Astronomy - Winter 1998

Course Description:

This course will provide a broad overview of our knowledge of the universe. This course is intended for non-science majors. The emphasis will be on the reasoning and evidence behind our current knowledge of and theories about the nature of the Universe. We will begin with a brief description of the naked eye night sky. Next, we will study the nature of gravity. We will then learn about objects in the universe, beginning close at home with objects in the solar system, and then extending outward, first studying stars, then groups of stars, and the large scale structure of the universe. We will end by looking at theories of the origin of the universe.

There will be three lectures per week, and one discussion section. There will be two midterms and a final. The exams will consist of essay questions and problems. There will also be a set of weekly homework problems. The final pass-fail grade will be determined on the basis of 40% final, 25% each midterm, and 10% homework.

I will keep two copies of my lecture notes on two hour reserve in the Science Library. In addition, copies of my lecture notes will be available from the campus copy center

I hope to organize a field trip to Lick Observatory sometime during the quarter. This may provide an opportunity to visit a working observatory and to observe celestial objects through a large telescope.

In addition to my office hours, I will be available at other times if you can catch me in my office (make an appointment if you have trouble finding me).

Introduction and Overview - 1 lecture

Observing the Sky, - 2 lectures

Gravity, - 2 lectures

The Terrestrial Planets - 3 lectures

The Giant Planets - 2 lectures

Meteorites, Comets, and Asteroids - 1 lecture

Light, Atoms, and Telescopes - 3 lectures

The Sun - 2 lectures

The Nature of Stars - 2 lectures

The Birth, Life, and Death of Star - 3 lectures

Galaxies - 3 lectures

Cosmology - 3 lectures

Life in the Universe - 1 lecture

Revised 7/12/04.