AST 301 - Introduction to Astronomy

Schedule

AST 301 Introduction to Astronomy (Scalo)
Course schedule of lectures, readings, and exams

Date	Main Topic(s)	Readings - to be completed before class	Comments
8/27 W	Introduction	Get textbook	Read syllabus
8/31 F	Scale of universe, distance, angles	(App.1), 1.1, 1.3, 1.6	Read MP, p.11
9/3 M	*Labor Day*
9/5 M	History: Geocentric, heliocentric, Copernicus, Kepler et al.	2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5
9/7 F	Orbits: Kepler's, Newton's laws	2.5, 2.6, 2.7, 2.8	MP p.44, MP p.52
9/10 M	Waves, spectrum of light	3.1, 3.2, 3.3
9/12 W	Thermal radiation: Wien’s, Stefan’s laws; review	3.4	3.4 long and important
9/14 F	EXAM 1	Review sheet, questions
9/17 M	Doppler effect, spectral lines	Ch. 3.5, 4.1, 4.2	Optional suppl. reading online Mon evening.
9/19 W	Info from spectral lines	Ch. 4.3, 4.4, 4.5	4.3 long and important
9/21 F	Spectral lines; Telescopes	Finish 4.5, begin Ch.5.2, 5.3, 5.4	You can skip Ch. 5.1
9/24 M	Telescopes	Ch. 5.5, 5.6, 5.7
9/26 W	EXAM 2	Review sheet, questions
9/28 F	Survey of solar system	Ch. 6	Read online.
10/1 M	Survey of SS (cont’d)	Ch. 6, Ch. 15	Read online.
10/3 W	Formation of planets	Ch. 15	Read online.
10/5 F	Extrasolar planets	Ch. 15, outside reading	Read online.
10/8 M	Updates on extrasolar planets; review	Ch. 15, outside reading	Read online + pdf sent by email
10/10 W	EXAM 3	Review sheet, questions
10/12 F	Sun	Ch. 16	Skip 16.4, 16.5
10/15 M	Properties of stars	Ch. 17
10/17 W	Properties of stars	Ch. 17
10/19 F	Interstellar medium	Ch. 17, 18	Skip 18.2, 18.3
10/22 M	Interstellar medium; review	Ch. 18
10/24 W	EXAM 4	Review sheet, questions
10/26 F	Formation of stars	Ch. 19
10/29 M	HR diagram; main sequence evolution	Ch. 19, 20	Skip 20.6
10/31 W	Red giant evolution; white dwarfs	Ch. 20
11/2 F	Supernova explosions	Ch. 21
11/5 M	Nucleosynthesis	Ch. 21
11/17 W	EXAM 5	Review sheet, questions
11/9 F	Neutron stars, gamma-ray bursts	Ch. 22
11/12 M	Black holes	22
11/14 W	Milky Way galaxy	23	Skip 23.7
11/16 F	Other galaxies	24	Skip 24.3-24.5
11/19 M	EXAM 6	Review sheet, questions
11/21 W	*No class*
11/24 F	*Thanksgiving holiday*
11/26 M	Galaxies and dark matter	24.3, 25
11/28 W	Dark matter, cosmology	25, 26
12/3 F	Cosmology, early universe	26, 27
12/5 W	Early universe, review	27
12/7 F	EXAM 7	Review sheet, questions

12/12 W 2-5 pm	OPTIONAL COMPREHENSIVE FINAL EXAM	Covers all material from class; replaces lowest exam score.

We will attempt to stick to this timetable, although slight adjustments may occur. Your job is to look over the textbook material before each lecture, and then review your lecture notes within a day after the lecture. I will explain in class and/or in emails if there is material for which you will not be responsible. This occurs mainly for chapters 1 and 2 (see above), but also a few subsections in later chapters.

Summary of exam dates (these are firm dates):
Exam 1: 9/14 F

Exam 2: 9/26 W

Exam 3: 10/10 W

Exam 4: 10/24 W

Exam 5: 11/7 W

Exam 6: 11/19 M

Exam 7: 12/7 F

Optional Final: 12/12 W 2-‐5pm