Professor Gregory A. Shields
MWF 2:00-3:00 p.m. in Welch 3.502
Unique No. 42575
This course is a survey of modern ideas about
the origin and nature of the Universe and the fascinating objects
in it. The course begins with a review of introductory astronomy.
We then study observations of the size and structure of the Universe,
including evidence for the Big Bang. We trace the evolution of
the Universe from the first millisecond through the creation the
primeval fireball radiation and the birth and evolution of galaxies.
We examine the rich variety of observations of quasars and the
reasons for suspecting that the 'monster' at the center is a giant
black hole. We consider the birth of stars, the formation of the
solar system, and the origin of life as part of the saga of cosmic
evolution. We conclude with a discussion of observations that
may tell what future lies in store for the Universe.
Mathematics will include high school algebra
but no calculus. Lectures will be illustrated with slides and
occasional films.
Prerequisite.
AST 301, 302, or 303, or an equivalent descriptive introduction
to astronomy of one semester or more.
Instructor.
Professor Gregory Shields. Office: RLM 15.224. Phone: 471-1402.
E-mail: shields@astro.as.utexas.edu. Office Hours: M 1-2, W 3-4,
F 10-11 or by appointment.
Teaching Assistant:
Mr. Feng Ma. Office: RLM 16.216. Phone: 471-0445. E-mail: feng@astro.as.utexas.edu.
Office Hours: TTh 2-3:30 or by appointment.
Grading: Course grade will be based on two hour exams in class, a comprehensive final exam, and homework. Exams will be closed book and will involve both multiple choice and essay questions. Exams will cover lectures, assigned reading, and homework. Make-up tests will not be given except for a compelling reason presented in advance or in case of illness. Exam weights and tentative dates are:
First exam | 20% | W 9/25 |
Second exam | 20% | W 10/30 |
Final Exam | 40% | Sa 12/14 2-4 p.m. |
Homework will count 15%, based on grading of
selected problems from each homework set.
Help sessions.
The lecture before each exam will be devoted to reviewing the
material on the exam. Additional help sessions will be scheduled
for help with the homework and class material.
Required text.
The Big Bang, by Joseph Silk (1989), revised edition, W.H.
Freeman and Co., ISBN 0-7167-1812-X, 485 pages. (Available at
the Co-Op and elsewhere. Used copies OK.) A description of modern
cosmology by a leading theoretical cosmologist. Includes a historical
summary, observational and theoretical foundations of the Big
Bang model, active galaxies, and the origin of the solar system
and life.
Drop Dates.
You may drop any course without academic penalty until September
25. You can then drop courses until October 23 with a Q or F,
depending on your performance in class up to that time. After
October 23, you may drop the course or withdraw from the University
only for an urgent and substantiated, nonacademic reason. Consult
the University's published calendar to verify these dates and
for further information.
Star Parties. Every
Wednesday evening, if the weather is clear, there will be telescopes
set up on the 14th floor observing deck of RLM Hall, just east
of the elevators. These sessions will start about one-half hour
after sunset. Graduate students will be available to show you
astronomical sights and answer questions. There is also a 9-inch
telescope on Painter Hall that is open to UT students on Friday
evenings and to the general public on Saturday evenings. You can
use the 9-inch if you are checked out on it. McDonald Observatory
in West Texas has star parties Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday nights.
The public is invited to look through the 107-inch one evening
a month. Information on this and other programs of the McDonald
Observatory Public Information Office can be obtained on the World
Wide Web at http://pio.as.utexas.edu (phone 471-5285).
About the Instructor: Professor
Shields was born in Los Angeles, California and grew up in Nebraska
and Kansas. He earned a B.S.in Physics from Stanford University
in 1968 and a Ph.D.in Astronomy at Caltech in 1973. Following
a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard, he joined the UT faculty
in 1974. He now holds the title of the Jane and Roland Blumberg
Centennial Professor in Astronomy, and served as Chairman of the
Department of Astronomy from 1990 to 1994. He has taught both
graduate and undergraduate courses throughout his career at UT.
His research interests emphasize theoretical studies of ionized
nebulae in galaxies and the nature of quasars. He has published
numerous research papers, and several popular articles, in various
areas of astronomy.
About the TA:
Mr. Feng Ma was born in China in 1973. He got a B.S. in Applied
Physics from Beijing University and an M.S. in Theoretical Physics
from Beijing Normal University in 1994. He then entered the graduate
program in Astronomy at UT. He has been a TA for AST 301, AST
309L, and AST 309R. His research interests emphasize the observational
aspects of quasars and active galactic nuclei.
Suggested reading:
Black Holes, Quasars, and The Universe,
by H.L. Shipman (1980), second edition, Houghton Mifflin Co.,
ISBN 0-395-28499-6, 246 pages. A dated but highly readable and
enjoyable account of white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes,
quasars, and cosmology.
A Short History of the Universe,
by Joseph Silk (1994), Scientific American Library, W.H. Freeman
and Co., ISBN 0-7167-5048-1. An up-to-date, attractively illustrated
summary of the evolution of the Universe from the Big Bang to
the present. Similar technical level to The Big Bang but briefer.
Voyage to the Great Attractor: exploring intergalactic space, by Alan Dressler (1994), Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., ISBN 0-394-58899-1, 355 pages. A combination of personal reminiscences and scientific exposition by an astronomer who has made important contributions to observational cosmology. Vividly written, with uninhibited commentary on the personalities of various astronomers, this is book is both fun and informative.