Astro 150: Stars, Galaxies and Cosmology

Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology

Astro 150: Spring 2005

Profs. Steve Kawaler and Charles Kerton

In Astro 150, an introductory course in modern astronomy for non-scientists, we begin by understanding the motions, distances, sizes, and spectra of stars. We explore how they are born, and the changes they go through as they run out of fuel and die. This brings us to supernovae, neutron stars, and black holes. We then step outwards and explore the structure and evolution of our own Milky Way Galaxy, and the billions and billions of other galaxies, clusters of galaxies, and bizarre active galaxies and quasars. We investigate current theories of cosmology, the origin and structure of the Universe, and the Big Bang, and finish with a brief discussion of the possiblities of intelligent life in the Universe beyond Earth.

A poem...

Announcements

Final course grades have been posted on WebCT
Have a great summer break!
Ames Area Amateur Astronomers (i.e. AAAA) has a monthly star party at McFarland Park. Click for details.

"Everyday" things from class...

Electronic versions of the lecture notes
Astronomy Picture of the Day
Reading Assignments
Useful links...
Help Room Hours for Astro 150

Other things from the course

FINAL EXAM: Friday, May 6, 2005 from 9:45 to 11:45 (sorry!)
The "final exam" was be a one-hour exam that emphasized the material from the last part of the class. However, we will be asking a few questions on the broad, big concepts from earlier in the course.
- Review sheet for Exam 3
- Sample multiple choice questions (and here are the answers)
- Here is the essay question for the exam
Dr. Philip Morrison, one of the great original thinkers of the 20th Century who, among many other accomplishments co-invented the modern field of SETI , passed away recently. In addition to his work on the Manhattan project, he was an extremely articulate populizer of science, (i.e. as the voice behind "Powers of Ten").
Info on the optional term project:
- Projects are due on the last day of class, Thursday, April 28
- Check WebCT: your project topic should appear if it was approved - if not, please contact us by e-mail.
- Note: your project topic needed approval by Profs. Kerton or Kawaler by Thursday, April 7.
SlackerAstronomy, an Astronomy podcast!
Listen to a recent BBC Radio show about the expansion of the Universe, and dark matter. Sir Martin Rees, Sir Roger Penrose, and Carolin Crawford discuss these issues on In Our Time.
For Recitation on April 20: wehad have a structured discussion about the NASA Budget and the HST Servicing Mission controversy. Each and every one of you were be expected to participate. Details are linked here which were to print out, answer the appropriate questions at the bottom, and bring to recitation with you. There are no make-ups for this recitation exercise, as the debate/discussion held during recitation is an integral part of the assignment.
Exam 2 was Thursday, March 24.
- Here is the essay question for the exam
- Sample multiple choice questions (and here are the answers)
- Review sheet for Exam 2
- Grades have been posted on WebCT. The mean was 67. Answer keys are here.
Hubble Space Telescope reveals the heaviest stars.
The guy who figured out how the Sun works, Prof. Hans Bethe of Cornell University, passed away on March 6, 2005. This is sad news, especially for those of us who are lucky enough to have met him. He led a rich life, and was a leader in theoretical nuclear physics and astrophysics from the 1920s until his passing at the age of 98.
A contest: think of alternative mnemonics for OBAFGKM... winners announced Thursday, March 10.
Exam 1 was Thursday, February 10 in class (MacKay 117). Please bring a #2 pencil (and a spare)!
- Here is a sample exam (multiple choice) (in PDF).here are the answers
- Here is a brief review sheet
- Here is the essay question for the exam, first presented in Lecture on February 8
- Grades have been posted on WebCT.
- Multiple choice solutions for Version a and Version c are available.
Recitation Exercise 2 was due in Lecture on Tuesday, February 8.
New version of graph paper for Solar Spectrum exercise: there are mistakes in the graph paper included with the first recitation exercise handed out on January 19. Click here to download corrected graph paper, and print out the blank graphs for use in recitation. Sorry!
Recitation update: We've closing Section 2 (Wednesday, 10AM) but keeping Secion 3 (Wednesday, 11AM). If you are currently in Section 2 please change to Section 3 (or, if that doesn't work for you, one of the other sections). Thanks - final word on recitation was announced in class on Tuesday, January 18.
Recitations began on Wednesday, January 19. As we state in the course information sheet, attendance at recitation is required for this class - and if you do not attend regularly, it will be difficult for you to pass the course.
The Ballad of Tycho Brahe: Original sung to the theme of Underdog (the cartoon).
- A hip-hop version done as a final project last term can be heard here as an mp3; thanks to Eric Cesar and John Askew.

A word about the textbook for this class:

If you are taking only Astro 150 and not Astro 120 (now or in the future), then buy just Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology, which is Volume 2 of The Cosmic Perspective.

click for a bigger version

If you are taking Astro 120 this term or might take it later, then you might want to buy the complete The Cosmic Perspective, as the complete version includes the contents of Volume 1 - the required text for Astro 120 this term.

click for a bigger version

Lyrics to Joni Mitchell's Woodstock
A Timeline for the Earth (1/11)
HST, fully serviced, photo by STS-82
Lyrics for Joni Mitchell's Woodstock
Astrology?

General Course Info

Playlist of songs

Back to Steve Kawaler's page

Back to Charles Kerton's page

Back to ISU Astronomy