Astronomy (ASTR)
ASTR 1110: Descriptive Astronomy
Physics and Astronomy
This course is a one-semester introduction to astronomy. Topics include the motion of objects in the night sky, orbital motion, observational techniques, light, the solar system, stars, and galaxies. The course is primarily lecture-based and does not include a lab, but some observations through the telescope are included. A student may not receive credit for both ASTR 1110 and ASTR 1212, nor for both ASTR 1110 and ASTR 1312.
3 credits
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture
Lecture
ASTR 1212: Intro Astron. of the Solar Sys
Physics and Astronomy
This course is a one-semester introduction to solar system astronomy and includes a lab. Topics include the motion of objects in the night sky, orbital motion, light, the planets and small bodies of the solar system, and extrasolar planets. The course consists of two lectures and one laboratory meeting per week. The lab component consists of indoor experiments, naked-eye observing, and observations through an optical telescope. Students may not receive credit for both ASTR 1110 and 1212 nor for both ASTR 1212 and 1312 if taken simultaneously.
3 credits
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture/Lab
Lecture/Lab
Course Fees:
$225.00
$225.00
ASTR 1312: Astronomy of Stars and Gal.
Physics and Astronomy
This course is a one-semester introduction to stellar and galactic astronomy and includes a lab. Topics include the motion of objects in the night sky, observational techniques, spectroscopy, the Sun, stars, galaxies, and the universe. The course consists of two lectures and one laboratory meeting per week. The lab component consists of indoor experiments, naked-eye observing, and observations through an optical telescope. Students may not receive credit for both ASTR 1110 and 1312; nor for both ASTR 1312 and ASTR 2312; nor for both ASTR 1212 and ASTR 1312 if taken simultaneously.
3 credits
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture/Lab
Lecture/Lab
Course Fees:
$225.00
$225.00
ASTR 2312: Astronomy of Stars and Gal.
Physics and Astronomy
This course is an intermediate-level treatment of stellar and galactic astronomy and includes a lab. Topics include observational techniques, spectroscopy, the Sun, classification, formation, and evolution of stars, galaxies, and cosmology. The course consists of two lectures and one laboratory meeting per week. The lab component consists of telescopic and visual observations, astrophotography projects, and computer lab activities on stellar and galactic astronomy. A student may not receive credit for both ASTR 1312 and ASTR 2312.
3 credits
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture/Lab
Lecture/Lab
Course Fees:
$225.00
$225.00
ASTR 3410: Introduction to Astrobiology
Physics and Astronomy
This course covers the intersection between biology and astronomy. Astrobiology is the study of life in the universe. This course will begin with the origin and early evolution of life on Earth and continue with potentially habitable environments on terrestrial planets and moons in the solar system and beyond. The interplay between theory, laboratory experimentation, fieldwork at analog locations, and space missions will be emphasized throughout the course.
3 credits
Prerequisites
BISC 1600 and 24 Earned Credits.
BISC 1600 and 24 Earned Credits.
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture
Lecture
ASTR 3510: Introduction to Astrochemistry
Physics and Astronomy
This course provides an overview of the chemistry of space, based on the interdependent triangle of observation, experiment, and theory. Topics include the origin of atoms and molecules, chemical processes during planet formation, and planetary atmospheres in the solar system and beyond.
3 credits
Prerequisites
CHEM 1060 and 24 Earned Credits.
CHEM 1060 and 24 Earned Credits.
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture
Lecture
ASTR 3610: Astrophysics
Physics and Astronomy
This course introduces the physics of celestial objects. Topics will include formation, structure, and evolution of stars, the physics of the interstellar medium, stellar remnants (white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes), galaxies and the large-scale structure of the universe.
3 credits
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture
Lecture
ASTR 4760: Introduction to Cosmology
Physics and Astronomy
This is an introductory course in modern cosmology, covering the observational evidence for the current standard model of cosmology and its modeling in terms of the theory of gravity and spacetime. Topics covered include the current status of observational cosmology, homogeneous and isotropic spacetime models and their evolution starting from the Big Bang, the cosmic microwave background, dark matter and dark energy, and structure formation in the universe.
3 credits
Potentially offered with the following Instruction Type(s):
Lecture
Lecture