry,
1995, Cambridge University Press. Cost:1
WL:3 (Cowley)
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Times, Location, and Availability
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