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 ASTR 1115. 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.

Term project instructions will be posted on this webpage during the first weeks of the semester.

Announcements will be sent by email or via Canvas.

Tentative Schedule

Date Lecture Notes Homework
Week 1
08/18-08/22

Introduction, Blackbody radiation and light
Week 2
08/25-08/29

Matter, Spectral lines and Doppler shift; The Sun

 HW 1 due (Thursday, Aug. 28)
Week 3
09/01-09/05

Stars I; Stars II
Week 4
09/8-09/12

ISM; Star formation

 HW 2 due (Tuesday, Sep. 9)
Week 5
09/15-09/19

Post main sequence evolution; Low mass stars

 HW 3 due (Thursday, Sep. 18)
Week 6
09/22-09/26

High mass stars; Neutron stars

 HW 4 due (Thursday, Sep. 25)
Week 7
09/29-10/03

Relativity; Black holes
Week 8
10/6-10/10

Midterm; Fall Break
Week 9
10/13-10/17

Gamma-ray Bursts; Milky Way
Week 10
10/20-10/24

Galaxies; Active Galaxies
Week 11
10/27-10/31

Quasars; Clusters and Large Scale Structure
Week 12
11/3-11/7

Cosmology I; Cosmology II
Week 13
11/10-11/14

Cosmic Dawn; Early Universe
Week 14
11/17-11/21

End of the Universe; Bonus lecture/Paper discussion

Week 15
11/24-11/28

Bonus lecture/Presentations; Thanksgiving
Week 16
12/1-12/5

Presentations; Presentations/Final exam review

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