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Astronomy
| Astronomy 021, General Astronomy | |
| | Description: A general survey of astronomy including: the solar system and its constituents; stars, their basic properties and evolution; systems of stars including clusters, the milky way, and other galaxies; the universe, its past, present and future structure; astronomical instruments; topics of current interest including pulsars, quasars, black holes. | | Antirequisite(s): The former Astronomy 020. | | 3 lecture hours, 1.0 course. | | back to top |
| Astronomy 121a/b, The Search for Life in the Universe | |
| | Description: An introduction to current scientific thinking on the possibility of extraterrestrial life and intelligence. Ideas, observations, and experiments from the frontiers of many areas of science converge in this unique interdisciplinary field. Emphasis will be on topics of current interest, including searches for life in our Solar System, detection of extrasolar planets, and the origins of life on Earth. | | 3 lecture hours, 0.5 course. | | back to top |
| Astronomy 122a/b, The Origin of the Universe | |
| | Description: An introduction to current ideas about the universe. Topics include the Big Bang, cosmic microwave background, origin of elements, and origin of galaxies, stars, and planetary systems. Emphasis is placed on recent and upcoming results from the new generation of ground and space based observatories. Suitable for non-science students. | | Antirequisite(s): Earth Sciences 086F/G | | 2 lecture hours, 0.5 course. | | back to top |
| Astronomy 201a/b, The Solar System | |
| | Description: Celestial mechanics; dynamics of the Earth; the Earth-Moon System; planets, including atmospheres and interiors; satellites; comets; meteors; the interplanetary medium; origin and evolution of the solar system. | | Antirequisite(s): Astronomy 232F/G or the former Astronomy 020, 221a/b, 231F/G | | Prerequisite(s): Physics 020 or 024 or 026 or the former 025; Calculus 050a/b and (051a/b or 081a/b with a minimum mark of 85%) | | 3 lecture hours, 0.5 course. | | back to top |
| Astronomy 202a/b, Stars, Galaxies and Cosmology | |
| | Description: The sun; stars, including distances, magnitude scale, interiors and evolution; binary stars; white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes; supernovae; the Milky Way Galaxy; the interstellar medium; external galaxies; Hubble's Law; large-scale structure of the universe; the Big Bang, and the early universe. | | Antirequisite(s): The former Astronomy 020 | | Prerequisite(s): Physics 020 or 024 or 026 or the former 025; Calculus 050a/b and (051a/b or 081a/b with a minimum mark of 85%) | | 3 lecture hours, 0.5 course. | | back to top |
| Astronomy 232F/G, Sun, Earth and Planets | |
| | Description: A survey of the contents of the solar system and space science phenomena, with emphasis on processes that are common to planets and solar system bodies. Advances in solar system understanding and space science will be highlighted with particular attention to recent results from space missions and contemporary ground-based observations. | | Antirequisite(s): Astronomy 201a/b, the former Astronomy 221a/b, 231F/G | | Prerequisite(s): 1.0 university course in Mathematics, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth Sciences or Physics. | | 2 lecture hours, 0.5 course. | | back to top |
| Astronomy 301a/b, Observational Astronomy | |
| | Description: Practical experience in using tools of modern observational astronomy, including observing projects. Astronomical software and web-based resources may be used. Lectures emphasize interpretation of motions of objects in the sky, as well as principles of observational techniques and telescopic instrumentation. | | Antirequisite(s): The former Astronomy 222a/b | | Prerequisite(s): Astronomy 201a/b and 202a/b | | 3 lecture/tutorial hours, 0.5 course. | | back to top |
| Astronomy 302a/b, The Interstellar Medium | |
| | Description: Introduction to the nature and physics of interstellar matter. Topics covered include a wide range of microscopic and macroscopic physical processes that determine the properties, dynamics, and behavior of the interstellar medium. Emphasis on the underlying (astro)physical concepts, and their connections to actual astronomical observations of the interstellar medium. | | Prerequisite(s): Astronomy 201a/b, 202a/b. | | 3 lecture/tutorial hours, 0.5 course. | | back to top |
| Astronomy 401a/b, Stellar Astrophysics | |
| | Description: Internal structure of stars; stellar evolution; stellar atmospheres; the formation of stars. | | Antirequisite(s): The former Astronomy 321a/b. | | Prerequisite(s): Physics 201a/b and 202a/b or the former Physics 200; Calculus 251a/b. | | 3 lecture hours, 0.5 course. | | Offered even-numbered years only. | | back to top |
| Astronomy 402a/b, Gravitational Astrophysics and Cosmology | |
| | Description: Introduction to gravity in astrophysics. Application of Newtonian gravitation to basic galactic dynamics and galactic structure. An introduction to general relativity with application to black holes, cosmology, and the early universe. | | Antirequisite(s): The former Astronomy 332a/b. | | Prerequisite(s): Physics 201a/b and 202a/b or the former Physics 200; Calculus 251a/b. | | 3 lecture hours, 0.5 course. | | Offered in odd-numbered years only. | | To be introduced September 1, 2007. | | back to top |
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