All Astronomy Department Courses
Below is a description of all courses offered by the Astronomy Department. Several courses are only offered every other semester or every other year, so check the current semester’s offerings.
All Astronomy courses can be used towards satisfying the Natural Sciences area requirement. ASTR 121 and 124 cover complementary subject matter. Each is complete in itself, and a student may elect to take either ASTR 121 or ASTR 124, or both concurrently.
ASTR 121: Introduction to the Sky and the Solar System
(3 credits)
Primarily for non-science majors.
The night sky. Brief history of astronomy through Newton. The properties of the sun, earth, moon, planets, meteors and comets. The origin and evolution of the solar system. Life in the universe. Recent results from space missions and ground-based telescopes.
ASTR 124: Introduction to the Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe
(3 credits)
Primarily for non-science majors.
Stars, star formation and evolution. Light, atoms, and modern observing technologies. The origin of the chemical elements. Supernovae, pulsars, neutron stars, and black holes. The structure and evolution of our galaxy. The nature of other galaxies. Active galaxies and quasars. The expanding universe, cosmology, the big bang, and the early universe.
ASTR 127: Unsolved Mysteries in the Universe
(3 credits)
Primarily for non-science majors.
The universe is full of deep mysteries that astronomers are far from understanding. This course is designed to help students understand the limitations of our knowledge, and why finding solutions to these mysteries is so difficult. A number of though provoking topics will be covered, including: the beginning and end of the universe, black holes, extraterrestrial life, dark matter, and dark energy.
ASTR 130: Introduction to Astronomical Observation
(3 credits)
Primarily for non-science majors; pre/co-requisite: ASTR 121 or 124 or permission of the instructor.
An independent laboratory class in which students work individually or in small groups on observational projects. Extensive use is made of binoculars, 6-inch through 10-inch telescopes, and photographic equipment at the department’s student observatory. In addition, some projects use computers to simulate observations taken with much larger telescopes. Projects focus on the study of constellations, planets, stars, nebulae, and galaxies. Class work is done predominantly at night.
ASTR 133: Conceptual Astronomy
(3 credits)
Primarily for non-science majors; pre/co-requisite: ASTR xxx or xxx or permission of the instructor.
Page under construction please visit frequently for updates.
ASTR 170, 171: Seminar
(1 credit)
A seminar designed primarily for first and second year students, taught on a voluntary basis by a faculty member. Topics vary.
ASTR 174: Introduction to Astronomy Research
(1 credit)
Intended primarily for first and second year declared and prospective Astronomy/Physics and Astronomy Majors.
Astronomy faculty members will describe various research projects. The goal is to acquaint students with the both the subject matter and the required physical, mathematical, and computational background of contemporary astronomy research. Potential long term undergraduate research projects will be emphasized.
ASTR 211: General Astronomy
(3 credits)
Primarily for science majors; pre/corequisites: MATH 121 or MATH 131, PHYS 151 or PHYS 231, or permission of instructor.
A thorough discussion of the basic concepts and methods of solar system, stellar, galactic, and extragalactic astronomy with emphasis on physical interpretation. Recent research developments such as black holes, pulsars, quasars, and new solar system observations from the space program.
ASTR 212: General Astronomy II
(3 credits)
See ASTR 211 description.
ASTR 313: Observational Astronomy
(4 credits)
Primarily for science majors; prerequisites: ASTR 211, 212, or permission of instructor.
A laboratory course dealing with basic observational techniques in astronomy. Students make use of observational facilities at McCormick Observatory and at Fan Mountain Observatory. Classes generally meet at night.
ASTR 314: Observational Radio Astronomy
(4 credits)
Primarily for science majors; prerequisites: ASTR 211, 212, or permission of instructor.
An introduction to the tools, techniques, and science of radio astronomy. Discussion includes fundamentals of measuring radio signals, radiometers, antennas, and interferometers, supplemented by illustrative labs; radio emission mechanisms and simple radiative transfer; radio emission from the Sun and planets, stars, galactic and extragalactic sources, and the cosmic microwave background.
ASTR 324: Teaching Astronomy
(3 credits)
Open to non-science students; prerequisites: ASTR 121, 124, or permission of instructor.
A seminar-style class offered primarily for non-majors planning to teach science or looking to improve their ability to communicate science effectively. In addition to astronomy contect, students will learn effective concept-based astronomy lessons.
ASTR 341: Archaeo-Astronomy
(3 credits)
Open to non-science students; pre/co-requisite: A 100- or 200-level Astronomy course or permission of instructor.
A discussion of prescientific astronomy, including Mayan, Babylonian, and ancient Chinese astronomy and the significance of relics such as Stonehenge. The usefulness of ancient records in the study of current astrophysical problems, such as supernova outbursts, is also discussed. The course uses current literature from several disciplines including astronomy, archaeology, and anthropology.
ASTR 342: Life Beyond the Earth
(3 credits)
Open to non-science students; pre/corequisite: A 100- or 200-level Astronomy course or permission of instructor.
The possibility of the existence of intelligent extraterrestrial life; methods and desirability of interstellar communication; prospects for humanity’s colonization of space, interaction of space colonies and the search for other civilizations.
ASTR 342 home page
ASTR 346: Development of Modern Astronomy
(3 credits)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
A reading course dealing with the history of astronomy.
ASTR 347: Science and Controversy in Astronomy
(3 credits)
Open to non-science students; pre/corequisite: ASTR 121 or ASTR 124 or permission of instructor.
A critical evaluation of controversial topics in science and pseudo-science from the astronomer's perspective. The methods of science and the nature of scientific evidence with their implications for unresolved astrophysical problems; extraterrestrial life; UFO's; alien abductions; X-files; astrology, etc.
ASTR 348: Introduction to Cosmology
(3 credits)
Open to first year students; primarily for non-science students.
A descriptive introduction to the study of the ultimate structure and evolution of the universe. Covers the history of cosmological speculation, the nature of the galaxies, a qualitative introduction to relativity theory and the nature of space-time, black holes, models of the universe (h3 bang, steady-state, etc.) and methods of testing them, history of the universe.
ASTR 348 home page
ASTR 351: Planetary Astronomy
(3 credits)
Primarily for science majors. Prerequisite: Calculus, or permission of instructor.
The goal of this course is to understand the origins and evolution of bodies in the solar system. The observations of atmospheres and surfaces of planetary bodies by ground-based and orbiting telescopes and by spacecraft will be described. The principal topics will be the interpretation of remote sensing data for atmospheres and surfaces of planetary bodies, the chemistry and dynamics of planetary atmospheres, the interactions of these atmospheres with the surfaces and with the local plasma, and the role of meteorite and comet impacts on surfaces of planetary bodies.
ASTR 395: Tutorial
(3 credits)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
A study of a topic of special interest to the student under individual supervision by a faculty member. May be repeated once for credit.
ASTR 444: The Nature of Discovery in Astronomy
(3 credits)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
This course examines the development of astronomy from about 1950 to the present. Initially, we review the historical developmenmt of modern astronomy — how the emphasis on the research frontiers shifted over time as new ideas and instruments developed. We discuss the nature of scientific creativity and the conditions which encourage or discourage scientific and astronomical discovery. This leads us to analyse the conditions in Universities and research organizations which promote scientific research, and how well they have succeeded. Questions of how to judge success in these matters will arise.
Although some background in astronomy would be advantageous for the seminar, it is not necessary since we will explain the basic scientific questions which are discussed.
ASTR 451: Introduction to Astrophysics
(3 credits)
Prerequisites: ASTR 211,212; PHYS 252 or permission of instructor.
Basic concepts in mechanics, statistical physics, atomic and nuclear structure, and radiative transfer are developed and applied to selected fundamental problems in the areas of stellar structure, stellar atmospheres, the interstellar medium and extragalactic astrophysics.
ASTR 498: Senior Thesis
(3 credits)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
ASTR 511: Astronomical Techniques
(3 credits)
Prerequisites: ASTR 211-212; PHYS 342, 343 or permission of instructor.
This course surveys modern techniques of radiation measurement and data analysis and their application to astrophysical problems, especially the physical properties of stars. Relevant experiments in the laboratory and at the telescope will be included.
ASTR 534: Introductory Radio Astronomy
(3 credits)
Prerequisites: MATH 235, PHYS 210.
Fundamentals of measuring power and power spectra, antennas, interferometers, and radiometers. Thermal radiation, synchrotron radiation and line frequency radiation. Radio emission from the planets, sun, flare stars, pulsars, supernovae, interstellar gas, galaxies and quasi-stellar sources.
ASTR 535: Radio Astronomy Instrumentation
(3 credits)
Prerequisite: ASTR 534 or permission of instructor.
An introduction to the instrumentation of radio astronomy. Discussion includes fundamentals of measuring radio signals, noise theory, basic radiometry, antennas, low noise electronics, coherent receivers, signal processing for continuum and spectral line studies, and arrays. Lecture material is supplemented by illustrative labs.
ASTR 539, 540: Topical Seminar
(3 credits)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
A detailed study of a current topic is made by the instructor and the seminar members. The topic to be covered will appear in the academic schedule for the semester in which it is given. In recent years, there have been ASTR 539 - Stellar Populations, ASTR 540 - Extragalatic Astronomy, and ASTR 540 - Galactic Astronomy.
ASTR 542: The Interstellar Medium
(3 credits)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Topics covered include the physics of interstellar gas and grains, the distribution and dynamics of the gas, and cosmic radiation and interstellar magnetic fields.
ASTR 542 home page
ASTR 543, 544: Stellar Astrophysics
(3 credits each)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Observed properties and physics of stars. Radiation transfer; stellar thermodynamics; convection. Formation of spectra in atmospheres. Equations of stellar structure; nuclear reactions. Stellar evolution and nucleosynthesis. Applicable numerical techniques.
ASTR 545: High Energy Astrophysics
(3 credits)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
Introduction to the physics of basic radiation mechanisms and particle acceleration processes which are important in high energy phenomena and space science. Applications to pulsars, active galactic nuclei, radio galaxies, quasars, and supernovae will be discussed.
ASTR 545 home page
ASTR 546: Binary Stars
(3 credits)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
The determination of orbital elements, the mass-luminosity-radius relation, formation of binary systems, the Roche model, mass loss, mass transfer, circumstellar material, accretion disks, evolution of close interacting binaries, and some special classes of binaries such as cataclysmic variables, RS CVn binaries, Algol-type binaries, and X-ray binaries.
ASTR 548: Evolution of the Universe
(3 credits)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
The origin and evolution of structure in the universe. The formation and evolution of galaxies. Tests of the theory based on observations of large scale structure and the properties of galaxies as a function of lookback time.
ASTR 551: Galactic Structure and Stellar Populations
(3 credits)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
This course explores the structure and evolution of star clusters and galaxies, with particular emphasis on objects in the local universe. Topics explored include the evolution of individual stars and their kinematics, chemistry, and spectral energy distributions, the effeE6CC99 such evolution on populations of stars with both simple and complex star formation histories, and galaxies as collections of stellar populations. The course introduces fundamental tools of Galactic astronomy, with topics including methods for assessing the size, shape, age, and dynamics of the Milky Way and other stellar systems, galaxy formation, interstellar gas and dust, dark matter, and the distance scale.
ASTR 553/554: Extragalactic Astronomy
(3 credits each)
Prerequisite: Permission of instructor.
These classes are intended for graduate and senior undergraduate astronomy students. We survey the field of extragalactic astronomy, considering such topics as: morphological, photometric, dynamical and demographic properties of normal galaxies, together with their gaseous, chemical, stellar and nuclear properties; special kinds of galaxy, such as interacting, starburst and active galaxies; galaxy groups and clusters; dark matter and gravitational lenses; galaxy formation and evolution; the intergalactic medium; and the cosmological framework. ASTR 553 emphasises the properties of normal galaxies and stellar dynamics, while ASTR 554 emphasises active galaxies, clusters, evolution and cosmology.
