Astronomy 100
Exploring the Universe

Spring 2008
Tu-Th 1:00 - 2:15 Hasbrouck 134

University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Instructor:
Neal Katz
532 Graduate Research Tower
Phone: 545-2085
Office Hours: Tu/Th 2:15 - 3:15 or by appointment

CLASS NOTES


Contents

Naked-Eye Astronomy

Tools of Astronomy

Stars

Galaxies and Cosmology




Naked-Eye Astronomy

Lecture # Date Subject Reading in Text
1 Tue, Jan. 29 Course Overview no reading
2 Thu, Jan. 31 The Scale of the Universe Ch. 1, 2.1
3 Tue, Feb. 5 Apparent Motions of the Sun and Stars Ch. 2.2 - 2.4
4 Thu, Feb. 7 The Seasons; Phases of the Moon; Eclipses; Tides Ch. 3.1 - 3.2
5 Tue, Feb. 12 Global Warming Ch. 2.5, 3.3 - 3.4
6 Thu, Feb. 14 Planetary Motions and the Birth of Modern Astronomy Ch. 4
7 Thu, Feb. 21 Gravity and Orbits Ch. 5


Tools of Astronomy

Lecture # Date Subject Reading in Text
8 Tue, Feb. 26 Light: The Electromagnetic Spectrum Ch. 6.1, 7.1
9 Thu, Feb. 28 Atoms and Spectral Lines Ch. 7.2 - 7.3
10 Tue, March 4 Stellar Spectra; Doppler Shift; Review Ch. 7.4
-- Thu, March 6EXAM 1--


Stars

Lecture # Date Subject Reading in Text
11 Tue, March 11 Go over EXAM 1; The Sun's Atmosphere Ch. 8.1
12 Thu, March 13 Solar Activity Ch. 8.3
13 Tue, March 25 Properties of Stars Ch. 9
14 Thu March 27 The HR Diagram Ch. 8.2,11.2-11.3
15 Tue, April 1 Power Sources: How do Stars Shine? Ch. 12.1 - 12.3
16 Thu, April 3 Stellar Life and Death Ch. 13.1, 13.3
17 Tue, April 8 Neutron Stars and Black Holes; Review Ch. 14,.1, 14.2
-- Thu, April 10 EXAM 2--


Galaxies and Cosmology

Lecture # Date Subject Reading in Text
18 Tue, April 15 Go over EXAM 2; The Milky Way Ch. 15.1
19 Thu, April 17 How the Milky Way Was "Discovered" Ch. 12.4, 15.1
20 Tue, April 22 The Origin of the Milky Way Ch. 15.2
21 Thu, April 24 Spiral Arms and Galaxy Types Ch. 15.3, 16.1
22 Tue, April 29 Galaxy Properties and the Hubble Law Ch. 16.2
23 Thu, May 1 The Evolution of Galaxies; Quasars Ch. 16.3, 17.1 - 17.2
24 Tue, May 6 Cosmology and The Big Bang Ch. 18.1 - 18.2
25 Thu, May 8 The Fate of the Universe; Review Ch. 18.3
-- Tue, May 13 EXAM 3--


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Last updated: January 22, 2008 Neal Katz