Course Listing
Below is a description of all courses offered by the Astronomy Department. Several courses are only offered every other semester or every other year, so check the current semester’s offerings.
All Astronomy courses can be used towards satisfying the Natural Sciences area requirement. ASTR 1210 and 1220 cover complementary subject matter. Each is complete in itself, and a student may elect to take either ASTR 1210 or ASTR 1220, or both concurrently.
Undergraduate Courses
ASTR 1210: Introduction to the Sky and the Solar System (3 credits)
Primarily for non-science majors.
The night sky. Brief history of astronomy through Newton. The properties of the sun, earth, moon, planets, meteors and comets. The origin and evolution of the solar system. Life in the universe. Recent results from space missions and ground-based telescopes.
ASTR 1220: Introduction to the Stars, Galaxies, and the Universe (3 credits)
Primarily for non-science majors.
Stars, star formation and evolution. Light, atoms, and modern observing technologies. The origin of the chemical elements. Supernovae, pulsars, neutron stars, and black holes. The structure and evolution of our galaxy. The nature of other galaxies. Active galaxies and quasars. The expanding universe, cosmology, the big bang, and the early universe.
ASTR 1230: Introduction to Astronomical Observation (3 credits)
Primarily for non-science majors.
An independent laboratory class in which students work individually or in small groups on observational projects. Extensive use is made of binoculars, 6-inch through 10-inch telescopes, and photographic equipment at the department’s student observatory. In addition, some projects use computers to simulate observations taken with much larger telescopes. Projects focus on the study of constellations, planets, stars, nebulae, and galaxies. Class work is done predominantly at night.
ASTR 1250: Alien Worlds (3 credits)
Alien worlds orbiting other stars were the subject of speculation going back to ancient times, and were first detected in the 1990s. Today, thousands of extrasolar planets are known and show a remarkable diversity compared to our own solar system. This introductory astronomy course for non-science majors discusses the known exoplanets: how they are discovered, their orbits, physical properties, formation, evolution and fate.
ASTR 1260: Threats from Outer Space (3 credits)
Primarily for non-science majors.
This introductory astronomy course for non-science majors deals with harmful, or potentially harmful, astronomical phenomena such as asteroid/comet impacts, supernovae, gamma ray bursts, solar storms, cosmic rays, black holes, galaxy collisions, and the end of the universe. Physical principles will be used to evaluate the dangers involved.
ASTR 1270: Unsolved Mysteries in the Universe (3 credits)
Primarily for non-science majors.
The universe is full of deep mysteries that astronomers are far from understanding. This course is designed to help students understand the limitations of our knowledge, and why finding solutions to these mysteries is so difficult. A number of though provoking topics will be covered, including: the beginning and end of the universe, black holes, extraterrestrial life, dark matter, and dark energy.
ASTR 1280: The Origins of Almost Everything (3 credits)
Primarily for non-science majors.
From ancient Babylon to modern cosmology, nearly every culture on Earth has stories and myths of creation. It is a universal human desire to understand where we came. In this introductory astronomy class for non-science majors, students will explore the origins of the Universe, structure and galaxies, stars, planets and life. The course will use the content to illustrate the nature of science and scientific inquiry.
ASTR 1290: Black Holes (3 credits)
Primarily for non-science majors.
Black holes are stellar remnants that are so dense that nothing, not even light, can escape their gravitational pull. Nevertheless, systems that are thought to contain black holes are among the brightest sources in the universe. In this introductory course, aimed primarily at non-science majors, students will learn the key concepts of the theory of relativity, explore the nature of black holes, and study their astrophysical importance. We will also discuss how astronomers' views of black holes evolved from broad skepticism to wide acceptance in the face of mounting observational evidence for their existence.
ASTR 1610: Introduction to Astronomical Research for Potential Astronomy and Astronomy-Physics Majors (1 credits)
Intended primarily for first and second year declared and prospective Astronomy-Physics and Astronomy Majors.
Astronomy faculty members will describe various research projects. The goal is to acquaint students with both the subject matter and the required physical, mathematical, and computational background of contemporary astronomy research. Potential long term undergraduate research projects will be emphasized.
ASTR 2110: Introduction to Astrophysics I (3 credits)
A thorough discussion of the basic concepts and methods of solar system, stellar, galactic, and extragalactic astronomy with emphasis on physical interpretation. Recent research developments such as black holes, pulsars, quasars, and new solar system observations from the space program.
ASTR 2120: Introduction to Astrophysics II (3 credits)
A thorough discussion of the basic concepts and methods of solar system, stellar, galactic, and extragalactic astronomy with emphasis on physical interpretation. Recent research developments such as black holes, pulsars, quasars, and new solar system observations from the space program.
ASTR 3130: Observational Astronomy (4 credits)
A laboratory course dealing with basic observational techniques in astronomy. Students make use of observational facilities at McCormick Observatory and at Fan Mountain Observatory. Classes generally meet at night.
ASTR 3410: Archaeo-Astronomy (3 credits)
A discussion of prescientific astronomy, including Mayan, Babylonian, and ancient Chinese astronomy and the significance of relics such as Stonehenge. The usefulness of ancient records in the study of current astrophysical problems, such as supernova outbursts, is also discussed. The course uses current literature from several disciplines including astronomy, archaeology, and anthropology.
ASTR 3420: Life Beyond the Earth (3 credits)
The possibility of the existence of intelligent extraterrestrial life; methods and desirability of interstellar communication; prospects for humanity’s colonization of space, interaction of space colonies and the search for other civilizations.
ASTR 3450: Mission to Mars (3 credits)
The next great adventure in space flight will be a human mission to Mars. In this course, we will explore how such a mission might take place. Topics will include the basics of spaceflight, spacecraft and rocket design, the history of human space exploration, its legacy and impact on the modern world, the current state of spaceflight, and new technologies that are being developed to make the mission possible.
ASTR 3460: Development of Modern Astronomy (3 credits)
The 20th Century saw a revolution in our study of the origin and evolution of the universe. It was a dynamic period with the opening of the electromagnetic spectrum and the transition to "Big Science." This course is a survey of the development of modern astrophysics, with an emphasis on the second half of the 20th Century.
ASTR 3470: Science and Controversy in Astronomy (3 credits)
A critical evaluation of controversial topics in science and pseudo-science from the astronomer’s perspective. The methods of science and the nature of scientific evidence with their implications for unresolved astrophysical problems; extraterrestrial life; UFO’s; alien abductions; X-files; astrology, etc.
ASTR 3480: Introduction to Cosmology (3 credits)
Cosmology explores the origin, evolution, and nature of the entire Universe. It is currently one of the most exciting of the sciences, and the course covers many of the most recent breakthroughs. Topics include: the nature of cosmic expansion; mapping the nearby Universe; the discovery of dark matter and dark energy; the birth and evolution of galaxies; the conditions in the first million years and the first hour; and the mechanism that may have created everything from nothing in a Herculean explosion of space and energy – the Big Bang. Students will also take color images of nearby galaxies using our local robotic telescope. This 3000-level course strikes a balance between richly illustrated description and a simple quantitative exploration of the Topics.
ASTR 3880: Planetary Astronomy (3 credits)
The goal of this course is to understand the origins and evolution of bodies in the solar system. The observations of atmospheres and surfaces of planetary bodies by ground-based and orbiting telescopes and by spacecraft will be described. The principal topics will be the interpretation of remote sensing data for atmospheres and surfaces of planetary bodies, the chemistry and dynamics of planetary atmospheres, the interactions of these atmospheres with the surfaces and with the local plasma, and the role of meteorite and comet impacts on surfaces of planetary bodies. Cross listed as EVSC 4890 Planetary Geology.
ASTR 4140: Research Methods in Astrophysics (3 credits)
Primarily for astronomy/astrophysics majors. Students will be exposed to a research methods-intensive set of mini projects,with emphasis on current active areas of astrophysics research. The goal is to prepare students for research in astrophysics. Topics will include databases and database manipulation, astronomical surveys, statistics, space observatories and observation planning, intro to numerical simulations, and proposal writing.
ASTR 4810: Astrophysics (3 credits)
Basic concepts in mechanics, statistical physics, atomic and nuclear structure, and radiative transfer are developed and applied to selected fundamental problems in the areas of stellar structure, stellar atmospheres, the interstellar medium and extragalactic astrophysics.
