Ay 20
Basic Astronomy and the Galaxy
Basic Astronomy and the Galaxy
9 units (3-1-5)
|
first term
Prerequisites: Ma 1 abc, Ph 1 abc or instructor's permission.
The electromagnetic spectrum and basic radiative transfer; ground and space observing techniques; "pictorial Fourier description" of astrophysical optics; Kepler's laws; exoplanets; stellar masses, distances, and motions; the birth, structure, evolution, and death of stars; the structure and dynamics of the Galaxy. Lessons will emphasize the use of order-of-magnitude calculations and scaling arguments in order to elucidate the physics of astrophysical phenomena. Short labs will introduce astronomical measurement techniques.
Instructor:
Kasliwal