Section 1 - Our Sky and Solar System

Jan. 18 Tu[notes]
The Scale of Things
Introduction
Main Concepts:  Exponentials, Estimation/Precision, Scale Model of Solar System (AU),
Our Cosmic Address, Light Years, Powers of Ten (Movie)

Jan. 20 Th[notes]
Points of View - History of Astronomy
Ch. 1.2, Essay 1
Main Concepts:  Planetary Motions, Size/Shape of Earth, Size/Distance of Moon/Sun,
Ptolemy, Geocentric/Heliocentric, Kepler, Galileo, Other Cultures

Jan. 25 Tu[notes]
The Sky in Time - Coordinates
Ch. 1.1, Essay 2
Main Concepts:  Celestial Sphere (poles, equator), Constellations, Celestial Coordinates,
Daily Motion, Annual Motion, Ecliptic/Zodiac, Solstice/Equinox, Time, Calendars

Jan. 27 Th[notes]
Gravity and Motion
Ch. 2  Kepler's Laws
Main Concepts:  Kepler's Laws (ellipses), Newton's Laws (inertia, accel., gravity), Orbits, Masses, Density
Surface Gravity/Escape Velocity

Feb. 1 Tu [notes]
The Earth and Moon
Ch. 4, 6
Main Concepts:  Earth's Interior, Plate Tectonics, Earth's Atmosphere, Magnetic Field,
Structure of Moon, Origin/History,  Tides, Phases, Eclipses

Feb. 3 Th[notes]
Terrestrial Planets
Ch. 7.1, 8
Main Concepts: Comparative Surfaces, Comparative Interiors, Comparative Atmospheres

Feb.8  Tu[notes]
Outer Planets
Ch. 9
Main Concepts: Comparative Atmospheres, Comparative Interiors, Moons, Rings

Feb. 10  Th [notes]
Small Bodies/ Giant Impacts/ Formation of the Planets
Ch. 10, 7.2
Main Concepts: Comets, Asteroids, Meteors, Giant Impacts in the Solar System

Feb. 15  Tu [notes]
The Sun
Ch. 11
Main Concepts: Basic Properties, Solar Interior, Photosphere/Chromosphere/Corona,
Magnetic Fields, Solar-Terrestrial Relations, Solar Cycle, Stellar Activity

Feb. 17   Th [notes]
Review and/or Catch-up

Feb. 22 Tu[practice questions]
Midterm 1

Section 2 - Astrophysics of Stars

Feb. 24  Th [notes]
Electromagnetic Radiation
Ch. 3.1-3.2, 3.6-3.7
Main Concepts:  Nature/Speed of Light, Wavelength/Frequency/Color/Energy, E-M Spectrum,
Temperature, Black-body Radiation,  Doppler Shift

Feb. 29  Tu [notes]
Observations and Telescopes
Ch. 5
Main Concepts: Telescopes, Aperture and Resolution, Observing, "Invisible" Astronomy

Mar. 2 Th [notes]
Measuring the Stars
Ch. 3.3-3.5, 12.1-12.3
Main Concepts:  Parallax, Stellar Motions, Luminosity/Temperature, Atoms, Energy Levels,
Formation of Spectrum, Spectral Formation/Classes

Mar. 7  Tu [notes]
Binary Stars, Stellar Parameters
Ch. 12.4-12.8
Main Concepts:  HR Diagram, Visual/Spectroscopic/Eclipsing Binaries,
Stellar Parameters, Standard Candles

Mar.  9  Th [notes]
The Main Sequence
Ch. 13.1, 13.3
Main Concepts:  Principles of Stellar Structure, Energy Production/Transport, Nuclear Processes,
Production of Elements, Interior Probes

Mar. 14  Tu [notes]
Principles of Stellar Evolution
Ch.  13.2, 13.4-13.7
Main Concepts:  Star Formation, Evolution in HR Diagram, High/Low Mass Stars,
Late Stellar Evolution, Planetary Nebulae

Mar.  16  Th [notes]
Testing the Theory: Star Clusters
Ch. 13.8-13.9
Main Concepts:  Open/Globular Clusters, Cluster HR Diagrams, Ages of Clusters,
Initial Mass Function, Mass Extremes

Mar. 21  Tu [notes]
Stellar Death
Ch. 14
Main Concepts:  White Dwarfs, Binary Evolution, Novae and Supernovae (Type I)

Mar. 23  Th [notes]
Exotic Stellar Objects
Ch. 14
Main Concepts:  Supernovae, Neutron Stars, Black Holes

Spring Break

Apr. 4  Tu [notes]
Results of Midterm 2

Apr. 6  Th [practice questions]
Midterm 2

Section 3 - The Universe of Galaxies

Apr. 11 Tu[notes]
Tom's Lecture Notes
Discovery of the Milky Way
Ch. 15.1-15.4
Main Concepts: Size and Shape of our Galaxy,
Contents and Structure of the Galaxy, Stellar Populations

Apr. 13  Th [notes] [notes]
Erik's Lecture Notes
Mapping the Milky Way
Ch. 15.5-15.8
Main Concepts: 21-cm radiation, Galactic Motions, Spiral Arms,
Galactic Center, Galactic Evolution

Apr. 18 Tu[notes]
Other Galaxies
Ch. 16.1, 16.3, 16.6
Main Concepts: Types of Galaxies, Properties of Galaxies,
Clusters and Superclusters, Galaxy Collisions

Apr. 20  Th [notes]
Quasars and AGN, Cosmic Distance Scale
Ch. 16.2, 16.4-16.5
Main Concepts: Active Galactic Nuclei, Radio Jets, Quasars,
Extragalactic Distance Scale, Cepheids, Hubble Law

Apr. 25  Tu [notes]
The Geometry of Spacetime
Ch. 17.1-17.3
Main Concepts: Age of Universe, Spacetime Diagrams, Horizons and Lookbacks,
Open or Closed?, High Redshift Universe, Dark Matter

Apr. 27  Th [notes]
The Creation of the Universe
Ch. 17.4-17.5
Main Concepts: First Moments of Creation, Mass/Energy Interchange, Formation of Matter,
Cosmological Observations, Inflation, The End of Time

May 2  Tu [notes]
The Search for Other Planets and Life
Essay 3
Main Concepts: Drake Equation, Extrasolar Planets, SETI, Origin of Life

May 4  Th[contents of the Final]   [words or phrases on the Final]
Review and/or Catch-up
 
Final Exam: Group 9, Tuesday May 16, 8-11am, Hearst Gym   [practice questions]
(answers to the practice questions will not be posted; ask us if you have a question about them)

Midterms: 20% each
Final: 35% (1/2 review)
Section: 25% (5% attendance, 20% homework)