Foundations of Science

Using modern, student-centered, active and collaborative learning techniques, students will engage — through field observations, in-class experiments, computer simulations, and selected readings — with a range of ideas and techniques designed to integrate and anchor scientific habits of mind. Throughout the term, each student will satisfy a detailed set of rubrics by documenting their learning in reflective e-portfolio postings designed to serve as a future reference for how they, individually, went from not understanding an idea to understanding it. Topics covered will include statistics, basic probability, a variety of calculations skills, graph reading and estimation, all aimed at elucidating such concepts as energy, matter, cells, and genes in the context of astronomy, biology, chemistry, earth sciences, neuroscience, and physics.

• MW 10:10 a.m.-noon
• MW 2:10 p.m.-4 p.m.
• Instructor: Amanda C Quirk
  Info
• 4 points

EARTH, MOON, AND PLANETS

Prerequisites: recommended preparation: a working knowledge of high school algebra. The overall architecture of the solar system. Motions of the celestial sphere. Time and the calendar. Major planets, the earth-moon system, minor planets, comets. Life in the solar system and beyond. This course is similar to ASTR BC 1753. You cannot enroll in both courses and receive credit for both.

• MW 1:10 p.m.-2:25 p.m.
• Instructor: James H Applegate
  CULPA: 44 Info
• 3 points

GALAXIES AND COSMOLOGY

Galaxies contain stars, gas dust, and (usually) super-massive black holes. They are found throughout the Universe, traveling through space and occasionally crashing into each other. This course will look at how these magnificent systems form and evolve, and what they can tell us about the formation and evolution of the Universe itself. You cannot enroll in ASTR UN1420 in addition to ASTR BC1754 or ASTR UN1404 and receive credit for both.

• TR 10:10 a.m.-11:25 a.m.
• Instructor: Mary Putman
  CULPA: 3 h-index: 54 Info
• 3 points

ANOTHER EARTH

This course will explore the unique properties of Earth, compared to other planets in the Solar System, and the possibility of Earth-like planets around other stars. The basics of the Solar System, gravity, and light will be covered, as well as the geology and atmospheres of the terrestrial planets. The properties of Earth that allowed life to develop and whether life can develop on other planets will be discussed. Finally, the discovery of planets beyond our Solar System and the likelihood of another Earth will be a key component of the course.

• TR 2:40 p.m.-3:55 p.m.
• Instructor: Nicholas M Luber
  Info
• 3 points

STARS AND ATOMS

Prerequisites: recommended preparation: a working knowledge of high school algebra. What is the origin of the chemical elements? This course addresses this question, starting from understanding atoms, and then going on to look at how how atoms make stars and how stars make atoms. The grand finale is a history of the evolution of the chemical elements throughout time, starting from the Big Bang and ending with YOU. You cannot enroll in ASTR W1836 in addition to ASTR BC1754 or ASTR W1404 and receive credit for both.

• TR 8:40 a.m.-9:55 a.m.
• Instructor: Kathryn V Johnston
  CULPA: 4 h-index: 54 Info
• 3 points

ASTRONOMY LAB I

Laboratory for ASTR UN1403. Projects include observations with the departments telescopes, computer simulation, laboratory experiments in spectroscopy, and the analysis of astronomical data. Lab 1 ASTR UN1903 - goes with ASTR BC1753, ASTR UN1403 or ASTR UN1453.

• M 6 p.m.-9 p.m.
• T 7 p.m.-10 p.m.
• 1 points

ASTRONOMY LAB II

Laboratory for ASTR UN1404. Projects include use of telescopes, laboratory experiments in the nature of light, spectroscopy, and the analysis of astronomical data. Lab 2 ASTR UN1904 - goes with ASTR BC1754 or ASTR UN1404 (or ASTR UN1836 or ASTR UN1420).

• W 6 p.m.-9 p.m.
• 1 points

INTRO TO ASTROPHYSICS I

Prerequisites: a working knowledge of calculus. Corequisites: a course in calculus-based general physics. First term of a two-term calculus-based introduction to astronomy and astrophysics. Topics include the physics of stellar interiors, stellar atmospheres and spectral classifications, stellar energy generation and nucleosynthesis, supernovae, neutron stars, white dwarfs, and interacting binary stars.

• TR 2:40 p.m.-3:55 p.m.
• Instructor: Jane Huang
  Info
• 3 points

FRONTIERS OF ASTROPHYSICS

Several members of the faculty each offer a brief series of talks providing context for a current research topic in the field and then present results of their ongoing research. Opportunities for future student research collaboration are offered. Grading is Pass/Fail.

• F 10:10 a.m.-11:25 a.m.
• Instructor: Greg Bryan
  CULPA: 4 h-index: 70 Info
• 1 points

MODERN STELLAR ASTROPHYSICS

• MW 1:10 p.m.-2:25 p.m.
• Instructor: Marcel A Agueros
  CULPA: 9 Info
• 3 points

RELATVITY,BLACK HOLES,COSMOLGY

• TR 1:10 p.m.-2:25 p.m.
• Instructor: Frederik Paerels
  CULPA: 21 Info
• 3 points

ASTROSTATISTICS

Astronomers live in era of “big data”.
Whilst astronomers of a century ago collected a handful
of photographic plates each night, modern astronomers
collect thousands of images encoded by millions of
pixels in the same time. Both the volume of data and the
ever present desire to dig deeper into data sets has led
to a growing interest in the use of statistical methods to
interpret observations. This class will provide an
introduction to the methods commonly used in
understanding astronomical data sets, both in terms of
theory and application. It is one six classes the
department offers every fourth semester.

• TR 10:10 a.m.-11:25 a.m.
• Instructor: David Kipping
  CULPA: 4 h-index: 44 Info
• 3 points

INDEPENDENT RESEARCH

Prerequisites: the instructor's permission. For an independent research project or independent study, a brief description of the proposed project or reading, with the supervising faculty member's endorsement, is required for registration. A variety of research projects conducted under the supervision of members of the faculty. Observational, theoretical, and experimental work in galactic and extragalactic astronomy and cosmology. The topic and scope of the work must be arranged with a faculty member in advance; a written paper describing the results of the project is required at its completion (note that a two-term project can be designed such that the grade YC is given after the first term). Senior majors in astronomy or astrophysics wishing to do a senior thesis should make arrangements in May of their junior year and sign up for a total of 6 points over their final two terms. Both a substantial written document and an oral presentation of thesis results are required.

• Instructor: Frederik Paerels
  CULPA: 21 Info
• 3 points

Astro-Skills: Observational and Analytic

This class will consist of:
● A survey of astronomical instrumentation and modern observational techniques

● An overview of the skills to use those tools to learn about the Universe

● An introduction to the data analysis techniques that allow robust inferences from what

    has been observed,

This course will alternate on a weekly basis between lectures and lab applications (i.e each

week has a lecture and lab component).

• MW 1:10 p.m.-2:25 p.m.
• 3 points

Cosmology, Black Holes, and Gravity

The course will include a brief introduction to General Relativity and black holes; the majority of the time will be spent on Cosmology. It will include an overview of gravitational waves.

• MW 2:40 p.m.-3:55 p.m.
• Instructor: Zoltan Haiman
  CULPA: 1 h-index: 83 Info
• 3 points

RESEARCH PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT SEMINA

RESEARCH SEMINAR I

This two-semester course aims to help our students acquire the foundational skills for a
successful and satisfying professional life. The course will consist of three themes:
1) Discussing greatest hits and frontiers in the field
2) The research process, using the projects that participating students are currently
working on.
3) Navigating science and careers: considering the people and institutions that make up the
field, the frameworks in place that support them and the culture that pervades them;
career pathways

• M 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• 3 points