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Fall 2009

ASTR2201: Our Home in the Universe

Credit Hours: 3
Prerequisites: Freshman or Sophomore standing. Assumes no scientific background.
Typically offered: Fall
Homepage: http://www.astro.cornell.edu/academics/courses/astro2201

General discussion of our relation to the physical universe and how our view of the universe has changed from ancient to modern times. Several main themes are covered over the course of semester: the evolution of our view of the sky from that of ancient cultures to that of space telescopes; the death of stars and the formation of black holes; dark matter and the structure of galaxies, and the origin, evolution and fate of the universe. Presents a nonmathematical introduction to these subjects and discuss uncertainties and unresolved issues in our understanding.

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