ASTR 6220: Fundamental Concepts in Astronomy: Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe

Semester
Spring
Year offered
2002
This course provides a nonmathematical introduction to the astronomy of the stars, galaxies, and cosmology. It is intended primarily for non-science majors, and the course satisfies three hours of the science area requirement. Topics which are covered include: the night sky; the nature of stars, their formation and life histories; light, atoms, and telescopes; binary stars and gravity; supernovae, white dwarfs, pulsars, neutron stars, and black holes; the structure and formation of the Milky Way, our home galaxy; interstellar matter; the nature of other galaxies and their origins; active galaxies and quasars; the large-scale structure of the Universe; the expanding universe, cosmology, the Big Bang, and the early Universe. The most recent results from space missions will be highlighted.