Astronomy 102 - Summer 2008
Introductory Astronomy:  Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe

 GSI

Eva-Marie Proszkow

Office: 3241 Randall Lab
Email: emdavid@umich.edu
Office Hours: Wednesdays 10:00 AM -11:00 AM, in Den. 1053
Discussion Sections: Angell Hall 5179, T/W 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Description

This course provides an overview of astronomy outside the solar system. Lectures topics include

·         an inventory of the different types of stars

·         the relationships between red giants, white dwarfs, black holes, and supernovae

·         our Milky Way galaxy

·         less hospitable exploding galaxies

·         enigmatic quasars

·         the present state of knowledge or speculation regarding the origin and ultimate fate of our universe

It all came from somewhere, but where... and why?

This course is intended primarily for non-science concentrators, who wish to understand the phenomena and properties of the universe beyond our solar system.

Guidelines

This course is an introduction to a large part of modern astronomy: stars – their temperatures and evolution; galaxies; cosmology. The course is not highly mathematical, although values for lengths, masses, luminosities, etc., will be widely used, and simple equations will be introduced from time to time. A command of high school mathematics (algebra, geometry, and the application of logarithms) is necessary for this course.

No extra credit will be offered in this course, with the possible exception of extra credit problems on a quiz or exam. Due to the rapid nature of a 7-week course, it is imperative to keep up with the reading and attend the lectures and the discussion sessions. While there will be no formal homework assignments, problem sets (particularly those involving mathematical concepts) will be suggested for you to work on, and these problems will be discussed in your discussion session. As these types of problems will appear on quizzes and tests, failure to learn these concepts will have a negative impact on your grade.

The timetable for the quizzes and exams are not negotiable, and it will not be possible to make them up, except in the case of a doctor-certified illness.

If you ever have questions about any of the material covered in lecture, please don't hesitate to talk to me. This course is very short and moves very quickly, so it is vital to keep up with the material.
 
Grading

Your final course grade will be determined based on the following point structure:
 

 
  Timetable

Time spent on a given subject is indicative only; as the term advances, you may find we are a little ahead or behind this plan.

Date                Topic                                                                                                   Chapter                  Suggested Problems

W 25 -  Introduction/Overview                                                                                      CH 1                          1.44, 1.52

    (read CH 2 (Celestial Sphere) Before First Discussion Session)

R 26  -  Length Scales, Time Scales, Our Location in the Universe                                                                  2.51, 2.55

F 27  -  History of the Heliocentric Theory and Kepler's Laws                                       CH  3                        3.49, 3.54

M 30  -  Distinguishing Science From Pseudoscience

T   1   -  Newton's Laws and Gravity                                                                             CH  4                      4.56, 4.57, 4.58, 4.60

W  2   -  Gravity (cont.)

R  3   -  Light and Matter                                                                                               CH  5                      5.49, 5.52, 5.54, 5.570, 5.60

F   4  -  4th of July - no class

M   7  -  Light and Matter (cont.)

T   8  -  Telescopes                                                                                                        CH  6                    6.45, 6.46, 6.48, 6.49

W  9  - Telescopes (cont.)

R 10  -  Our Sun: Energy Source and Structure   -    Quiz 1                                      CH 14                    14.53, 14.54

F 11  -  Our Sun: Fusion and Sunspots/Solar Activity 

M 14  -  Stars: Properties and the Magnitude System/Parallax                                            CH 15                    15.40(e thru l), 15.48, 15.49

T 15  -   Stars: The HR-Diagram

W 16  -  Binary Stars/Masses of Stars/Star Clusters

R  17  -  Star Birth                                                                                                         CH 16                    16.47, 16.50

F  18  -  Star Birth (cont.)

M  21  -  Life of Low-Mass Stars: Planetary Nebula                                                      CH 17                    17.50, 17.54, 17.55, 17.56

T  22  -  Life of High-Mass Stars: Supernova

W 23  -  Supernova Remnants/Review for Midterm

R  24  -  Midterm

F  25  -  Stellar Remnants - White Dwarfs and Neutron Stars                                        CH 18                    18.47, 18.50, 18.51

M  28  - Stellar Remnants - Black Holes

T  29  -  Finish Black Holes and Review Stellar Evolution

W 30  -  Our Galaxy - The Milky Way                                                                          CH 19

R  31  -  Our Galaxy - The Milky Way (cont.)

F    1  -  Galaxies: Types and Distances                                                                         CH 20

M   4   -  Galaxies: Types and Distances (cont.) -      Quiz 2

T   5   -  Galaxy Evolution and Active Galactic Nuclei                                                    CH 21

W  6   -  Clusters of Galaxies and Dark Matter

R   7   -  The Big Bang: Observational Evidence and Implications                                   CH 22+23

F   8   -  The Big Bang: The Role of Dark Matter and Dark Energy

M 11  -  The Big Bang: Inflation and the Age and Fate of The Universe

T 12  -  Finish Big Bang; Review for Final

R  14  - FINAL EXAM 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM 807 Dennison