Syllabus and Reading List |
We will be able to cover only the highlights of each topic during class time.
Textbook readings will both reinforce that material and expand upon it by delving
deeper into the physics.
The readings in Carroll & Ostlie are required; those in Kartunnen et al. are optional.
some topics may be rearranged as term progress
Week | Dates | Topics | Carroll & Ostlie Chapter/s | Kartunnen Chapter/s | Notes |
1 | 28 Sep - 2 Oct | Astronomy vs. Physics Scale of Solar System ==> Galaxy Coordinates & Time; Motion |
1 | 1 2 |
lynne away wednesday; we will either make up a lecture another day or jake will run class |
2 | 5 - 9 Oct | Optics, Telescopes, Measurement | 6 | 9.6 11 |
|
3 | 12 - 16 Oct | Light from Stars ==> Galaxies Magnitudes, Colors Spectral Lines Blackbody Radiation |
end of 1.3, 3.1 3.2, 3.6 5, 9.4 3.3-3.5, 9.1 |
4 5.1-5.4 9.1-9.4 |
|
4 | 19 - 23 Oct |
The Hertzsprung-Russell (HR) diagram Stellar Parameters Stellar Atmospheres |
8.2 8.1, 9.2, 9.3, 11.2 (pp 360 - 369) |
5.5-5.6,6 9.5,9.7 |
|
5 | 26 - 30 Oct |
finish Stellar Atmospheres Stellar Interiors |
8.1, 9.2, 9.3, 11.2 (pp 360 - 369) 10.1 10.3, 10.5 (pp 330-334), 10.6, 11.1 (pp 349-355) |
3 |
(Midterm period begins wednesday) |
6 | 2 - 6 Nov | Interstellar Medium, Star Formation, Pre-Main Sequence, Planet Formation | 12, 23 | 16.1-16.4 12.1-12.3 |
(Midterm period ends tuesday) |
7 | 9 - 13 Nov | Orbital Mechanics Fundamental Parameters Normal to Exotic Binary Systems |
2 7 18 (skim) |
7 10 12.6 |
|
8 | 16 - 20 Nov | Post-Main Sequence Stellar Evolution Stellar Pulsators Stellar Remnants |
13 14.1-14.2 15, 16.2, 17.3 (skim these for terminology and gist; we will not be able to cover all of the physics) |
12.4-12.5,12.8 14 15,16.5-16.6 |
|
9 | 23 - 27 Nov | The Sun Our Solar System: Census and Formation |
11.3, 14.5 19,20,21,22 (skim these chapters; much more detail than we can cover in class) |
13 8 |
(Institute holiday thursday and friday)
|
10 | 30 Nov - 4 Dec | Star Clusters The Galaxy: Structure and Kinematics |
13.3 24 (parts) |
17 18 |
|
11 | 7 - 11 Dec | [Study/Exam Period] | review all listed above | review all listed above | (Finals period begins monday) |