Transfer Student Courses in Astronomy (Division 326)

Fall Term, 1999 (September 8 - December 22, 1999)

To see what Transfer Student courses have been added or changed in Astronomy this week go to What's New This Week.

Section 006.

Instructor(s): Charles Cowley (cowley@umich.edu)

Prerequisites & Distribution: No credit granted to those who have completed or are enrolled in 111, 130, or 160. (4). (NS). (BS). (QR/2).

Credits: (4).

Course Homepage: http://www.astro.lsa.umich.edu/users/cowley/NEWS.html

Astronomy 101 students attend the same lectures as Astronomy 111 students (see course description below).

Section 001.

Instructor(s): Mario Mateo (mateo@umich.edu)

Prerequisites & Distribution: No credit granted to those who have completed or are enrolled in 112, 130, or 160. (4). (NS). (BS). (QR/2).

Credits: (4).

Course Homepage: http://www.astro.lsa.umich.edu/Course/material.html

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.

Section 006.

Instructor(s): Patrick Seitzer (seitzer@umich.edu)

Prerequisites & Distribution: No credit granted to those who have completed or are enrolled in 112, 130, or 160. (4). (NS). (BS). (QR/2).

Credits: (4).

Course Homepage: http://www.astro.lsa.umich.edu/Course/material.html

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.

Section 004.

Instructor(s): Charles Cowley (cowley@umich.edu)

Prerequisites & Distribution: No credit granted to those who have completed or are enrolled in 101, 130, or 160. (4). (NS). (BS). (QR/2).

Credits: (4).

Course Homepage: http://www.astro.lsa.umich.edu/users/cowley/NEWS.html

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.

Section 001.

Instructor(s): Mario Mateo (mateo@umich.edu)

Prerequisites & Distribution: No credit granted to those who have completed or are enrolled in 102, 130, or 160. (4). (NS). (BS). (QR/2).

Credits: (4).

Course Homepage: http://www.astro.lsa.umich.edu/Course/material.html

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).

Section 001.

Instructor(s): Hugh Aller (haller@umich.edu)

Prerequisites & Distribution: 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).

Credits: (4).

Course Homepage: http://www.astro.lsa.umich.edu/Course/Aller160/

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.

Section 001.

Instructor(s): Sushil Atreya (atreya@umich.edu) , Henry Pollack (hpollack@umich.edu)

Prerequisites & Distribution: High school mathematics through plane geometry and trigonometry. Those with credit for GS 113 may only elect Astro. 204 for 2 credits. (3). (NS). (BS).

Credits: (3).

Course Homepage: No Homepage Submitted.

See Geological Sciences 204.001.

Instructor(s): Commander Steve Roper (sroper@umich.edu)

Prerequisites & Distribution: (2). (Excl). (BS).

Credits: (2).

Course Homepage: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~sroper/ns301.htm

The purpose of this course is to educate students in all aspects of marine navigation, from getting a vessel underway from port through open ocean navigation using both celestial and electronic means. The content of the course is divided into three major areas. The first section focuses on piloting, emphasizing the safe navigation of vessels in coastal waters. This section provides an introduction to navigational instruments and aids to navigation. The second section concerns celestial navigation, the ability to determine position through observation of celestial bodies. Students learn how to determine position based on the use of the sextant and various almanacs and mathematical tables. The third section of the course considers electronic navigation. The course consists of two ninety minute lectures a week. Grading is done on the basis of homework, quizzes, a project, and examinations. The primary textbooks for the course are Marine Navigation I and Marine Navigation II by Richard R. Hobbs.

Section 001.

Instructor(s): Charles Cowley (cowley@umich.edu)

Prerequisites & Distribution: Math. 216, and prior or concurrent enrollment in Phys. 340. (3). (Excl). (BS).

Credits: (3).

Course Homepage: http://www.astro.lsa.umich.edu/users/cowley/a402f99.html

This course is a survey of stellar astronomy and astrophysics, building upon an elementary background of basic physics: mechanics; and interaction of radiation and matter (atomic spectra). No astronomy course is a prerequisite, although students who have not had any astronomy may find it helpful to read an introductory text book for overviews. Course topics: basic stellar data; celestial mechanics and binary stars; stellar atmospheres and abundances of the chemical elements; stellar interiors, evolution, and nucleosynthesis; space distributions and motions of stars in the Galaxy. Course work includes homework exercises, hour exams, and a final exam.

Section 001.

Instructor(s): Joel Bregman (jbregman@umich.edu)

Prerequisites & Distribution: Math. 216, and prior or concurrent enrollment in Phys. 240. (3). (Excl). (BS).

Credits: (3).

Course Homepage: No Homepage Submitted.

This course examines the various types of gaseous components and their interaction with stars through the processes of star formation, stellar mass loss, photoionization of gas by hot stars, and supernova explosions. The interstellar medium (the gas between stars) comprises a wide variety of material that interacts closely, and often violently, with individual stars and the host galaxy. First, the underlying atomic and molecular physics is developed and then we examine how gas is ionized by hot stars and by supernova remnants. We analyze the content of the cold pervasive atomic and molecular gas in the galaxy, how it often lies in spiral arms, and why giant molecular clouds are the most active sites of star formation. Finally, recent discoveries are highlighted, such as the presence of galactic “cirrus” as seen from the dust distribution.

Section 001.

Instructor(s): Hugh Aller (haller@umich.edu) , Mario Mateo (mateo@umich.edu)

Prerequisites & Distribution: Open only to senior concentrators. Astro. 401, 402, and 404. (2). (Excl). (BS).

Credits: (2).

Course Homepage: No Homepage Submitted.

Student-faculty discussion of selected problems in two or three currently active areas. This is also the Astronomy Department's senior writing course. Attendance at weekly department colloquia is required.