Astronomy 100
Exploring the Universe

Spring 2009
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. 27 Course Overview no reading
2 Thu, Jan. 29 The Scale of the Universe Ch. 1, 2.1
3 Tue, Feb. 3 Apparent Motions of the Sun and Stars Ch. 2.2 - 2.3
4 Thu, Feb. 5 The Seasons; Phases of the Moon; Eclipses; Tides Ch. 3.1 - 3.2
5 Tue, Feb. 10 Global Warming Ch. 2.4, 3.3 - 3.4
6 Thu, Feb. 12 Planetary Motions and the Birth of Modern Astronomy Ch. 4
7 Tue, Feb. 17 Gravity and Orbits Ch. 5


Tools of Astronomy

Lecture # Date Subject Reading in Text
8 Thu, Feb. 19 Light: The Electromagnetic Spectrum Ch. 6.1
9 Tue, Feb. 24 Atoms and Spectral Lines Ch. 7.1 - 7.2
10 Thu, Feb. 26 Stellar Spectra; Doppler Shift; Review Ch. 7.3
-- Tue, March 3EXAM 1--


Stars

Lecture # Date Subject Reading in Text
11 Thu, March 5 Go over EXAM 1; The Sun's Atmosphere Ch. 8.1
12 Tue, March 10 Solar Activity Ch. 8.3
13 Thu, March 12 Properties of Stars Ch. 9
14 Tue March 24 The HR Diagram Ch. 8.2,11.2-11.3
15 Thu, March 26 Power Sources: How do Stars Shine? Ch. 12.1 - 12.3
16 Tue, March 31 Stellar Life and Death Ch. 13.1, 13.3
17 Thu, April 2 Neutron Stars and Black Holes; Review Ch. 14,.1, 14.2
-- Tue, April 7 EXAM 2--


Galaxies and Cosmology

Lecture # Date Subject Reading in Text
18 Thu, April 9 Go over EXAM 2; The Milky Way Ch. 15.1
19 Tue, April 14 How the Milky Way Was "Discovered" Ch. 12.4, 15.1
20 Thu, April 16 The Origin of the Milky Way Ch. 15.2
21 Thu, April 23 Spiral Arms and Galaxy Types Ch. 15.3, 16.1
22 Tue, April 28 Galaxy Properties and the Hubble Law Ch. 16.2
23 Thu, April 30 The Evolution of Galaxies; Quasars Ch. 16.3, 17.1 - 17.2
24 Tue, May 5 Cosmology and The Big Bang Ch. 18.1 - 18.2
25 Thu, May 7 The Fate of the Universe; Review Ch. 18.3
-- Tue, May 12 EXAM 3--


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Last updated: January 22, 2008 Neal Katz