Astron 300: Astronomy I

Fall 2010, David Kaplan



Lectures: MWF 10:00am-10:50am, Physics 232 Attendance and participation at lectures is required.

Lecturer: Prof. David Kaplan

Course Description: This is a general course intended to introduce quantitative astronomy and astrophysics to students with a physical-sciences background.  A background in calculus-based physics is required.  This semester introduces basic concepts in astronomy and astrophysics including:

Course Website: http://www.lsc-group.uwm.edu/~kaplan/astron300_fall2010.html
Lecture notes, reading assignments, and problem sets will be posted there.

Course Textbook:
An Introduction to Modern Astrophysics, 2nd edition, by B. W. Carroll & D. A. Ostlie (Addison-Wesley, 2006)

Evaluation:

Prerequisites: basic physics &  calculus (Physics 210) or by discussion.

News:
  1. Wed, Sep 8 will be a planetarium lecture.  Meet outside (across from Physics 137) at or slightly before 10am.  If you are late, you will be locked out!
Handouts:
  1. Syllabus (Sep 3, 2010)
  2. Problem Set 1 (Sep 8 2010, due Sep 15 2010)
 Palomar star trails
  1. Problem Set 2 (Sep 15 2010, due Sep 22 2010)
  2. Problem Set 3 (Sep 22 2010, due Sep 29 2010)
  3. Problem Set 4 (Sep 29 2010, due Oct 6 2010)
  4. Problem Set 5 (Oct 6 2010, due Oct 13 2010)
  5. Problem Set 6 (Oct 15 2010, due Oct 20 2010)
  6. Problem Set 7 (Oct 20 2010, due Oct 27 2010)
  7. Star formation notes
  8. Problem Set 8 (Nov 10 2010, due Nov 17 2010)
  9. Solar System Overview notes (courtesy M. van Kerkwijk)
  10. Problem Set 9 (Nov 17 2010, due Nov 24 2010)
  11. Problem Set 10 (Nov 29 2010, due Dec 8 2010)
  12. Special Lecture on LIGO (2010-12-08, R. O'Shaughnessy)
  13. Special Lecture on IceCube (2010-12-10, B. Hughey)
  14. Special Lecture on Colliding BH/NS Systems (2010-12-10, B. Stephens)