UNDERGRADUATE ASTRONOMY COURSES AT PRINCETON
AST 105: Our Place in the Universe (Special course, offered Fall 2005; Fall 2007)
Astronomers have put together a coherent picture of the universe called the "Concordance Model." It includes, in addition to the gas, dust, planets, stars, and galaxies made of ordinary matter, large amounts of "dark matter" and "dark energy." Part one of the course will lay out the historical path of these discoveries, showing how new instruments, which allowed us to see further into space and further back in time, led us to the present synthesis. Part two will explain the physical ideas which underlie this picture. Part three will address the current unknowns and the possible directions in which future thought and discovery may lead us. The course has no prerequisites past high school algebra and geometry.
AST 203: The Universe (offered each Spring)
A specially designed course in three parts -- stars, galaxies, and the universe -- whose syllabus targets the frontier of modern astrophysics and draws upon the professional and educational expertise of the instructors. Subjects include the birth, life, and death of stars; the search for extrasolar planets and extraterrestrial life (intelligent or otherwise); the zoo of galaxies from dwarfs to giants, from starbursts to quasars; dark matter and the large-scale structure of the universe; Einstein's special and general theory of relativity, black holes, worm holes, time travel, and big bang cosmology. This course is designed for the non-science major and has no prerequisites past high school algebra and geometry.
AST 204: Topics in Modern Astronomy (offered each Spring)
The solar system; the birth and evolution of the stars; supernovae, neutron stars, and black holes; the evolution of the chemical elements; the formation, structure, and evolution of galaxies; cosmology and the evolution of the universe; and life in the universe. Prerequisites: Physics 103 or 105 and Mathematics 104 or equivalent. Intended for students in the sciences.
GEO 207/AST 207: A Guided Tour of the Solar System (offered Fall 2005, 2006, 2007)
This course examines the major bodies of our solar system, emphasizing their surface features, internal structures, and atmospheres. Topics include the origin of the solar system, occurrence of liquid water, habitability of planets, and role of impacts in planetary evolution. Both terrestrial and giant planets will be studied as well as satellites, comets, and asteroids. Recent discoveries from planetary missions are emphasized. The course is aimed primarily at non-science majors.
GEO 255/AST 255/EEB 255: Life in the Universe (offered Fall 2005, 2006, 2007)
See: Astrobiology at Princeton University
This course introduces students to a new field, Astrobiology, where scientists trained in biology, chemistry, astronomy and geology combine their skills to discover life's origins and to seek extraterrestrial life. Topics include: Discoveries of microbes at great depths on Earth that raise the prospect of life beneath the surfaces of Mars and Europa, a moon of Jupiter; Extra-solar planets nearby that offer targets for NASA space telescopes searching for life. Students will experience first hand the diverse techniques used to study extremophiles in hot springs and on future Mars missions during a mandatory fall-break trip to Yellowstone Park.
AST 301: General Relativity (offered every other Fall - odd years)
(course materials and further information available on Blackboard)
This is an introductory course in general relativity for undergraduates. Topics include the early universe, black holes, cosmic strings, worm holes, and time travel. Two 90-minute lectures. Prerequisites: Mathematics 201, 202, Physics 203, 208. Designed for science and engineering majors.
AST 302: Structure of the Stars (offered every other Fall - even years)
Topics include the physical properties of stellar matter under conditions of mechanical and thermal equilibrium, origin, evolution, and death of single and binary stars, stellar atmospheric layers, and the abundances of the chemical elements. Two 90-minute lectures. Prerequisites: Mathematics 201, 202; Physics 203, 208. Designed for science and engineering majors.
AST 303: Modeling and Observing the Universe: Research Methods in Astrophysics (offered Fall 2006, instead of AST 302)
How do we model and observe the universe? We discuss the wide range of observation tools available to the modern astronomer: space-based gamma ray telescopes, globe-spanning radio interferometry, optical telescopes and particle detectors. We review basic statistics and introduce students to modern techniques used in analysis and interpretation of modern data sets containing millions of galaxies, quasars and stars, as well as the numerical techniques used by theoretical astrophysicists to model these data. The course is problem-set-based and aims to provide students with tools needed for independent work both at Princeton and beyond. Prerequisites: PHY103/104 OR 105/106, and MATH 103/104, or consent of instructor.
AST 401: Cosmology (offered every other Spring - even years)
Topics include the properties and nature of galaxies, quasars, active galactic nuclei, galaxy clustering, large-scale properties of the universe, formation of galaxies and other structures, microwave background radiation, the big bang, and the early universe. Two 90-minute lectures. Prerequisites: Mathematics 201, 202; Physics 203, 208. Designed for science and engineering majors.
AST 402: Interstellar Matter and Star Formation (offered every other Spring - odd years)
Emission mechanisms (thermal, spectral line, synchrotron) for ionized and neutral gas are applied to observations of the interstellar medium over the entire spectrum to derive its properties. Topics include star formation, HII regions, molecular clouds, dust, masers, interstellar chemistry, supernova remnants, shock processes, cosmic ray acceleration and propagation, magnetic fields. Two lectures, one class. Prerequisites: Mathematics 201,202; Physics 203, 208.
AST 403: Stars and Star Formation (offered Spring 2007, instead of AST 402)
Stars form by the gravitational collapse of interstellar gas clouds, and as they evolve, return some of their gas to the interstellar medium, altering its physical state and chemical composition. This course discusses the properties and evolution of the gaseous and stellar components of a galaxy: the theory and observations of star formation; stellar structure; the production of energy by nucleosynthesis; stellar evolution; stellar end states; and the interpretation of observations of the diffuse and dense interstellar medium. We will discuss how major telescopes and space missions might tackle these problems. Prerequisites: MAT 201, 202 PHY 203, 208
Last modified January 12, 2007