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Astronomy 123: Cosmology |
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Astronomy 123: Cosmology |
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Astronomy 123 is an introduction to the science of astronomy for non-science majors, with an emphasis on the Universe outside of our galaxy and cosmology. The past 10 years has seen an explosion in our understanding of the contents, formation and evolution of the Universe. Changes in our understanding of fundamental physics, combined with discoveries from space and ground-based telescopes, have led to a radically different model of our place in the Universe and its origins. The field of cosmology is science's newest endeavor into the most basic questions of humankind's existence; where do we come from and what is our fate? Cosmology is the meeting point of observational astronomy, philosophy and particle physics. However, unlike philosophy, cosmology engages Nature providing a foundation based in observation and experience.
The specific goals of this class are 1) to gain an understanding of basic science that underlies Astronomy (the forum is modern cosmology), 2) to understand the properties of the objects that make up our Universe, 3) to formulate a coherent philosophy for interpreting the observational evidence of the hot Big Bang and relating this world-view to new areas of research. In addition, this course traces the history of cosmology in order to explore how the scientific method works and how civilization has gained from the progress of science and technology. The interplay between technology (telescopes, space observatories) and knowledge gained about the Universe is a key theme to the course.
Other Astronomy courses in the group:
Astr 121: The Solar System
Astr 122: The Birth and Death of Stars
Instructor: James N. Imamura
Office: 444 Willamette Hall or 441 Willamette Hall (try both)
E-mail: imamura@uoregon.edu
Phone: 541-346-5212
Office Hours: MW 2 pm-3:30 pm; TuTh, 10:30-noon; or by appointment
Course: ASTR 123, Cosmology |
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Test 1 will be worth 100 points,
Test 2 will be worth 100 points,
Test 3 will be worth 100 points,
the homeworks will be worth 10 points per
assignment for 60 total points,
and the Final Examination
will be worth 140 points.
The total available points = 100+100+100+60+140 = 500 points
Final Examination: 13:00, Tuesday, 20 March, 2012, Review Sheet
Week |
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1,2 |
Introduction |
Chapters 23-28 | 1/10/2012,1/12/2012,1/17/2012 | Topic 1 |
HW 1--due: 19 Jan 2012 |
3 |
The Milky Way Galaxy |
Chapter 23 |
1/24/2012,1/31/2012 |
Topic 2 |
HW 2--due: revised, 31 Jan 2012 |
3,4 |
Normal Galaxies |
Chapters 24, 25 | 1/31/2012,2/2/2012 | Topic 3 |
HW 3--due: 9 Feb 2012 |
5 |
Active Galactic Nuclei |
Chapters 24, 25 | 2/7/2012,2/9/2012 |
Topic 4 |
.... |
6 |
World Views of the Universe |
Chapter 26 | 2/9/2012,2/14/2012 |
Topic 5 |
HW 4--due: 16 Feb 2012 |
6,7 |
History of the Universe |
Chapters 26, 27 | 2/21/2012,2/23/2012,2/28/2012,3/1/2012 |
Topic 6 |
... |
7,8 |
Observations and the Fate of the Universe |
Chapters 24, 25, 26 | 3/6/2012 |
Topic 7 |
HW 5--due: March 1, 2012 |
9 |
The Beginning of Time |
Chapters 26 | xx/xx/xxxx |
Topic 8 |
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9,10 |
Drake Equation, Fermi Paradox, and SETI |
Chapter 28 | 3/13/2012,3/15/2012 |
Topic 9 |
HW 6--due: March 15, 2012 |