ASTR - ASTRONOMY

Department of Physics & Astronomy (ARS)


ASTR - 1010 SURVEY OF ASTRONOMY
[3 hours] Not for major credit; not open to science majors; no credit after 2010,2020. General astronomy, including appearance of the sky and nature and evolution of the Earth, Moon, solar system, stars, galaxies, and the Universe.


ASTR - 2010 SOLAR SYSTEM ASTRONOMY
[3 hours] A quantitative introduction to the contents, origin, and evolution of the solar system, as revealed by recent advances in space exploration. High school mathematics at the level of graphs, algebra, and elementary logarithms is required. (not for major credit)


ASTR - 2020 STARS, GALAXIES, AND THE UNIVERSE
[3 hours] A quantitative introduction to the nature and evolution of stars, galaxies and the universe, as revealed by observation and physical theory. High school mathematics at the level of graphs, algebra and elementary logarithms is required. (not for major credit)


ASTR - 2050 ELEMENTARY ASTRONOMY LABORATORY
[1 hour] Laboratory exercises and observational measurements in elementary astronomy. Two hours laboratory per week. (not for major credit) Corequisite: ASTR 1010, 2010 or 2020


ASTR - 3810 MARS
[3 hours] The history of observations of Mars, information gathered during the space program, potential for human exploration and colonization, and related contemporary science fiction. High school algebra and graphs will be used. Prerequisite: ASTR 1010 or 2010


ASTR - 3820 LIFE IN THE UNIVERSE
[3 hours] The astronomical factors involved in the emergence of life in the universe, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence and the likelihood of advanced civilizations in the Galaxy. May be offered as writing intensive. Prerequisite: ASTR 1010 or 2010 and 2020


ASTR - 3830 BLACK HOLES, GENERAL RELATIVITY AND THE BIG BANG THEORY
[3 hours] Course is crosslisted as PHYS 3830. Descriptive discussion of the theory of general relativity, the final states of stellar evolution, black holes, and history of the universe from the big bang through the formation of the solar system. May be offered as writing intensive. Prerequisite: ASTR 1010 or 2020


ASTR - 3840 NEW FRONTIERS IN ASTRONOMY
[3 hours] Descriptive treatment of recent developments in astronomy from spacecraft, such as the Hubble Space Telescope, or from the newest, very large ground based telescopes. May be offered as a writing intensive. Prerequisite: ASTR 1010 or 2010 or 2020


ASTR - 4800 ASTRONOMY IN THE PLANETARIUM
[3 hours] Course is crosslisted as PHYS 5800. Theory and practice of astronomical outreach programming. Sky and calendar, mythology, constellations, astrophysics, buying and using small telescopes, operating and maintaining planetarium projectors, sky simulation software, projects, and program production. Prerequisite: ASTR 1010 or 2010 or 2020


ASTR - 4810 ASTRONOMY FOR SCIENCE MAJORS I
[3 hours] Course is crosslisted as PHYS 5810. Spherical coordinate systems, astronomical time, celestial mechanics, the solar system and planetary physics, photometry, radiative transfer, stellar spectra and classification, binary stars and stellar masses. Prerequisite: PHYS 3070 or 3320


ASTR - 4820 ASTRONOMY FOR SCIENCE MAJORS II
[3 hours] Course is crosslisted as PHYS 5820. Stellar structure and evolution, close binaries, origin of the elements, the sun, variable stars, star clusters, the interstellar medium,the Milky Way Galaxy, stellar statistics, galaxy structure and evolution, cosmology. Prerequisite: ASTR 4810


ASTR - 4880 ASTROPHYSICAL MEASUREMENTS
[3 hours] Course is crosslisted as PHYS 5880. Astronomical, optical and electronic principles of operation of a modern astronomical observatory. Observing with the 1 meter telescope of Ritter Observatory, introduction to reduction, analysis, and interpretation of astronomical spectra. Six hours laboratory per week. Prerequisite: ASTR 2010, 2020 and PHYS 2080 or 2140 Corequisite: ASTR 4810

Last Updated: 6/27/22