last updated 11/19/15


Text

Astronomy, A Physical Perspective (2/e) by Kutner, published by Cambridge U. Press, available at Water Street Books. (Make sure to check and make corrections from errata pages at: http://www.astronomyaphysicalperspective.com/APP2.corr.28Sep04.pdf). I will also distribute occasional handouts.

Lectures

Tuesdays and Thursdays: 11:20 AM – 12:35 PM in TPL 203

Orientation to Observing Facilities

Sign up in class to attend one. Sign up on the sheets posted outside TPL 203 and meet on the observing deck (4th floor of TPL; take back stairs).
Tuesday, Sept. 15: 8:00 PM, 8:30 PM
Wednesday, Sept. 16: 8:00 PM, 8:30 PM

Indoor Labs

Indoor labs are held regardless of the weather; labs do not meet every week; see the schedule below. You have been assigned by the Registrar to a particular lab section. It is usually possible to switch sections. If you wish to do so, please contact Dr. Souza. All labs are held in TPL 301.

Lab I Electromagnetic Radiation Thu. 9/24
Lab II Spectral Classification & the HR
Diagram
Thu. 10/1
Lab III Binary Stars Thu. 10/22
Lab IV After the Supernova Thu. 11/19
Lab V Image Processing Thu. 12/3

Observing

The observing deck atop TPL offers a computer-controlled 24-inch telescope with CCD camera, several other telescopes, and auxiliary equipment. We hope that you will enjoy using and learning from our observing facilities. The observing program itself will be described in a separate handout.

Homework

Problem sets will be assigned roughly every week, and will be due in class approximately one week later. Assignments will be accepted (with a grade penalty) up to one day late; after that no assignments will be accepted for credit.

Exams and Grading

Hour Exams

  • Thursday, October 8, in class
  • Tuesday, November 17, in class

Final Exam

  • Wed. 12/16 at 1:30 PM in TPL 114

Makeups for hour exams or labs will be scheduled for those who request to be excused beforehand, or for those with excuses from the Infirmary. Makeup or rescheduled final exams can only be given with the prior approval of the Deans’ Office.

Grades
will be calculated as follows:

  • Hour Exams: 20% each (x2 = 40%)
  • Homework: 20%
  • Labs and Observing: 20%
  • Final Exam: 20%

Attendance

Though attendance will not be taken routinely, it is in your interest to attend class regularly. I reserve the right to take your attendance record into consideration when assigning the final grade.

Disabilities Statement

Students with disabilities of any kind who may need disability-related classroom accommodations for this course are encouraged to contact Dr. Joyce Foster at 597-4672.  Also, students experiencing mental or physical health challenges that are significantly affecting their academic work are encouraged to contact me and to speak with a dean.  The deans can be reached at 597-4171.

Honor System

Students are strongly reminded of the honor system as described in the Student Handbook. No collaboration at all is allowed on exams. All observing work handed in must be exclusively your own. In labs, students will work in small groups, but each student must turn in his or her own lab write-up. If you are in any doubt about how the honor system applies to a particular activity in this course, please consult an instructor.

Lecture Topics

Below is a schedule of the topics to be covered. It is very important that you do the assigned reading before the class in which it will be discussed; that way you’re prepared for the lecture and can bring up any issues or difficulties with the material.

DATE TOPIC CHAPTER
Th. 9/10 Introduction 1, 2
Tu. 9/15 NO CLASS: ROSH HASHANA
Th. 9/17 The Nature of Light; Radiation Laws 2
Tu. 9/22 Magnitudes, Colors & Distances of Stars

2
Th. 9/24 Atoms & Light 3
Tu. 9/29 Thermodynamics & Spectra; The Doppler Effect 3, 5.2
Th. 10/1 Stellar Spectra & the HR Diagram  3
Tu. 10/6 finish: Stellar Spectra & the HR Diagram 3
Th. 10/8 FIRST HOUR EXAM material through Ch. 3
Tu. 10/13 NO CLASS: FALL READING PERIOD
Th. 10/15 Telescopes & Observatories 4
Fri.-Sat. 10/16-17 KNAC STUDENT RESEARCH SYMPOSIUM 
Tu. 10/20 Binary Stars: Keys to Masses & Sizes 5
Th. 10/22 The Sun 6
Tu. 10/27 Stellar Energy Generation; Stellar Structure 9
Th. 10/29 Star Formation 9; 15.1-5 (ADVANCED)
Tu. 11/3 The Deaths of Stars Like the Sun: Planetary Nebulae 10
Th. 11/5 White Dwarfs 10
(skip 10.2)
Tu. 11/10 NO CLASS: KK APO OBSERVING
Th. 11/12 The Deaths of Massive Stars
10.2, 11
Tu. 11/17 SECOND HOUR EXAM covered material through
White Dwarfs
Th. 11/19 Neutron Stars & Pulsars 11
Tu. 11/24 Special Relativity 7
Th. 11/26 NO CLASS: THANKSGIVING
Tu. 12/1 General Relativity 8
Th. 12/3 Black Holes: The Basics 8, 12
Tu. 12/8 More on Black Holes; Compact Binaries 8, 12
Th. 12/10 Observations of Black Holes

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