ASTR-1403 Stellar Astronomy With Lab

John Fulton

Credit Fall 2023

Section(s)

ASTR-1403-002 (66422)
LEC TuTh 7:00pm - 8:20pm RRC RRC2 2322.00

LAB TuTh 8:30pm - 9:50pm RRC RRC2 2324.00

Course Requirements

Course Prerequisites:

  • MATD 0390 or two years of high school algebra or equivalent.
  • One year of high school science recommended, but not required.

Required Texts/Materials

  • Astronomy Today with Mastering Astronomy, 9th Edition - Chaisson & McMillan. May be text or eBook.
  • (Hand-held) Calculator for use on problems related to lectures/labs/tests at each class.
  •  Flat three Ring Binder for lab and XC notes/assignments

Readings

COURSE CALENDAR

 

Course Schedule Stellar Astronomy with Lab 1403 Fall Semester, 2023

These dates and assignments are subject to change but with reasonable prior notification.

 

 

Date

Lecture

Lab Period

Aug 22               1 T

Syllabus / Chapter 1 The Heavens,

CCA #1 Intro to Astronomy,

Lecture notes quiz Chap 1 Introduction.

CCA Intro to Astro & Chapter 1 Charting the Heavens.

Aug 24               2 Th

CH 1 The Heavens,

Ch 3 Radiation,

Light CCA #24.

 

 

Lab 1 EM waves frequency wave -

length  

Aug 29               3 T         

 CH 3 Radiation,

 CH 4 Spectroscopy,

CCP #40 (Write Q’s & Ans.)

 

Lab 2 Radiation Demon-strations

Aug 31                 4 Th

 CH 4 Spectroscopy,

 CH 16 The Sun.

 

Lab 3 Analogue Spectra

Sep 5                 5 T

 CH 16 The Sun,

CCA #10 The Sun.

 Lab 3 Analogue Spectra

Sep 7                 6 Th

 CH 17 The stars,

 CCA # 7 Gravity.

 

Lab 4 Digital Spectra, Hydrogen Lines

Sep 12               7 T  

CH 17 The Stars,

CCA # 26 Stars.

Lab 4 Digital Spectra, Hydrogen Lines

Sep 14               8 Th

Ch 17 The Stars,

 CCA # 25 Distance.

 

Lab 5 Star Magnitude, Luminosity, Temp & Size

Sep 19               9 T

Ch 17 The Stars,

CCA #26 Stars.

Lab 6 The Sun

Sep 21             10 Th

Test review

Catch up

Sep 26             11 T

 TEST 1 (chapters 1, 3, 4, 16, & 17)

TEST 1

Sep 28             12 Th 

Chap 18 Interstellar Medium,

CCA #36 Nebula.

 

Lab 7 Astro- Magnetic Demonstrate

 

Oct 3                13 T

Chap 18 The interstellar Medium,

 CCA Star Clusters #35.

 

 

 

Lab 8 General Telescope

Oct 5                14 Th

Chap 19 Star Formation,

CCA Brown Dwarf # 28.

 

 

Deck Observing Night

Oct 10              15 T

Chap 19 Star Formation

Chap 20 Stellar Evolution,

CCA low mass stars # 29.

 

Catch up

 

Oct 12              16 Th

Chap 20 Stellar Evolution,

CCA # 30 White Dwarf and Planetary Nebula.

 

 

 

Lab 9

Spectro-scopic Parallax

Oct 17              17 T 

Chap 20 Stellar Evolution,

CCA # 31 High Mass Stars

Ch 21 Stellar Explosions.

 

 

Lab 9 Spectroscopic Parallax

Oct 19             18 Th

Ch 21 Stellar Explosions,

CCA # 32 Neutron Stars. 

Ch 22 Neutron Stars (only)

 

 

Lab 10 HR -Diagram Supplement

Oct 24              19 T

Ch 22 Neutron stars (only)

 

Test Review

Oct 26              20 Th

 

Test 2 (chapters 18, 19, 20, 21, & 22^^)

 ^^Chapter 22 will be Neutron stars only.

Test 2

 

Oct 31               21 T

Chap 23 The Milky Way Galaxy,

CCA # 37 The MWG.

 

 

Lab 11 The Mass of the MWG

Nov 2               22 Th               

Chap 23 The Milky Way Galaxy,

CCA #38 Galaxy I.

 

Lab 12 Galaxy Collision

Nov 7               23 T          

Galaxies Ch 24,

CCA Galaxy#39 II.

 

 

Deck Observing

Nov 9             24 Th            

Galaxies Ch 24,

Galaxies and Dark Matter Ch 25,

CCA #41 Galactic Dark Matter.

Catch up

Nov 14             25 T           

Galaxies and Dark Matter Ch 25.

Lab 13 Recessional Velocity 3c 273

Nov 16             26 Th           

Cosmology Ch 26,

CCA #42 Big Bang Cosmology.

Lab 13

Cont.

Nov 21            27 T

Nov 23 no class          

Cosmology Ch 26,

Chap 27 The Early Universe,

CCA#43 Dark Energy Cosmology.

 

Lab 14

Video: Big Bang I

Nov 28             28 T

The Early Universe Ch 27,

A Brief History of the Universe

CCA #44.

 

Lab 14

Cont.

Video: Big Bang II

 

https://topdocumentaryfilms.com/universe-beyond-big-bang/#:~:text=Ratings%3A%207.29%2F10%20from%2045,%2C%20Gamow%2C%20Alpher%20And%20Guth.

 

Nov 30               29 Th

Early Universe Ch 27,

CCA #45 Deep Time.

 

 

Test Review

 

Dec 5               30 T

Test 3 (Chapter 23, 24, 25, 26, & 27)

Test 3

Dec 7               31 Th (last class)

Early Universe Ch 27,

CCA #45 Deep Time

 

 

Lab 15

Astro Mag

Review

Course Subjects

Course Description

A study of stars, galaxies, and the universe. Discussion of atomic spectra, nuclear energy, and astronomical tools (such as optical, radio, and other telescopes and image enhancers) as they provide knowledge about distant objects. Emphasis on recent discoveries about by the James Webb Telescope about quasars, black holes, exoplanets, and cosmology.

Student Learning Outcomes/Learning Objectives

Course-Level Student Learning Outcomes:

Upon successful completion of this course, the student will be able to:

  • Demonstrate understanding of the nature of science and the Scientific Method.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the basic laws of physics that apply to the study of the Universe.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the basic properties of celestial objects, and how those properties are determined.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the various stages in a star's development, including its birth, life, and death.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the properties of galaxies, and how those properties originate.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the hierarchical structure of the Universe, from multiple star systems to the Universe as a whole.
  • Demonstrate knowledge of the nature of the expansion of the Universe, and what that expansion tells us about the past, present, and future of the Universe.

Office Hours

Office Hours

Published: 07/29/2023 11:36:08