AST 250      Fundamentals of Astronomy

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GOOGLE
MWF 10-11am N210
 Spring 2009

Dr. Yancy Shirley
office hours: N310 Monday 11-12
phone: (520) 626-3666

 T.A.: Andras Gaspar
office hours: 302 Tuesday 2-4
phone: (520) 626-4499
email

FINAL GRADES

CURRENT SCHEDULE
FA = Fundamental Astronomy. IA&A = Introductory Astronomy & Astrophysics

Date Topic Reading
W Jan 14 Local Siderial Time (slides.pdf) FA:
IA&A:
F Jan 16 Spherical Trig (notes.pdf) FA:Chapter 2
IA&A:
M Jan 19 HOLIDAY NO CLASS
W Jan 21 Coordinates (REYnotes.pdf) (slides.pdf) FA:Chapter 2
IA&A:
F Jan 23 HOMEWORK #1 DUE (solutions.pdf)
M Jan 26 Nature of Light (slides.pdf) FA:
IA&A:Chapter 8.1
W Jan 28 Specific Intensity & Flux Density (notes.pdf) FA:Chapter 4,5.7,5.8
IA&A:
F Jan 30 Magnitudes & Radiative Transfer (notes.pdf) (slides.pdf) FA:Chapter 5.10,5.11
IA&A:
M Feb 02 Radiative Transfer & Blackbody Radiation (notes.pdf) FA:Chapter 5.8
IA&A:
W Feb 04 HOMEWORK #2 DUE (solutions.pdf)
F Feb 06 Blackbody Radiation (notes.pdf) (slides.pdf) FA:Chapter: 5.8
IA&A:
M Feb 09 EXAM #1 (scores.pdf)
W Feb 11 Exam Review
F Feb 13 Telescopes & Optics (slides.pdf) FA:Chapter: 3.1-3.3
IA&A:
M Feb 16 Telescopes & Resolution (slides.pdf) (notes.pdf) FA:Chapter 3.5-3.6
IA&A:Chapter 9
W Feb 18 Radio Telescopes & Interferometry (notes.pdf) (slides.pdf) FA:Chapter 3.4
IA&A:
F Feb 20 Virial Theorem (notes.pdf) FA:Chapter 6.10
IA&A:Chapter P2-5
M Feb 23 HOMEWORK #3 DUE (solutions.pdf)
W Feb 25 Stellar Energy Sources (notes.pdf) FA:Chapter 10.1 (Hydrostatic Equilb.)
IA&A:
F Feb 27 Nucleosynthesis (notes.pdf) (slides.pdf) FA:Chapter 10.3, 11.1
IA&A:
M Mar 02 Nucleosynthesis Cont.(notes.pdf) FA:Chapter 10.4, Chapter 12
IA&A:
W Mar 04 Star Formation Guest Lecture: Dr. Chris Walker FA:Chapter 11.2
IA&A:
F Mar 06 HOMEWORK #4 DUE (solutions.pdf) FA:
IA&A:
M Mar 09 Stellar Evolution (slides.pdf) FA:Chapter 8
IA&A:
W Mar 11 EXAM #2 (scores.pdf)
F Mar 13 Stellar Evolution Cont.(slides.pdf) FA:Chapter 11.3-11.9, Chapter 14
IA&A:
M Mar 16 SPRING BREAK
W Mar 18 SPRING BREAK
F Mar 19 SPRING BREAK
M Mar 23 Stellar Death (slides.pdf) FA:Chapter 14, 13.3 (SN), 11.8
IA&A:
W Mar 25 Periodic Table, Metallicity, & Cepheids (slides.pdf) FA:2.10, 13.1-13.2
IA&A:
F Mar 27 HOMEWORK #5 DUE (homework.pdf) FA:
IA&A:
M Mar 30 Kepler's Laws (notes.pdf) FA:Chapter 6.1-6.6
IA&A:
W Apr 01 Kepler's Laws (notes.pdf) FA:Chapter 6.1-6.6
IA&A:
F Apr 03 Intro to the Solar System (slides.pdf) FA:Chapter 7
IA&A:
M Apr 06 Solar System Cont. (slides.pdf) (notes.pdf) FA:Chapter 7
IA&A:
W Apr 08 HOMEWORK #6 DUE (homework.pdf) FA:
IA&A:
F Apr 10 Extrasolar Planets (slides.pdf) FA:Chapter 9.3
IA&A:
M Apr 13 EXAM #3
W Apr 15 ISM: Phases, Dust and HI (notes.pdf) (slides.pdf) FA:Chapter 15.1-15.3, 15.6-15.8
IA&A:
F Apr 17 Milky Way & Curtis-Shapley Debate (slides.pdf) FA:Chapter 17
IA&A:
M Apr 20 Properties of Galaxies (slides.pdf) FA:Chapter 18
IA&A:
W Apr 22 Redshift & Hubble Law (slides.pdf) (notes.pdf) FA:Chapter 19.1
IA&A:
F Apr 24 HOMEWORK #7 DUE (homework.pdf) FA:
IA&A:
M Apr 27 Introduction to Cosmology (notes.pdf)(slides.pdf) FA:Chapter 19
IA&A:Chapter 25
W Apr 29 Evidence for Dark Matter & Dark Energy (notes.pdf) (slides.pdf) FA:Chapter 19
IA&A:
F May 01 Big Bang & Cosmic Evolution (slides.pdf) FA:Chapter 19
IA&A: Chapter 26
M May 04 HOMEWORK #8 DUE (solutions.pdf) (slides.pdf) FA:
IA&A:
W May 06 Last Day of Class: SETI & Astrobiology FA:Chapter 20
IA&A:
F May 08 NO CLASS FA:
IA&A:
M May 11 NO CLASS FA:
IA&A:
W May 13 EXAM #4 11am-1pm N210 FA:
IA&A:

Class Syllabus

      This is an introductory class in astronomy and astrophysics for freshman astronomy majors and other science majors with strong interests in astronomy, physics, and mathematics. The class covers most aspects of astronomy, including stars, planets, galaxies, and cosmology, but with a more rigorous physical and mathematical treatment than in any General Education Natural Science class. The course focuses on the application of mathematical and physical principles to astronomical problems -- so there will be lots of problem sets handed out as homework assignments. The emphasis of the course is on understanding, not on memorization.
      The prerequisites are MATH 124 or 125 AND PHYS 141,151, or 161H. Should be taking PHYS 142, 152, or 162H and MATH 129 concurrently. You should be comfortable with basic algebra, trigonometry, calculus, vectors, freshman physics and scientific notation.
      The reference textbooks for the course are Fundamental Astronomy (5th edition) by Karttunen et al. and Introductory Astronomy & Astrophysics (4th edition) by Zeilik & Gregory.
     



      Your grade in this course will depend on your performance on the problem sets (50% in total) and exams (50% in total). Exams are closed-note but calculators are allowed. The exams will consist of short written essays and mathematical problems. Your worst homework and worst exam will be discarded in the calculation of the final grade. There will be no extra credit. No late homework will be accepted. Homework is due at the beginning of class as we will be discussing homework solutions during the recitation sessions. No makeup exams with no exceptions. If you miss an exam, it will count as your lowest (dropped) exam. The final grades may be curved. The scale is initially set at: A(>90%), B(>80%), C(>70%), D(>50%).
      On days that homework is due during the term, we will conduct the class as a recitation section, reviewing important mathematical and physical concepts relevant to the week's lecture and practicing problem solving. The sessions will provide an excellent opportunity for students who have reviews their recent lecture notes to ask more questions about the material and to gain insight into the latest homework assignments.

POLICIES:
  • Do your own work. Modern science is a collaborative, and people learn from talking to each other. Feel free to talk to the instructor, TA, or other students about homework assignments. But the work you turn in must be your own -- don't just copy assignments. Copying is cheating and will be handled according to the university policies. The instructor subscribes to the University's Code of Academic Integrity. The Code prohibits all forms of academic dishonesty, including cheating, plagiarism, and facilitating dishonesty by others. The repercussions for those found guilty of violating the Code will include loss of credit for the work and may include failure of the course or more extreme measures.
  • Attendance, participation, and conduct. Attendance and participation in class are important -- especially as the exam and homework material will be drawn from the lectures, and only supplemented from the textbooks. You are strongly encouraged to participate in class by asking questions. Please be courteous to your fellow classmates: please turn off cell phones; don't surf the Internet in class, etc.
  • Grading. You have one week from the time an assignment or exam is returned to challenge any perceived errors.