Astronomy and Astrophysics (Astro)

200 | 300 | 400 | Graduate Courses

Courses primarily for undergraduate students

Astro 102. North Star Astronomy. Cr. 1. F.S. An entirely WEB-based course covering topics in observing the sky and navigation by the stars for students with little or no previous experience. The course combines material on common naked-eye phenomena such as lunar phases and apparent motions of the stars and planets with information on how these helped navigators determine where they are on Earth. The course "lectures" are on-line, interactive units with build in exercises, hands-on (offline) activities and layers of help. Graded homework and quizzes are administered via Web-CT.

Astro 120. The Sky and the Solar System. (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S.SS. For the nonscientist. The sky: constellations; motions of the sun, moon, and planets; seasons and the calendar; eclipses. The solar system: origin and evolution; characteristics of the sun, planets, satellites, comets, meteorites, and asteroids. Extensive use of the planetarium is included.

Astro 125L. The Sky and the Solar System Laboratory. (0-2) Cr. 1. F.S. Prereq: Concurrent or previous enrollment in Astro 120. Laboratory course to accompany Astro 120. Students carry out practical exercises involving naked eye and telescopic observing to explore and reinforce ideas covered in Astro 120. Activities based on a sky-simulation computer program and other computer- based exercises are also included.

Astro 150. Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology. (3-0) Cr. 3. F.S. For the nonscientist. Observational aspects of stellar astronomy: motions, distances, sizes, spectra; types of stars; variability; binary systems. Stellar evolution: the birth, life, and death of stars, including supernovae, neutron stars, and black holes. The Milky Way Galaxy: clouds of matter in space, the structure and evolution of our galaxy. Other galaxies, clusters of galaxies, quasars. Theories of the origin of the universe.

Astro 250. Astronomy Bizzare. (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: 120 or 150. For the nonscientist. New and exciting topics in modern astronomy. Galaxy and star formation. Black holes and pulsars. Colliding galaxies. Quasars. Cosmology, the Big Bang and the future of the universe. Prospects and searches for extraterrestrial life.

Astro 290. Independent Study. Cr. 1 to 4 each time taken. Prereq: Permission of instructor.

Astro 342. Introduction to Solar System Astronomy. (3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: Phys 222. Analytical and comparative studies of solar system objects-planets, satellites, rings, asteroids, comets, meteoroids, and interplanetary dust-with emphasis on the physical processes affecting them, their interactions, and their evolution. Orbital mechanics, including perturbations, stability, and resonances. Tidal forces and effects. Radiation laws and thermal physics with applications. Brief study of the sun as a star, and of stellar evolution. Origin and evolution of the solar system. Detection of other planetary systems. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Astro 344L. Astronomy Laboratory. (1-6) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: Phys 222. Experiments in optical astronomy. Observational techniques, ranging from stellar photometry to astrophotography. Available instruments include 8" Meade, 14" Celestron and Schmidt cameras. Class meets at Fick Observatory south of Boone. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Astro 346. Introduction to Astrophysics. (3-0) Cr. 3. S. Prereq: Phys 222. Basic radiation theory; spectra. Observational determination of stellar properties; spectral classification. Binary systems. Stellar structure and evolution. White dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes. The Galaxy: structure and composition; the interstellar medium. Other galaxies; active galaxies; cosmology. Nonmajor graduate credit.

Astro 405. Astrophysics. (Dual-listed with 505.) (3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: 342 or 346; Math 266. Survey of astrophysics at an advanced level. Physics of stars, galaxies, and the universe. Stellar spectra, structure and evolution. Origin of the elements. Black holes, neutron stars and white dwarfs. Large scale structure of the universe, dark matter, Big Bang Cosmology.

Astro 450. Undergraduate Research. Cr. 1 to 6 each time taken. F.S.SS. Prereq: Permission of instructor. Research under supervision of astronomy faculty.

Astro 450L. Undergraduate Research. Cr. 1 to 6 each time taken. F.S.SS. Prereq: 344L and permission of instructor. Laboratory or observational project under supervision of astronomy faculty.

Astro 490. Independent Study. Cr. 1 to 4. Prereq: 6 credits in astronomy, permission of instructor. No more than 9 credits of Astro 490 may be counted toward graduation.
H. Honors

Courses primarily for graduate students, open to qualified undergraduate students

Astro 505. Astrophysics. (Dual-listed with 405.) (3-0) Cr. 3. F. Prereq: 342 or 346; Math 266, permission of instructor. Survey of astrophysics at an advanced level. Physics of stars, galaxies, and the universe. Stellar spectra, structure and evolution. Origin of the elements. Black holes, neutron stars and white dwarfs. Large scale structure of the universe, dark matter, Big Bang Cosmology.

Astro 510. Observational Astrophysics. (2-3) Cr. 3. Alt. F., offered 2006. Prereq: 405 or 505. Techniques in optical and near-IR astronomy, including spectroscopy and photometry with both single channel and 2-dimensional array detectors. Emphasis on projects involving proficiency in the use of research telescopes and modern instrumentation. Project topics range from spectroscopic and photometric studies of pulsating and binary star systems to deep photo-graphic and CCD imaging of faint nebulae and galaxies.

Astro 575. Radiative Transfer, Stellar Atmospheres, and Spectroscopy. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. F, offered 2005. Prereq: 405 or 505. Radiative transfer with applications to stellar interiors, atmospheres, and the interstellar medium. Interaction of radiation and matter; line and continuum processes. Statistical equilibrium. Line profiles. Interpretation of stellar spectra: temperature, pressure, and abundance determinations. Dynamic and extended atmospheres, chromospheres, coronae, and stellar winds.

Astro 580. Stellar Structure and Evolution. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2006. Prereq: 405 or 505. Stellar structure equations and constitutive relations: energy generation, energy transport by radiation and convection; equation of state. Solutions to the equations: general theorems, analytic approximations, numerical techniques and results. Stellar evolution from formation to final phases. Nucleosynthesis; recycling of material to the interstellar medium. Evolution in interacting binaries. Variable stars.

Astro 590. Special topics. Cr. var.

Astro 599. Creative Component. Cr. var. Prereq: Permission of instructor. Individually directed study of research-level problems for students electing the nonthesis M.S. option in astronomy.

Courses for Graduate students

Astro 615. Galactic and Extragalactic Astronomy. (3-0) Cr. 3. Alt. S., offered 2007. Prereq: 405 or 505. Galactic structure, dynamics of external galaxies, evolution and classification of galaxies, extragalactic radio sources, quasars, cosmological models.

Astro 650. Advanced Seminar. (1-0) Cr. 1 each time taken. F.S. Topics of current interest in astronomy and astrophysics. Offered on a satisfactory-fail grading basis only.

Astro 660. Advanced Topics in Astronomy and Astrophysics. Cr. 1 to 3 each time taken. F.S. Topics in stellar, galactic, and extragalactic astronomy, including stellar evolution, solar physics, variable stars, compact objects, the interstellar medium, active galaxies and quasars, formation and evolution of galaxies, cosmology, high energy astrophysics, advanced observational techniques, and astrophysical applications of hydrodynamics.

Astro 699. Research.