ASTR 120, Introduction to Astronomy for Majors

Fall 2017

My lecture notes (PDF from PowerPoint slides):

• Lecture 1: Introduction to ASTR 120
• Lecture 2: Quantitative reasoning in astronomy
• Lecture 3: The night sky
• Lecture 4: Seasons, phases, and eclipses
• Lecture 5: Historical perspectives
• Lecture 6: Laws of motion
• Lecture 7: Conservation laws and gravity
• Lecture 8: Gravity and orbits
• Lecture 9: Light and matter
• Lecture 10: Spectroscopy
• Lecture 11: Telescopes
• Lecture 12: Overview of the solar system
• Lecture 13: Formation of the solar system, part 1
• Lecture 14: Formation of the solar system, part 2
• Lecture 15: Planetary geology
• Lecture 16: Planetary meteorology
• Lecture 17: Magnetic fields and long-term climate change
• Lecture 18: Gas and ice giants
• Lecture 19: Jovian planet moons and rings
• Lecture 20: Asteroids and comets
• Lecture 21: The impact hazard
• Lecture 22: Solar structure
• Lecture 23: Solar activity
• Lecture 24: Exoplanet discovery
• Lecture 25: Exoplanet characterization
• Lecture 26: Life in the universe part 1
• Lecture 27: Life in the universe part 2

Problem sets:

• Homework 1, due 5 September 2017
• Homework 2, due 12 September 2017
• Homework 3, due 19 September 2017
• Homework 4, due 26 September 2017
• Homework 5, due 3 October 2017
• Homework 6, due 17 October 2017
• Homework 7, due 24 Octomber 2017
• Homework 8, due 31 October 2017
• Homework 9, due 14 November 2017
• Homework 10, due 21 November 2017
• Homework 11, due 30 November 2017
• Homework 12, due 7 December 2017

Send me to:

Cole's home page

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