Courses
Courses primarily for undergraduates:
Credits: 1. Contact Hours: Lecture 1.
An entirely web-based course covering topics in observing the sky and navigation by the stars for students with little or no previous experience. The course combines material on common naked-eye phenomena, such as daily and seasonal variations in the sky, with information on how these helped navigators determine where they are on Earth. The course "lectures" are on-line, interactive units with build in exercises, hands-on (offline) activities and layers of help. Graded homework and quizzes are administered via Canvas. Graduation Restriction: Students who take ASTRO 1200 may count credit in only one of ASTRO 1020 or 1030 toward graduation. (Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer)
Credits: 1. Contact Hours: Lecture 1.
An entirely web-based course covering topics in celestial mechanics ("Rocket science!") for students with little or no previous experience. It combines the geography of the solar system with discussion of methods of traveling to the other planets. The course "lectures" are on-line, interactive units with built-in exercises, hands-on (offline) activities, and layers of help. Graded homework and quizzes are administered via Canvas. Graduation Restriction: Students who take ASTRO 1200 may count credit in only one of ASTRO 1020 or 1030 toward graduation. (Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer)
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 2, Discussion 1.
For the nonscientist. A survey of our view of the universe, and the exploration of the solar system and beyond. The sky: constellations; motions of the Sun, Moon, and planets; seasons and the calendar; eclipses. The solar system: origin and evolution; characteristics of the Sun, planets, satellites, comets, meteorites, and asteroids. The detection and characterization of other solar systems, and the search for life in the universe. Extensive use of the planetarium is included. (Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer)
Credits: 3.
For the nonscientist. A survey of astronomy with a focus on the universe beyond our solar system. Basic observational astronomy and the history of astronomy. Stellar astronomy: motions, distances, sizes, spectra; types of stars; variability; binary systems. Stellar evolution: the birth, life, and death of stars, including supernovae, neutron stars, and black holes. The structure and evolution of the Milky Way Galaxy. Other galaxies, clusters of galaxies, quasars. Theories of the origin of the universe. (Typically Offered: Fall, Spring)
Credits: 1-4. Repeatable.
Prereq: Instructor Permission for Course
Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: (PHYS 2320 and PHYS 2320L) or PHYS 2420
An introduction to the physics of the Solar System and the planetary systems discovered around other stars. General characteristics of planetary systems: dynamics, thermodynamics, internal and surface structure of planets and minor bodies, physics of their atmosphere. Discovery techniques and characterization of extrasolar planets, and planetary systems formation models. 'Grand tour' of the Solar System, using data and imagery from probes and telescopes that have visited these worlds. The origin and evolution of life on Earth, and the ongoing search for life in the Solar System and elsewhere in the universe.
(Typically Offered: Fall)
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 1, Laboratory 6.
Prereq: (PHYS 2320 and PHYS 2320L) or PHYS 2420
Experiments in optical astronomy. Observational techniques, ranging from stellar photometry to CCD imaging. Data processing and analysis techniques. Astronomical software packages and online databases and resources. Available instruments include a variety of small telescopes and astronomical CCD cameras.
(Typically Offered: Fall)
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: (PHYS 2320 and PHYS 2320L) or PHYS 2420
An exploration of the universe beyond our Solar System, with emphasis on the astrophysics of stars and galaxies. Observable properties of stars, physics of stellar atmospheres and interiors. Birth, evolution and death of stars, to understand the past and future of our Sun, the Milky Way galaxy and the other galaxies in the universe. Basic concepts of cosmology, dark matter and dark energy. Use of computer models to calculate the structure and evolution of stars and protostars, and to analyze actual astronomical data obtained by professional astronomers.
(Typically Offered: Spring)
(Dual-listed with ASTRO 5050).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Introduction to modern cosmology and large-scale structure; mathematical and observational fundamentals associated with the origin, structure, and evolution of the Universe. Scale of the Universe, Hubble's Law, the cosmic microwave background, Big Bang nucleosynthesis, the origin of elements, dark energy and the accelerating universe, and dark matter. For senior undergraduates and graduate students in all areas of physics. Previous coursework equivalent to ASTRO 3460 (Introduction to Astrophysics) is necessary for success in this course. (Typically Offered: Spring)
Credits: 1-6. Repeatable.
Prereq: Instructor Permission for Course
Research under supervision of astronomy faculty. Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.
(Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer)
Credits: 1-6. Repeatable.
Prereq: ASTRO 3440L and permission of instructor
Laboratory or observational project under supervision of astronomy faculty. Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.
(Typically Offered: Fall, Spring, Summer)
Credits: 1-4. Repeatable, maximum of 9 credits.
Prereq: 6 credits ASTRO; permission of instructor
Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.
Credits: 1-4. Repeatable, maximum of 9 credits.
Prereq: 6 credits ASTRO; Permission of Instructor; Membership in the University Honors Program
Graduation Restriction: No more than 9 credits of ASTRO 4900 may be counted toward graduation. Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.
Courses primarily for graduate students, open to qualified undergraduates:
(Dual-listed with ASTRO 4050).
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: Graduate Standing or Permission of Instructor
Introduction to modern cosmology and large-scale structure; mathematical and observational fundamentals associated with the origin, structure, and evolution of the Universe. Scale of the Universe, Hubble's Law, the cosmic microwave background, Big Bang nucleosynthesis, the origin of elements, dark energy and the accelerating universe, and dark matter. For senior undergraduates and graduate students in all areas of physics. Previous coursework equivalent to ASTRO 3460 (Introduction to Astrophysics) is necessary for success in this course.
(Typically Offered: Spring)
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: Graduate Standing or Permission of Instructor
The astrophysics of stars and the circumstellar environment. An overview of stellar interiors and atmospheres including structure equations and constitutive relations; theory of radiative transfer; line and continuum processes and sources of opacity; line profiles; and the interpretation of stellar spectra. Accretion disk astrophysics as related to star and planet formation. Stellar evolution. Offered irregularly.
(Typically Offered: Fall, Spring)
Credits: 3. Contact Hours: Lecture 3.
Prereq: Graduate Standing or Permission of Instructor
An overview of our Galaxy and external galaxies. Galactic astronomy covering the structure, kinematics and chemical evolution of our Galaxy. Physical processes in the interstellar medium. Extragalactic astronomy including the classification of galaxies, galaxy formation and evolution, and the high-redshift universe. Observational techniques used to study galaxies. Offered irregularly.
(Typically Offered: Fall, Spring)
Credits: 1-30. Repeatable.
Prereq: Instructor Permission for Course
Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.
Credits: 1-30. Repeatable.
Prereq: Instructor Permission for Course
Individually directed study of research-level problems for students electing the nonthesis M.S. option in astronomy. Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.
Courses for graduate students:
Credits: 1. Contact Hours: Lecture 1.
Repeatable.
Topics of current interest in astronomy and astrophysics. Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only. (Typically Offered: Fall, Spring)
Credits: 1-30. Repeatable.
Prereq: Instructor Permission for Course
Offered on a satisfactory-fail basis only.