The following is a rough, week by week outline of our course. I prefer to keep the exact schedule flexible so that I may change pace to reflect the feedback I get from you. Note that there are about 15 weeks in the semester. Attendance at class is the best way to ensure you are reading the right chapters and doing the right homeworks.
|
Week |
Chapter |
Topics |
|
1 |
1 |
Tour, naked-eye observing, angular sizes, lunar phases. |
|
2 |
2 |
Scale models of the universe. |
|
2 |
12 |
The Sun: the nearest star. |
|
3 |
4 |
Matter, energy, density, atoms. |
|
4 |
13 |
Stars: parallax, luminosity, temperatures, mass. |
|
5 |
5 |
Force, gravity, Kepler's laws and mass. |
|
6 |
14 |
Stellar evolution, from birth to death. |
|
7 |
6 |
Light: spectrum, distribution of energy, Doppler effect. |
|
8 |
15 |
Stellar remnants: white dwarfs, neutron stars, black holes. |
|
9 |
6 |
Telescopes and observing technology. |
|
10 |
16 |
The Milky Way: structure, motion, & change in our galaxy. |
|
11 |
17 |
Galaxies: types, distances, recession, the age of the Universe. |
|
12 |
17 |
Galaxy evolution: formation, mergers, quasars, active galaxies. |
|
13 |
18 |
Dark matter: the mysterious missing mass. |
|
14 |
19 |
The Big Bang theory: chronology, evidence, the Story. |
|
15 |
20 |
Extra-Solar planets, interstellar travel and life in the Universe. |