Classes:	TTh 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM Welch 3.502
Instructor:	Karl Gebhardt
Office:	RLM 16.218
Office Hours:	MW 1-2, or by appointment
Office Telephone:	471-1473
Email:	gebhardt@astro.as.utexas.edu
Teaching Assistant:	Meghann Agarwal
Help Sessions:	W 6-7, RLM 7.124
Office Hours:	M 5-6, RLM 15.202A/Peridier Library

Syllabus

Notes #1 Notes #2 Notes #3 Notes #4 Notes #5
Notes #6 Notes #7 Notes #8 Notes #9 Notes #10
Notes #11 Notes #12 Notes #13 Notes #14 Notes #15
Notes #16 Notes #17 Notes #18 Notes #19
Notes #20 Notes #21

HW #1 HW #2 HW #3 HW #4

Quiz Solutions Midterm Solutions

FINAL Review Questions

There are two copies of the textbook on reserve at the PMA Library on the 4th floor (main entrance) of RLM and in the main library (PCL). Some of you may have a short version of the textbook that does not include Chapters S2, S3 and S4 (relativity, spacetime, quantum). These chapters are in the books on reserve.

Material for 2/12: Exoplanets, Planetary Atmospheres
Material for 2/14: Planetary Atmospheres, Jovian Planet Systems
Material for 2/19: Jovian Planet Systems, Space and Time
Material for 2/21: Space and Time
Material for 2/26: Space and Time, Spacetime and Gravity
Material for 2/28: Spacetime and Gravity
Material for 3/4: Building Blocks of the Universe, The Sun
Material for 3/4: The Sun
Material for 3/20: Surveying the Stars, Star Birth
Material for 3/25: Star Birth and Death
Material for 3/26: Star Death, Galaxies
Material for 4/1: Galaxies
Material for 4/3: Galaxy Evolution
Material for 4/8: Galaxy Evolution, Dark Matter
Material for 4/15: Dark Matter, Galaxy Formation
Material for 4/17: Galaxy Formation, Dark Matter
Material for 4/22: Dark Matter, Dark Energy

COURSE OBJECTIVES:

Astronomy is one of our oldest sciences. It allows us to ask fundamental questions about the existence of our Universe: where we came from, how we got here, and where we will end up. This course will provide an overview of Astronomy---from our Solar System to the outer reaches of the cosmos---highlighting some of the fundamental shifts in science that have led to our current understanding of the Universe.

TEXT:

The Cosmic Perspective by Bennett, Donahue, Schneider, and Voit. If you buy a new textbook, then you automatically get a subscription to their online pages. If you buy a used book, you can buy an online subscription directly from the publisher (just go to their webpage). Lectures, along with many articles from the internet, will mainly be provided on this website. I will add websites to the lists below during the semester.

INTERNET RESOURCES:

General Resources The Cosmic Perspective website Space Telescope SPITZER Chandra Observatory Picture of the Day Space Weather

Planet Resources Extrasolar Planets, US Team Extrasolar Planets, Swiss Team Planet Quest Minor Planet Center

INTERNET ARTICLES:

On-line Astronomy News Space.Com CNN Space NY Times Science LA Times Science BBC Science Sky and Telescope SpaceRef Astro Preprints

Good Resources RC3 Galaxy Images

INTERNET SIMULATIONS:	Mihos' Java Lab Bothun's Java Lab Binary Star Simulation Black Hole Movies Andromeda merging with Milky Way Spiral merging Elliptical merging Spiral (face-on)
WRITTEN ASSIGNMENTS:	All written assignments (reports, homework, projects) must be in computer generated text - NO handwritten papers. Some of the assignments will involve problem-solving and math.
OBSERVING:	You may be interested to visit our Student Observatory on the roof of Painter Hall. This houses a 9 inch refracting telescope. The general student night is Fridays at 8:00 - 9:00 PM, clear nights only. This is a simple telescope to use and students (you!) can be checked out to observe with it. Please see me for further information. You may also look at the Painter Hall Telescope Handbook, which explains the check-out procedure and the use of the telescope. You can also consult the Educational Services Office, RLM 13.122, 471-1307. There are also Star Parties every Wednesday evening on the roof of RLM using the 16-inch telescope.
STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES:	The University of Texas at Austin provides upon request appropriate academic accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. For more information, contact the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259, 471-4641 TTY. Also, please notify me of any modification/adaptation that you may require to accommodate a disability-related need. Specialized services are available on campus through Services for Students with Disabilities.
UNIVERSITY RULES:	The University's deadlines and rules regarding "dropping" the course will be strictly enforced. I will assume that you know the deadlines and the rules.

Karl Gebhardt's Home Page

University of Texas Astronomy Home Page