Courses for the academic year 2002 - 2003

I will teach two Astronomy Courses in the academic year 2002 - 2003, beginning August 2002. Read the information below (click on course title for the contents). Be aware however that there may be some changes in January 2003. If you need additional information, please come to my office (444 in the Physics Building, or call me at 265-3844 ext. 2025. You can also send me an

E-mail for additional info

  1. "Introductory Astronomy and Astrophysics" - undergraduate level (ASTR 4005 - 3 credits) - starting August 2002. Part II (ASTR 4006 - 3 credits) begins in January 2003.

  2. "Radio Astronomy" - graduate level (FISI 6510) - 1 credit (uncertain, depends on the number of students)
  3. "Pulsars" - graduate level (ASTR 6991 - 2 credits) -
    uncertain, depends on the number of students
  4. "Pulsar Magnetospheres and Emission Mechanisms" - graduate level (ASTR 6992) - at this time (22 August 2002) this course is not certain - please contact me if you are interested.

This page was last updated 23 August, 2002

"Introductory Astronomy and Astrophysics"
undergraduate level; two semester course (Part I is ASTR 4005 with 3 credits, and begins in August 2002, Part II will begin in January 2002 - it will have a different course number (ASTR 4006). Part I may be taken without Part II)

Undergraduate course in introductory Astronomy for ambitious students who like a challenge of applying some Mathematics and Physics to study astronomical phenomena and astrophysical processes.

This is a two-semester course, and the material listed below will be divided into two about equal parts. Students taking Part I do not have to take Part II in the next semester. If, however, somebody is thinking about some kind of research in Astronomy, Part II is highly recommended.

Pre-requisites:
- For Part I - Calculus, Physics I, and Physics II (Physics II may be taken in parallel);
- For Part II (ASTR 4006) the pre-requisite is also Part I (ASTR 4005)

Textbook: "Introductory Astronomy and Astrophysics"; M. Zeilik, S.A. Gregory

This information was last updated on August 23, 2002.

ASTR 4005 - 1st semester 2002 - 2003

Contents:

Prelude:

Orbits in the Solar System
Orbits Outside of the Solar System
Special Relativity
Particles and Forces
Stars
Radiation Processes
Cosmology

Part I: The Solar System

Part II: The Stars

Part III: The Milky Way Galaxy

Part IV: The Universe

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"Radio Astronomy"
graduate level (FISI 6510); one semester, see above for schedule information

Please come back to this page often for updated information.

Pre-requisites: Calculus, Physics I, and Physics II

Textbook: "Radio Astronomy"; John D. Kraus. In addition, extensive use of Internet resources.

Contents:

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"Pulsars"
graduate level (ASTR 6991 with 2 credits); one semester. See above for schedule information

Review of what we know about neutron stars and pulsars, from theoretical predictions of their existence to the most important observational characteristics and their interpretations. Includes also review of the latest literature of the subject.

Pre-requisites: Calculus, Physics I, and Physics II

Textbook: "Pulsars"; R.N. Manchester and J.H. Taylor. In addition, extensive use of Internet resources.

Contents:

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"Pulsar Magnetospheres and Emission Mechanisms"
graduate level (ASTR 6992); one semester, see above for schedule information

Please come back to this page often for updated information.

Pre-requisites: Calculus, Physics I, and Physics II

Textbook: "Theory of Neutron Star Magnetospheres"; F. Curtis Michel. In addition, extensive use of Internet resources.

Contents:

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