Discover the universe: planets, stars, galaxies, and our place in the cosmos; the Big Bang; how stars shine; comets, meteors, nebulae, the Milky Way; black holes and other exotic objects. Not open to students with credit in Astronomy 201.
Demonstration of astronomical principles through observations with astronomical instruments and analysis of astronomical data.
Directed toward students with a strong interest in science and mathematics. Understanding the night sky, introduction to the solar system, star formation and evolution, extrasolar planets, nature of the Milky Way and other galaxies, origin and fate of the universe. Students with credit in Astronomy 101 and 201 will receive a total of three units of credit toward graduation.
Einstein's theory of general relativity applied to problems of gravitational collapse (stellar evolution, neutron stars, pulsars, and black holes) and cosmology (origin and evolution of the Universe).
The search for extraterrestrial life in our Solar System and other planetary systems; the formation of stars and planets; UFOs and SETI; origin and evolution of life on Earth; life in extreme environments; cosmology and the structure of the Universe.
Study of the structures of the planets, their atmospheres and satellite systems, asteroids, comets, and meteoroids, and the interplanetary medium, including the Sun's influence in the system.
Techniques and procedures for astronomical observing, with an emphasis on optical detectors, imaging, spectroscopy, and photometry.
Radiative transfer, theory of the structures of the atmospheres and interiors of stars, stellar pulsations, production of the stellar spectrum, evolution of stars.
Applications of physics in the study of binary stars, star clusters, the interstellar medium and galactic structure, galaxies, and cosmology.
Consists of the selection and design of an individual research project with the advice of a faculty advisor.
The execution of an individual research project. A final written report of this work is required.
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