These are the undergraduate courses offered by the Department of Astronomy.

Click on the course number to be taken to that course page within Testudo, the University's Schedule of Classes, which will include such information as the prerequisites, current status of enrollment, and waitlist sizes for each class. (If the course is not being offered this semester, you will get a Course Not Found message.)

Click on the course title to get a brief description of the course or just scroll down to see all of the descriptions.

• General-interest courses (primarily for non-science majors, including astronomy minors)
• Introductory/intermediate courses (primarily for astronomy, physics, and physical sciences majors)
• Advanced courses (primarily for astronomy, physics, and physical sciences majors)

There is also a full list of courses in order by catalog number.

• ASTR 120     Introductory Astrophysics -- Solar System (3)
• ASTR 121     Introductory Astrophysics II -- Stars and Beyond (4)
• ASTR 288     Special Projects in Astronomy (1-3)
• ASTR 310     Observational Astronomy (3)
• ASTR 320     Theoretical Astrophysics (3)

ASTR 120 -- Introductory Astrophysics - Solar System (3 credits)

Pre- or corequisite: MATH 115. Not open to students who have completed ASTR 100 or ASTR 101. Credit will be granted for only one of the following: ASTR 100 or ASTR 101 or ASTR 120. For students majoring in astronomy or with a strong interest in science. Topics include development of astronomy, planetary orbits, electromagnetic radiation, telescopes as well as constituents and origin of the solar system (planets, satellites, comets, asteroids, meteoroids, etc.). Typically offered in the fall.

ASTR 121 -- Introductory Astrophysics II - Stars and Beyond (4 credits)

Three hours of lecture and two hours of laboratory per week. Prerequisites: MATH 115 and ASTR 120, or permission of department. For students majoring in astronomy or with a strong interest in science. Includes instrumentation, stellar properties, stellar evolution, structure of the galaxy, other galaxies, large scale structure, Big Bang Theory and future of the universe. Typically offered in the spring.

ASTR 288 -- Special Projects in Astronomy (1-3 credits)

Prerequisite: permission of department. Repeatable to 6 credits. Independent study, short research projects, tutorial reading, and assisting with faculty research and teaching under supervision.

ASTR 310 -- Observational Astronomy (3 credits)

Three hours of lecture and one hour of laboratory per week. Prerequisites: ASTR 121; PHYS 171 or PHYS 161; or permission of department. For ASTR majors only. Introduction to current optical observational techniques, with brief coverage of infrared, ultraviolet and x-ray techniques. Statistics, spherical trigonometry, time, catalogs, geometrical and physical optics, telescopes, optical instruments. Effects of the atmosphere. Practical work at the observatory using a CCD camera. Some night-time observing sessions. Typically offered in the fall.

ASTR 320 -- Theoretical Astrophysics (3 credits)

Prerequisites: ASTR 121; PHYS 273 or PHYS 270+271; or permission of department. Application of selected physics concepts in an astrophysical context. Topics would include gravity (Keplerian motion, Virial theorem, Roche limit, dynamical friction); gas dynamics (hydrostatic equilibrium, stellar models, spiral density waves), thermodynamics and statistical physics (Boltzmann distribution, Wien displacement, convective instability, degenerate gas); atomic physics (quantum principles, H atom, permitted and forbidden lines); radiation processes (line radiation, opacity). Typically offered in the spring.

• ASTR 399     Honors Seminar (1-16)
• ASTR 410     Radio Astronomy (3)
• ASTR 415     Computational Astrophysics (3)
• ASTR 421     Galaxies (3)
• ASTR 422     Cosmology (3)
• ASTR 430     The Solar System (3)
• ASTR 450     Orbital Dynamics (3)
• ASTR 480     High-Energy Astrophysics (3)
• ASTR 498     Special Problems in Astronomy (1-6)

ASTR 399 -- Honors Seminar (1-16 credits)

Enrollment is limited to students admitted to the departmental honors program in astronomy. Credit according to work done.

ASTR 410 -- Radio Astronomy (3 credits)

Prerequisites: ASTR 121; PHYS 273 or PHYS 270+271; or permission of department. Introduction to current observational techniques in radio astronomy. The radio sky, coordinates and catalogs, antenna theory, Fourier transforms, interferometry and arrays, aperture synthesis, radio detectors. Typically offered every two years.

ASTR 415 -- Computational Astrophysics (3 credits)

Prerequisite: permission of department. Recommended: computer programming knowledge. For ASTR majors only. Introduction to the most important computational techniques being used in research in astrophysics. Topics include modern high performance computer architectures, scientific visualization and data analysis, and detailed descriptions of numerical algorithms for the solution to a wide range of mathematical systems important in astrophysics. Typically offered every two years.

ASTR 421 -- Galaxies (3 credits)

Prerequisite: ASTR 121; PHYS 273 or PHYS 270+271. For ASTR majors only. Structure, kinematics, and dynamics of normal disk and elliptical galaxies, including our own Milky Way Galaxy. Detailed analysis of the stellar and gaseous components. Physics of exotic objects like interacting galaxies, mergers, starburst galaxies, and active galactic nuclei. Typically offered every two years.

ASTR 422 -- Cosmology (3 credits)

Prerequisite: ASTR 121; PHYS 273 or PHYS 270+271. For ASTR majors only. Large-scale structure of the universe, and the intergalactic medium. Dark matter. Cosmological models including the Standard Big Bang model -- predictions (e.g. nucleosynthesis, cosmic background radiation) versus observations. Cosmological constant. Galaxy formation and evolution. Typically offered every two years.

ASTR 430 -- The Solar System (3 credits)

Prerequisite: ASTR 121; PHYS 273 or PHYS 270+271; or permission of department. Formation and evolution of the Solar System. Planetary surfaces, interiors, atmospheres, and magnetospheres. Asteroids, comets, planetary satellites, and ring systems. Emphasis on using basic physics to understand observed properties of the Solar System. Intended for students majoring in the physical sciences. Typically offered every two to three years.

ASTR 450 -- Orbital Dynamics (3 credits)

Prerequisite: ASTR 121; PHYS 273 or PHYS 270+271; or permission of department. Vectorial mechanics, motion in a central force field, gravitational and non-gravitational forces, the two-body and three-body problems, orbital elements and orbital perturbation theory, resonances in the solar system, chaos. Intended for students majoring in any of the physical sciences. Typically offered every two to three years.

ASTR 480 -- High-Energy Astrophysics (3 credits)

Prerequisite: ASTR 121; PHYS 273 or PHYS 270+271; or permission of department. Formerly ASTR 498E. The structure, formation, and astrophysics of compact objects, such as white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes, are examined. Phenomena such as supernovae and high-energy particles are also covered. Typically offered every two to three years.

ASTR 498 -- Special Problems in Astronomy (1-6 credits)

Prerequisite: major in physics or astronomy or permission of department. Research or special study on topics such as stellar astrophysics, high energy astrophysics, etc. Credit according to work done. Offered most years.