This course provides a physics-based, mathematical introduction to the astronomy of stars, galaxies, and the Universe. Topics covered include: the observed properties of stars; stellar interiors; stellar spectra; binary stars; the Sun as a star; the life and death of stars; black holes; binary stars and X-ray sources; the interstellar medium; our Milky Way galaxy; other galaxies; clusters of galaxies; the large-scale structure of the Universe; active galaxies; the expanding universe; cosmology, the Big Bang, and the early Universe. It is intended primarily for Astronomy, Astronomy-Physics, and Physics majors.

Class Announcements:

This is the webpage is from the last time I taught this course, and will be updated before I teach it again.

Syllabus

Text:

Ryden and Peterson, Foundations of Astrophysics, ISBN-13: 978-1-108-83195-6, Cambridge University Press

Reading:

• Basic Stellar Properties [Chapt. 13, pp. 307-321; Sect. 19.3, pp. 444-448]
• Binary Stars [Chapt. 13, pp. 322-335]
• The Sun [Review Chapt. 7]
• Stellar Spectra [Chapt. 14, review Chapt. 5]
• Stellar Structure [Chapt. 15]
• Stellar Evolution [Chapt. 17, pp. 398-408]
• General Relativity [Sect. 23.3]
• The Death of Stars [Chapt. 18]
• ** END OF MATERIAL FOR TEST 1 **
• The Interstellar Medium and Star Formation [Chapt. 16, Sect. 17.1]
• Our Galaxy, the Milky Way [Chapt. 19]
• Normal Galaxies [Chapt. 20]
• Clusters of Galaxies and the Extragalactic Distance Scale [Chapt. 22]
• ** END OF MATERIAL FOR TEST 2 **
• Active Galaxies and Quasars [Chapt. 21]
• Cosmology - Observations [Chapt. 23.1]
• Cosmology - Expansion and Standard Models [Chapt. 23]
• Cosmology - History and Origin of the Universe [Chapt. 24]