Astronomy 309Q:
Time and the Cosmos

Spring 1997 -- MWF 2:00-3:00

INSTRUCTOR:	TEACHING ASSISTANT:
R. Edward Nather	Travis Metcalfe
Professor of Astronomy	Graduate Student
R.L.M. 17.322	RLM 17.310
471-5421 or 471-6417	471-6417
nather@astro.as.utexas.edu	travis@astro.as.utexas.edu
Office hours: by appointment	Office hour: MT 11-12 or by appointment

SOURCE MATERIAL:

There is no text for this course, since much of the material is new and hasn't found its way into the textbooks yet. Reference material from popular articles on the various topics has been collected into a packet which can be obtained from Paradigm at 24th and Guadalupe. Ask for the source materials for this course, "Time and the Cosmos," AST 309Q.

COURSE OUTLINE:

A course calendar is below, describing the topics and the order in which we will consider them. After a couple of introductory lectures, we begin with the origin of the universe as a massive explosion (the big bang) and examine the evidence leading to this model for our cosmic origins. We also explore the evidence suggesting the early universe was very different from the one we see now, populated by enormously energetic objects (quasars). We then proceed to the formation of stars and galaxies, examining details of the models for the way in which stars evolve, and which ultimately produce the chemical elements that make up our planet and ourselves. Some stars end their lives explosively (supernovae), some undergo a series of lesser explosions (novae), and others, like our sun, live long and quiet lives that can support life on surrounding planets. All stars must run out of fuel eventually, and we explore what happens to them: how they become white dwarfs, neutron stars, or black holes.

TESTS:

There are a total of four short-answer essay tests, and your course grade will be determined from the average of the four test grades. There are no formal homework assignments, but you are urged to read the source material articles as we go along. The tests require an understanding of the course material but do not involve any math.

DUMB QUESTIONS:

There are no dumb questions. If you don't understand something, ASK!

ASTRONOMY 309Q
COURSE CALENDAR FOR SPRING 1997