Astronomy (ASTR)
Description: Approach is essentially nonmathematical. Survey of the nature and motions of the planets, the sun, the stars, and their lives, galaxies, and the structure of the universe. Black holes, pulsars, quasars, and other objects of special interest included.
Prerequisites: Good standing in the University Honors Program or by invitation
Broad look at astronomy for non-science majors.
Description: Approach is essentially non-mathematical, but simple algebra is employed where appropriate. Sun and solar system, the stars, galaxies, and cosmology. Black holes, pulsars, quasars, and other objects of special interest included. Emphasis on both "what is out there" and "how we know it".
Prerequisites: ASTR 103 or permission.
Description: A non-mathematical continuation and extension of ASTR 103, designed for students who would like a more detailed look at specific areas in astronomy. Possible topics: astronomy and relativity; life in the universe; pulsars, quasars, and black holes; evolution of galaxies, origin of the universe.
Description: Survey of what modern science tells us about the possibilities of life elsewhere in the universe. Topics include how the Earth formed and became suitable for life, how life arose on the Earth, the conditions under which life can thrive, places in the solar system that might support life, the existence of other solar systems that might provide suitable habitats, and attempts to find evidence of life on other planets.
Survey of the sun, the solar system, stellar properties, stellar systems, interstellar matter, galaxies, and cosmology.
Description: Survey of the sun, the solar system, stellar properties, stellar systems, interstellar matter, galaxies, and cosmology.
This course is a prerequisite for: ASTR 224
Prerequisites: Parallel ASTR 204.
Description: Telescopic observations and laboratory experiments relating to observational astronomy. Obtaining digital astronomical images, the analysis of the resulting data and its astrophysical interpretation.
Description: Introduction to the techniques for determining constituents and dynamics of our galaxy, including interstellar matter and theories of spiral arm formation. Extragalactic topics include basic characteristics of galaxies, active galaxies, quasars, evolution, and the cosmological distance scale.
Description: Stellar atmospheres, interiors, and evolution. Theoretical and observational aspects of stellar astronomy. The relation between observed parameters and theoretical parameters, star formation, stellar energy generation, and degenerate stars.
Description: Gaseous nebulae, interstellar dust, interstellar clouds and star forming regions. Theoretical and observational aspects of the various components of the interstellar medium. Includes the physics of emission nebulae, the properties of the interstellar dust, interstellar molecules and the properties of clouds in which star formation occurs.