ASTR 1040-010 Accelerated Intro Astronomy 2: Stars & Galaxies (Toomre) Spring 2020

Lecture Notes and Schedule

Primary Text: Cosmic Perspective, 9th edition, Bennett et al. (2020). All main reading assignments are from this book.

COPIES OF LECTURE SLIDES ARE POSTED AFTER EACH LECTURE (click on underlined links that get you to Acrobat-readable pdf files -- slides here are six to a page for economy)

Lecture 1: Course goals and overview (Tues, Jan 14)

Reading prior to class: Chap 1 (Our place in the universe) and `How to succeed in your astronomy course' (preface). Detailed course syllabus distributed (also posted on website here). Homework Set #1 passed out (due Thur Jan 23). Register your iClicker via myCUinfo site if not already registered. Set up your student account on Modified Mastering Astronomy (MMA) site via our course Canvas site (see instructions on pink Pearson passed-out sheet), linking to our course named "ASTR1040TOOMRE2020". Carry out HW Assignment #0 on MMA site to become familiar with its procedures. Recitations start this week, both on Tues and Wed.

Lecture 2: Fundamental forces and light as waves (Thur, Jan 16)

Reading prior to class: Chap 3 (especially 3.4), Chap 4 (review in detail), and then read carefully all of Chap 5 (Light and Matter). Demo of emission tubes yielding spectral lines seen with plastic diffraction gratings.

Lecture 3: Emission and absorption of light (Tues, Jan 21)

Reading prior to class: Read Chap 6 (Telescopes) thoroughly, survey read Chap 14 (Our Star). Doppler effect demo.

Lecture 4: Telescopes and issues of observing (Thur, Jan 23)

Reading prior to class: Read Chap 6 (Telescopes) thoroughly, survey read Chap 14 (Our Star). Homework Set #1 due in class. Homework Set #2 passed out.

Lecture 5: Telescopes in space and radio telescope arrays (Tues, Jan 28)

Reading prior to class: Complete reading Chap 14 (Our Star). Demo on pointing space telescopes. Homework #1 returned graded, plus answer sheet. Observatory Night #1, this Thur Jan 30, starting 7:00pm, by sign-up.

Lecture 6: Fiske Planetarium #1: Elements of Sun as a star (Thur, Jan 30)

Class meets in Fiske Planetarium to study our position in our galaxy with spiral arms, richness of star-forming regions like Orion in multiple wavelengths, and the full-dome Lucas program on "Solar Superstorms". Go directly to Fiske. Reading prior to class: Second reading of Chap 14 (Our Star). Start reading S4 `Building blocks of universe', to be discussed in next week's recitations (especially S4.1 and S4.2). Homework Set #2 due in class at Fiske. Homework Set #3 passed out. Observatory Night #1 tonight.

Lecture 7: Powering the Sun by nuclear burning of hydrogen to helium (Tues, Feb 4)

NASA Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) web site reveals images/movie sequence of Sun in glorious UV detail, with rich structuring in atmosphere from magnetism. Consider the discussion question on 'How do we test/deduce what is deep within the Sun'. Observatory Night #2 on this Thur Feb 6, starting at 7:00pm by signup.

Lecture 8: Solar neutrinos, helioseismology, and rich solar magnetism (Thur, Feb 9)

Reading prior to class: Re-read 14.3 on solar magnetism with care. Homework Set #3 due in class. Homework #4 passed out. Also Review Set #1, in preparation for First Mid-Term Exam in class next Thur Feb 13. Demo on the "strength of pressure" to collapse steel drums (and hold up the Sun!). Observatory Night #2 tonight.

Lecture 9: Solar magnetism and its cycles, dynamo simulations, space weather (Tues, Feb 11)

Reading prior to class: Overview read Chap 15 on properties of stars. Evening review session by Max Weiner this Wed evening, Duane G-130 (6pm-8pm), to help prepare for First Mid-Term Exam in class on Thur Feb 13. Demo on making electromagnetic waves and lightning with a Tesla Coil.

Lecture 10: Stars: linking temperature and spectral classes (Thur, Feb 13)

Reading prior to class: Complete overview read Chap 15 on properties of stars. Homework Set #4 due in class, new Homework #5 passed out. The First Mid-Term Exam occupies the last 50+5 minutes in class.

Lecture 11: Stellar types and the H-R diagram (Tues, Feb 18)

Reading prior to class: Read Chap 15.1: `Properties of stars' in detail, and 15.2 in overview. Mid-Term Exam 1 returned graded, and so too Homework #4 graded. Observatory #3 signup for this Wed Feb 19.

Lecture 12: Mass influences light output on main sequence (Thur, Feb 20)

Focus on reading 15.2 `Patterns among stars' carefully, and then turn to 15.3 'Star clusters'. Survey read Chap 16 (Star Birth). Homework Set #5 due today, new HW #6 passed out. Observatory #4 signup for coming Tues Feb 25.

Lecture 13: Star birth: Getting to the main sequence (Tues, Feb 25)

Read Chap 16.1 'Stellar nurseries' and 16.2 'Stages of star birth' with some care. Observatory #4 tonight, can still signup. `Stellar Evolution Overview' sheet passed out.

Lecture 14: Low-mass star after main sequence: red giants and supergiants, planetary nebulae, white dwarfs (Thur, Feb 27)

Reading prior to class: Overview read Chap 17 `Star Stuff', and in detail 17.2 `Life as Low-Mass Star'. Read 18.1 `White Dwarfs' with care (end of evolution for low-mass stars). Homework #6 due in class, new HW #7 available. Observatory #5 signup for coming Tues Mar 3.

Lecture 15: High-mass star evolution to supernova end with neutron star (Tues, Mar 3)

Read 17.2 `Life as High-Mass Star' with some care, and both 18.2 `Neutron stars' and 18.3 `Black Holes' in overview. Observatory Night #5 tonight, signup.

Lecture 16: Fiske Planetarium #2: Massive stars, supernovae and black holes (Thur, Mar 5)

Go directly to Fiske, trying to arrive on time. Program on flying through our Milky Way galaxy to experience spiral structure, star birth regions as jewels in the sky, multi-views of Orion Nebula, and galaxies in many flavors. Full digital-sky projection of the superb "Black Holes: The Other Side of Infinity" program produced by Gates Planetarium at the Denver Museum of Science and Nature (DMSN). Reading prior to class: Read 18.2 `Neutron stars' in detail. Review Set #2 passed out for Second Mid-Term Exam on Thur Mar 12 in class. Observatory Night #6 on Tues March 10. Homework Set #7 due in class, new HW #8 passed out.

Lecture 17: Supernovae, mass transfer in binaries and awakened white dwarfs (Tues, Mar 10)

Reading prior to class: Review 18.1 `White Dwarfs' for role of mass transfer in binary systems. Evening review session by Max Weiner this Wed evening, Duane G130 (6pm-8pm), to help prepare for Second Mid-Term Exam in class on Thur Mar 12. Observatory Night #6 tonight, signup.

Lecture 18: Visiting a most famous supernova in modern times: SN 1987A (Thur, Mar 12)

Reading prior to class: Start overview reading of Chap 19 `Our Galaxy'. Homework Set #8 due in class, new HW #9 passed out. Second Mid-Term Exam occupies last 50 minutes of class.

Lecture 19: Einsteins's spacetime: black hole singularities and detecting them (Tues, Mar 17)

Reading prior to class: Read 18.3 carefully. Begin overview read of Chap 19, "Our Galaxy" (Milky Way), and of S2 "Space and Time" (Special Relativity). Second Mid-Term Exam would be returned graded, and so also Homework #8; but we cannot do so physically, since we are now only teaching and learning remotely and the APS office is closed this week. Grades for Second MT Exam 2 have been posted on Canvas, and so too answers and grade boundaries. Homework #8 grades and answers, and so for future homeworks, will be posted on Canvas. All actual papers will be available after the Covid-19 emergency abates. Instructions to join Zoom sessions for these lectures and recitations will be emailed one-day in advance of specific classes and recitations at the standard class times.

Lecture 20: Our Milky Way Galaxy: Its overall structure and motions (Thur, Mar 19)

Reading prior to class: Read Chap 19.1 and 19.2 with some care. New Homework Set #10 posted on Canvas; HW #9 due by class time, via submission of Part 9B on Canvas. Overview read Chap 20, including over Spring Break if time and setting allows. Class interactive lecture is presented remotely via Zoom at class time, with details to join emailed on prior day Wed Mar 18.

Lecture 21: Spiral structure and the interstellar medium (ISM) (Tues, Mar 31)

Reading prior to class: After reviewing 19.2 and "star-gas-star" cycling, focus on 19.3 and 19.4. Finish overview reading of Chap 20 "Galaxies and Foundations Modern Cosmology", and S3 "Spacetime and Gravity". Class meets via Zoom. All observatory sessions cancelled, including Observ #7 scheduled for Wed Apr 1.

Lecture 22: Mapping of Milky Way structure and discovery of other "island universes" (Thur, Apr 2)

Reading prior to class: Read with some care 20.2 `Measuring Cosmic Distances' and 20.3 `Age of Universe'. New Homework Set #11 posted on Canvas; HW #10 due by class time, via submission of Part 10B on Canvas. Class meets via Zoom.

Lecture 23: Rich world of galaxies and measuring cosmic distances (Tues, Apr 7)

Reading prior to class: Start overview reading of Chap 21 `Galaxy Evolution'. Re-read 20.1 `Islands of Stars' carefully, and review 20.2 `Measuring Galactic Distances' and 20.3 `Age of Universe', with the latter in effect 'Hubble's Law' on expansion of universe.

Lecture 24: Expanding universe, quasars as active galaxies, galaxy collisions (Thur, Apr 9)

Reading prior to class: Detailed read of 21.1 `Looking Back Through Time' and 21.2 `Lives of Galaxies'. Examine 21.3 'Role of Supermassive Black Holes'. New Homework Set #12 posted in Canvas, HW #11 due by 6pm via download (some flexibility).

Lecture 25: Galaxy evolution and active galactic nuclei (Tues, Apr 14)

Reading prior to class: Careful study of 21.3 'Role of Supermassive Black Holes' and 21.4 `Gas Beyond the Stars'. Review Set #3 posted in Canvas/Modules, for Third Mid-Term Exam scheduled for Tues Apr 21 on Canvas/Quizzes during class time.

Lecture 26: Gravitational lensing and dark matter (Thur, Apr 16)

Reading prior to class: Begin overview reading of Chap 22 'Birth of Universe'. Read 23.2 `Evidence for Dark Matter' in detail for this lecture, even if it jumps ahead in our book. New Homework Set #13 posted in Canvas, HW #12 due by 6pm via download (some flexibility).

Lecture 27: Third Mid-Term Exam (on Canvas/Quizzes) occupies the full class interval. Tues, Apr 21)

Review Session for exam given by Max Weiner on Mon, Apr 20, 4pm-6pm via Zoom, with Review Set #3 posted on Canvas/Modules. Third Mid-Term Exam available Tues Apr 21 (11:00am-12:15pm, 75 min) for full class interval by going directly to Canvas/Quizzes. Complete overview reading of Chap 22 'Birth of Universe' prior to the next class.

Lecture 28: Cosmology and general relativity predictions or options (Thur, Apr 23)

Reading prior to class: Complete detailed read Chap 22 'Birth of Universe'. Focus on 22.2 `Evidence for Big Bang', and Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) there. Third Mid-Term Exam returned graded, with grade boundaries. HW #13 due by 6pm via download (some flexibility). Consider completing Observatory Night Project report, extra credit.

Lecture 29: First three minutes and later eras in universe (Tues, Apr 28)

Reading prior to class: Re-read in detail both 23.4 'Dark Energy and Fate of Universe' and 22.1 `Big Bang Theory'. Overall Review Sheet #4 posted. Final review session for the course is on Mon, May 4, 4:30pm-6:30pm by Max Weiner on Zoom.

Lecture 30: Building the large-scale structure and galaxies in our universe (Thur, Apr 30)

Reading prior to class: Review both 23.4 'Dark Energy and Fate of Universe' and 22.1 `Big Bang Theory'. Final Exam for course is on Wed May 6, 4:30pm-7:00pm, on Canvas/Quizzes, in accord with Registrar.
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