For nonscience majors. Introductory survey of astronomy. How we learn about the Universe and what we already know of it, how it originated, evolves, and its ultimate fate. Emphasis on modern research in solar phenomena, stellar evolution (including white dwarfs, neutron stars, pulsars, and black holes) and galaxy studies (including quasars). Assignments and projects will involve the use of high school algebra. Attendance is mandatory for the first two lectures. Enrolled students who fail to show up may be removed from the class list.

The Astronomy Honors Colloquium will accompany Astronomy 100-3 "Exploring the Universe". This special honors section of Astron 100-3 will have an additional two-hour meeting Wednesday evenings. During these sessions we will carry out hands-on activities that are coordinated with the lecture topics. We will work with telescopes, make observations at the Orchard Hill Observatory, visit a local planetarium, and on cloudy nights carry out other laboratory activities to gain a deeper understanding of observational astronomy. This colloquium is restricted to Honors Students enrolled in Astron 100, section 3 only. No exceptions.

A good understanding of high school algebra required. Attendance mandatory at first two class meetings; enrolled students who fail to show up may be dropped from the class. Students who wish to enroll may speak with the instructor after class.

For nonscience majors. Introduction to the physical characteristics of the earth, moon, planets, asteroids and comets -- their motions and gravitational interactions. Recent discoveries of space probes relative to formation of the solar system and origin of life. Assignments and projects will involve the use of high school algebra. Attendance is mandatory for the first two lectures. Enrolled students who fail to show up may be removed from the class list. This course is not intended for majors in the physical sciences.

For nonscience majors. Recommended for first-year students and sophomores. Introduction to the physical characteristics of the earth, moon, planets, asteroids and comets -- their motions and gravitational interactions. Recent discoveries of space probes relative to formation of the solar system and origin of life. This honors course will include an in-depth examination of special topics relating to the solar system, and an exploration of current research areas. Assignments and projects will involve the use of high school algebra and basic trigonometry.

Multiple sections. For nonscience students. Introduction to the night sky, telescopes, astronomical events, and celestial maps. Visual and telescopic observations of the constellations, moon, planets, stars, and other interesting astronomical objects. Planetarium trip. Attendance required. Attendance is mandatory for the first two lectures. Enrolled students who fail to show up may be removed from the class list.

Basic weather parameters, light and energy in the atmosphere. Topics include: atmospheric gases and their behavior; instability of the atmosphere; winds and their origin: large scale, small scale. Moisture: evaporation, condensation, clouds. Kinds of precipitation. Storms: hurricanes, thunderstorms, tornadoes. Climate and climate change. Assignments and projects will involve the use of high school algebra. Attendance is mandatory for the first two lectures. Enrolled students who fail to show up may be removed from the class list.

A freshman-level introductory course appropriate for science majors, engineering majors, and students with a strong precalculus background. Topics include: the observed properties of stars and the methods used to determine them, the structure and evolution of stars, the end points of stellar evolution, our galaxy, the interstellar medium, external galaxies, quasars, and cosmology. Prerequisite: high school algebra. Attendance is mandatory for the first two lectures. Enrolled students who fail to show up may be removed from the class list. This course is suggested for science majors.

Weekly class exploring the field of astronomy and its practice, with introductions to the latest topics of astronomical research by astronomy faculty. Intended for majors and first-year students considering an astronomy major or minor.

By arrangement.

Contact Honors Office at 504 Goodell to add this course.

Astronomy and cosmology from earliest times, Egyptian, Babylonian, Greek, Islamic; the medieval universe; Middle Ages; Copernican revolution, the infinite universe; Newtonian universe; mechanistic universe of the 18th and 19th centuries. Gravitational theory; origin, structure, and evolution of stars and galaxies; developments in modern astronomy. Nontechnical; emphasis on history and cosmology.

The course will introduce students to state of the art examples of science writing for the public. The students will then be introdu ced to the science behind some recent astronomical discoveries and how electronic tools can aid in visualizing these concepts. The s tudents will then spend the remaining semester working in small teams on projects that will incorporate electronic tools (java/flash applets, podcasts, digital films, etc.) to effectively communicate astronomical concepts to the public. Prerequisite: 1 semester of a physical science; 10 maximum enrollment.

Introductory course for physical science majors. Topics include planetary orbits, rotation and precession; gravitational and tidal interactions; interiors and atmospheres of the Jovian and terrestrial planets; surfaces of the terrestrial planets and satellites; asteroids, comets, planetary rings; origin and evolution of the planets. Prerequisites: 1 semester of calculus and 1 semester of a physical science.

Computer and observational lab-based course. This is a course on the observational determination of the fundamental properties of stars. It is taught with an inquiry-based approach to learning scientific techniques, including hypothesis formation, pattern recognition, problem solving, data analysis, error analysis, conceptual modeling, numerical computation, and quantitative comparison between observation and theory. No previous computer programming experience required. Prerequisites: 1 semester of calculus, 1 semester of physics, introductory astronomy, and ENGLWP 112 or 113.

The discovery of dark matter and the role of gravity in determining the mass of the universe will be explored in an interactive format making extensive use of computer simulations and independent projects. This is a "project based" course where students pose fundamental astrophysical questions and answer them in a series of projects designed to simulate a real research experience. Students work with data and bring their understanding of physics and astronomy to bear on interpreting and analyzing the data. In this class students design an experimental approach, write programs to analyze and visualize their data, develop interpretations and conclusions through class discussions and write a series of papers presenting their research. Each student participates regularly in class discussions and gives at least one oral presentation to the rest of the class. Many of the pedagogic goals of ASTRON 224 and 225 are identical; students are therefore advised to take only one of these courses. Prerequisites: 1 semester of calculus, 1 semester of physics, and introductory astronomy. Questions should be directed to Suzan Edwards at 585-3933; email sedwards@smith.edu.

Cosmological models and the relationship between models and observable parameters. Topics in current astronomy that bear upon cosmological problems, including background electromagnetic radiation, nucleosynthesis, dating methods, determinations of mean density of the universe; the Hubble constant, and tests of gravitational theories. Discussion of some questions concerning foundations of cosmology, and its future as a science. Prerequisites: 1 semester of calculus and 1 semester of a physical science.

Computational physics in a computer laboratory setting. Numerical simulations of a variety of physical systems taught concurrently with programming skills using languages such as C, Mathematica or Matlab in a UNIX environment. No prior computer experience required. Prerequisites: PHYSICS 181 or 151, and MATH 132. Corequisite: PHYSICS 182 or 152.

By arrangement.

Contact Honors Office at 504 Goodell to add this course.

Satisfies Junior Year Writing Requirement. The goal of this course is to teach the writing techniques and styles that are appropriate for the types of careers that might be pursued by an astronomy major. The course will be composed of both a set of short writing assignments and longer assignments, and some of these assignments will be orally presented to the class. All students will critique the talks, and some written assignments will be exchanged between students for peer editing and feedback. Some papers will require analysis of astrophysical data.

Prerequisites: Completion of 200-level or higher astronomy class, ENGLWRIT 112 or 113, and at least the first two semesters of the physics sequence.

Devoted each year to a particular topic or current research interest. Prerequisites: At least three semesters of physics, astronomy, or geology. Juniors and seniors only, or per instructors permission.

How astronomers determine the nature and extent of the universe. Following the theme of the "Cosmic Distance Ladder," an exploration of how our understanding of astrophysics allows us to evaluate the size of the observable universe. Topics include direct distance determinations in the solar system and nearby stars, spectroscopic distances of stars, star counts and the structure of our galaxy, Cepheid variables and the distances of galaxies, the Hubble Law and large-scale structure in the universe, and quasars and the Lyman-alpha forest. Prerequisites: Introductory Physics (131-132, 151-152, or 181-182), calculus through MATH 128, 132 or equivalent, and at least one prior astronomy or physics course at the 200 level or above.

With lab. An introduction to the techniques of gathering and analyzing astronomical data, with an emphasis on observations related to determining the size scale of the universe. Telescope design and optics. Instrumentation for imaging, photometry, and spectroscopy. Astronomical detectors. Computer graphics and image processing. Error analysis and curve fitting. Astron 337H will involve extensive student participation. Students will access online astronomical databases, retrieve and analyze images and spectra, write computer programs, and perform statistical analyses. They will give class presentations and will have frequent written assignments. Course format will be about 50% lecture, 50% hands-on, experimental learning. Prerequisites: ASTRON 224 or 225, 2 semesters of physics, and 2 semesters of calculus. Questions should be directed to Robert Gutermuth at 545-1769; email: robert@email.smith.edu.

With lab. Equipment, techniques, nature of cosmic radio sources. Radio receiver and antenna theory. Radio flux, brightness temperature and the transfer of radio radiation in cosmic sources. Effect of noise, sensitivity, bandwidth, and antenna efficiency. Techniques of beam switching, interferometry, and aperture synthesis. Basic types of radio astronomical sources: ionized plasmas, masers, recombination and hyperfine transitions; nonthermal sources. Applications to the sun, interstellar clouds, and extragalactic objects. Offered alternate years. Prerequisites: 2 semesters of physics and 2 semesters of calculus.

By arrangement.

Contact Honors Office at 504 Goodell to add this course.

The application of physics to the understanding of astronomical phenomena. Physical principles governing the properties of stars, their formation and evolution: radiation laws and the determination of stellar temperatures and luminosities; Newton's laws and the determination of stellar masses; hydrostatic equation and the themodynamics of gas and radiation; nuclear fusion and stellar energy generation; physics of degenerate matter and the evolution of stars to white dwarfs, neutron stars or black holes; nucleosynthesis in supernova explosions; dynamics of mass transfer in binary systems; viscous accretion disks in star formation and X-ray binaries. Prerequisites: 4 semesters of physics. PHYSICS 421 or equivalent strongly recommended.

The application of physics to the understanding of astronomical phenomena related to galaxies. Dynamics and structure of stellar systems: the virial theorem and Jeans' equations and their applications; galaxy rotation and the presence of dark matter in the universe; spiral density waves. The stellar content of galaxies: star formation and the principle of stellar population synthesis. Physical processes in the gaseous interstellar medium: photoionization and HII regions and emission lines; shocks in supernova remnants and stellar jets; energy balance in molecular clouds. Quasars and active galactic nuclei: synchroton radiation; accretion disks; supermassive black holes. Students are involved in the course in discussion, oral presentations, and lab projects. The course is being taught at a higher level than a non-honors course, and a strong background in physics and math is required. Prerequisites: 4 semesters of physics. PHYSIC 421 or equivalent strongly recommended; proficiency in calculus (differentiation, integration, differential equations). Questions should be directed to Houjun Mo at 577-0394; email: hjmo@astro.umass.edu.

By arrangement.

Contact Honors Office at 504 Goodell to add this course.

By arrangement.

Contact Honors Office at 504 Goodell to add this course.

Contact Honors Office at 504 Goodell to add this course.

Contact Honors Office at 504 Goodell to add this course.