Explore the wonders of the universe, from black holes to newly discovered worlds. This course covers the birth and death of stars, the nature of black holes, and the search for extraterrestrial life. Engage with the latest discoveries and understand how we are made of stardust.

Full details for ASTRO 1101 - From New Worlds to Black Holes

A hands-on introduction to observational astronomy. Learn how we gather knowledge about the universe using amateur telescopes. Includes evening labs featuring telescope observations at Fuertes Observatory and Mount Pleasant, as well as in-class experiments such as micrometeorite collection.

Full details for ASTRO 1195 - Observational Astronomy

Explore planetary science through the lens of spacecraft missions. Learn how missions are selected and developed, and engage with guest speakers from NASA, ESA, and policy experts. Topics include space policy, life in the outer solar system, Mars exploration, and the search for extrasolar planets.

Full details for ASTRO 2202 - A Spacecraft Tour of the Solar System: Science, Policy and Exploration

Survey the universe from the Big Bang to galaxy formation. Topics include star formation, stellar evolution, black holes, and cosmology, with discussions on quantum physics, relativity, and particle physics. More in-depth than ASTRO 1101.

Full details for ASTRO 2211 - Astronomy: Stars, Galaxies, and Cosmology

More than five thousand planets circling other stars have been discovered over the past two decades, and many more discoveries are sure to come. With the recent launch of the James Webb Space Telescope (Dec 2021) astronomers will be able to probe the atmosphere of potential Earth-like planets for the first time.How are these discoveries made and what are the properties of these exoplanets and their systems? How exotic can exoplanets to be? Would you survive on them? Is our solar system a typical planetary system or something unusual? How common are planets like Earth? How can we determine whether exoplanets can host life, or do host life? These and other issues related to planetary formation and evolution will be discussed in the course.

Full details for ASTRO 3301 - Exoplanets and Planetary Systems

Covers observational techniques in optical and radio astronomy. Topics include CCD imaging, spectroscopy, and interferometry. Labs use observatories on campus, emphasizing data analysis and instrumentation.

Full details for ASTRO 4410 - Multiwavelength Astronomical Techniques

Explores planetary physics, including orbital dynamics, tidal interactions, planetary interiors, atmospheres, and radiative transfer.

Full details for ASTRO 4434 - Physics of the Planets

One-semester introduction to general relativity that develops the essential structure and phenomenology of the theory without requiring prior exposure to tensor analysis. General relativity is a fundamental cornerstone of physics that underlies several of the most exciting areas of current research, including relativistic astrophysics, cosmology, and the search for a quantum theory of gravity. The course briefly reviews special relativity, introduces basic aspects of differential geometry, including metrics, geodesics, and the Riemann tensor, describes black hole spacetimes and cosmological solutions, and concludes with the Einstein equation and its linearized gravitational wave solutions. At the level of Gravity: An Introduction to Einstein's General Relativity by Hartle.

Full details for ASTRO 4445 - Introduction to General Relativity

Allows students to conduct independent research or study a specific area of astronomy under faculty supervision. A written report is required.

Full details for ASTRO 4940 - Independent Study in Astronomy

Focuses on planetary dynamics, atmospheres, and interior structure, with applications to solar system and exoplanetary science.

Full details for ASTRO 6570 - Physics of the Planets

This course explores modern cosmology, covering the Big Bang theory, the universe’s matter content, and its evolution. Topics include the early universe, symmetry breaking, inflation, nucleosynthesis, recombination, structure formation, galaxy clustering, and dark energy. Students will also examine current and future observational techniques in cosmology.

Full details for ASTRO 6599 - Cosmology

Guided reading and seminars on topics not currently covered in regular courses.

Full details for ASTRO 6940 - Advanced Study and Research

A reading seminar for graduate students to broaden their astronomy knowledge, practice public speaking, and analyze key findings from seminal research papers.

Full details for ASTRO 7683 - Seminar: Astronomy and Planetary Science

Develops tools for using computers to model the physical world. Uses examples pulled broadly from core areas of physics: Mechanics, Electricity and Magnetism, Statistical Mechanics and Thermodynamics, and Quantum Mechanics. Focus is on algorithmic thinking, converting mathematical representations into practical algorithms, working with data, and drawing physical conclusions from numerical results. Model problems will involve numerical quadratures, ordinary and partial differential equations, numerical linear algebra, event based simulations, and Monte Carlo techniques. May include modern techniques, such as those drawn from machine learning and artificial intelligence. Instruction will largely be in Julia, with computer labs integrated into lectures. No prior experience with Julia is necessary, but students should have some experience with programming. Graduate versions, PHYS 7680 and ASTRO 7690, require an additional project which is not required in the undergraduate version, PHYS 4480.

Full details for ASTRO 7690 - Computational Physics