ASTR 2115: General Astronomy


Instructor
Prof. Diana Dragomir
Email: dragomir@unm.edu
Office: PAIS 3226

Description of the class

Astronomy 2115 is a general astronomy course at a greater level of detail than is covered in Astronomy 101. ASTR 2110 and 2115 are also the first required ASTR classes for BS Astrophysics majors. ASTR 2115 is also required for the BA in Physics and Astrophysics. This course will describe the nature of the Universe starting with stars and working up through star clusters, galaxies, clusters of galaxies and superclusters. Black holes, pulsars, supernovae, dark matter, the expanding Universe and other fascinating astronomical topics will also be explored. We will use math and physics as we explore the Universe. 

The detailed syllabus can be found here.

Homework and lecture slides will be posted on the UNM Canvas course page.

Mid-term project instructions are here.

Announcements will be sent by email.

Tentative Schedule

Date Lecture Notes Reading
Week 1
08/22-08/26

Introduction, Blackbody radiation and light; Matter, Spectral lines and Doppler shift

 Ch 1 and 5
Week 2
08/29-09/02

The Sun; Stars I

 Ch 16 and 17
Week 3
09/05-09/09

Stars II; ISM

 Ch 17 and 18
Week 4
09/12-09/16

Star formation

 Ch 18
Week 5
09/19-09/23

Post main sequence evolution; Low mass stars

 Ch 19 and 20
Week 6
09/26-09/30

High mass stars; Neutron stars

 Ch 20 and 21
Week 7
10/03-10/07

Relativity; Black holes

 Ch 21
Week 8
10/10-10/14

Project presentations 
Week 9
10/17-10/21

Gamma Ray Bursts; Milky Way

 Ch 21 and 22
Week 10
10/24-10/28

Galaxies; Active Galaxies

 Ch 23 and 24
Week 11
10/31-11/04

Quasars; Clusters

 Ch 24 and 25
Week 12
11/07-11/11

Star Men film; Large Scale Structure

 Ch 25
Week 13
11/14-11/18

Cosmology

 Ch 25
Week 14
11/21-11/25

Cosmic Dawn; Early Universe

Ch 26
Week 15
11/28-12/02

End of the Universe; Thanksgiving

 Ch 26
Week 16
12/05-12/09

Bonus lecture 1; Bonus Lecture 2 

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