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Undergraduate Astronomy Classes
FIVE COLLEGE
CLASSES: Because of the differences among the academic calendars of
the five colleges, courses designated "FC" may begin later than
Smith courses do. Please call the Five College Astronomy Office (545-0789 or
545-2194) to confirm LOCATIONS and START DATES of all FC classes.
100-level, 200-level, 300-level, and 400-level.
100
Survey of the Universe
Discover how the forces of nature shape our understanding of the
cosmos. Explore the origin, structure, and evolution of the earth, moons and
planets, comets and asteroids, the sun and other stars, star clusters, the
Milky Way and other galaxies, clusters of galaxies, and the universe as a
whole. Designed for non-science
majors. Meets fall
semesters.
102 Sky I: TIME
Observe and measure the cyclic motions of the sun, moon, and stars.
Reconstruct the historical foundation for measuring time and the creation of
calendars. Understand the phases of the moon, lunar and solar eclipses,
seasons. Recommended for students with no technical background. No
prerequistes. Enrollment limited to 25 per section. 3 credits Meets every semester.
103 Sky II: Telescopes
Learn the constellations and how to use the telescopes of the McConnell
Rooftop Observatory. Use them to observe celestial objects, including the moon,
the sun, the planets, nebulae and galaxies. Learn celestial coordinate and
timekeeping systems. Find out how telescopes work. Open to all students.
Enrollment limited to 20 per section. 2 credits. Meets Fall semesters.
111
Introduction to Astronomy
A comprehensive introduction to the study of modern astronomy that
explores the celestial bodies that inhabit the universe- planets, stars and
galaxies- and examines the universe itself- its origin, structure, and ultimate
destiny. Designed for
students who are comfortable with mathematics. Prerequisite: MTH 102 or the equivalent. . 4 credits. Meets Fall semesters.
113 Telescopes and Techniques
An observing course designed for science majors.
Use telescopes, learn celestial coordinates and timekeeping systems,
take digital images of celestial objects and learn
basic techniques of image processing. One semester of a physical science must be
completed or taken concurrently. Enrollment limited to 20 per section. 3
credits Meets
Spring semesters.
215 FC15 History of Astronomy
The course
surveys the history of astronomy from pre-historic times until the present. It
compares astronomical practices among ancient cultures around the world. It
then focuses on the development of scientific astronomy in Babylonia and
Greece, culminating in the geocentric Ptolemaic system. It includes Islamic and
medieval European contributions and the transformation to the heliocentric
system during the scientific revolution of the European Renaissance. It then
considers the development of modern astronomy from the time of Newton to the
20th century, including celestial mechanics, the development of stellar
astronomy, the rise of astrophysics, the discovery of the galaxies, and the
evolution of scientific cosmology. Prior knowledge of astronomy and physics
will be helpful, but is not required. Not currently offered
220
FC20 Special Topics in Astronomy
Astronomy and Public Policy. Astronomical topics
that have implications for society are examined in a seminar format. Topics for
Spring 2002 are Killer Asteroids and the Search for Extraterrestrial
Intelligence. What is the scientific case behind these issues and how should
our society respond? Meets spring semesters.
223 FC23
Planetary Science
A freshman
level introductory course for physical science majors. Topics include:
planetary orbits, rotation and precession; gravitational and tidal
interactions; interiors and atmospheres of the Jovian and terrestrial plantes;
surfaces of the terrestrial planets and satellites; asteroids, comets and
planetary rings; origin and evolution of the planets. Prerequisites: one
semester of calculus and one semester of a physical science. Meets Fall semesters.
224 FC24 Stars
The basic
observatonal properties of stars will be explored in an experimental format
relying on both telescopic observations and computer programming exercises. No
previous computer programming experience is required. Prerequisites: PHY 115,
MTH 111, plus one astronomy class. Meets Spring semesters; alternates with AST225
225 FC25
Galaxies and
Dark Matter
The role of gravity in determining the mass of the universe will be explored in an interactive format making extensive use of computer simulations and independent projects. Prerequisites: PHY 115, MTH 111, plus one astronomy class. Meets Spring semesters; alternates with AST224
226 FC26 Cosmology
Cosmological models
and the relationship between models and observable parameters. Topics in
current astronomy that bear upon cosmological problems, including background
electromagnetic radiation, nucleosynthesis, dating methods, determinations of
the mean density of the universe and the Hubble constant, and tests of
gravitational theories. Discussion of some questions concerning the foundations
of cosmology and its future as a science. Prerequisities: MTH 111 and one
physical science course. Offered once or twice a year.
330 FC30 Seminar: Topics in
Astrophysics
In class
discussions a set of problems will be formulated, each designed to illuminate a
significant aspect of the topic at hand. The problems will be significant in
difficulty and broad in scope: their solution, worked out individually and in
class discussions, will constitute the real work of the course. Students will
gain experience in both oral and written presentation. Topics vary from year to
year. Prerequisite: one semester of a 200-level physical science class.
Topic for FALL 2003:
The Planet Mars
Topic for SPRING 2004:
Supernovae
335
FC35 Introduction to Astrophysics
How do astronomers determine the nature and extent of the universe?
Centering around the theme of the "Cosmic Distance Ladder," we
explore how astrophysics has expanded our comprehension to encompass the entire
universe. Topics include: the size of the Solar System; parallactic and spectroscopic
distances of stars; star counts and the structure of our Galaxy; Cepheid
variables and the distances of galaxies; the Hubble Law and large scale
structure in the universe; quasars and the Lyman-alpha forest. Prerequisites:
at least one 200-level class in astronomy and in physics
Meets
Fall semesters.
337 FC37
Observational Techniques in
Optical and Infrared Astronomy
An
introduction to the techniques of gathering and analyzing astronomical data,
particularly in the optical and infrared. Telescope design and optics.
Insrumentation for imaging, photometry and spectroscopy. Astronomical
detectors. Computer graphics and image processing. Error analysis and curve
fitting. Data analysis and astrophysical interpretation, with an emphasis on
globular clusters. Prerequisites: At least one 200 level astronomy class. Spring semesters,
alternates with 338.
338 FC38 Techniques of Radio
Astronomy
Equipment,
techniques and the nature of cosmic radio sources. Radio receiver and antenna
theory. Radio flux, brightness temperature and the transfer of radio radiation
in cosmic sources. Effect of noise, sensitivity, bandwidth and antenna
efficiency. Techniques of beam switching, interferometry and aperture
synthesis. Basic types of radio astronomical sources: ionized plasmas, masers,
recombination and hyperfine transitions; nonthermal sources. Applications to
the sun, interstellar clouds and extragalactic objects. Prerequisite: PHY214. Spring semesters;
Alternates with 337.
351 FC51 Astrophysics I:
Stars and Sellar Evolution
Physical
principles governing the properties of stars, their formation and evolution:
radiation laws and the determination of stellar temperatures and luminosities;
Newton's laws and the determination of stellar masses; hydrostatic equation and
the thermodynamics of gas and radiation; nuclear fusion and stellar energy
generation; physics of degenerate matter and the evolution of stars to white
dwarfs, neutron stars, or black holes; nucleosynthesis in supernova explosions;
dynamics of mass transfer in binary systems; viscous accretion disks in star
formation and x-ray binaries. Prerequisites: Two 200-level physics classes. Currently on hold.
352 FC52 Astrophysics II:
Galaxies
Physical
processes in the gaseous interstellar medium: Photoionization in HII regions
and planetary nebulae; shocks in supernova remnants and stellar jets; energy
balance in molecular clouds. Dynamics of stellar systems; star clusters and the
viral theorem; galaxy rotation and the presence of dark matter in the universe;
spiral density waves. Quasars and active galactic nuclei: synchroton radiation;
accretion disks; supermassive black holes. Prerequisites: Two 200-level physics
classes. Spring
semesters.