The past few decades have seen incredible advances in the exploration of our solar system. In this course students learn about the current state and past evolution of the Sun and its family of planets, moons, asteroids, and comets. The course emphasizes images and other data obtained from current and past NASA space missions and how these data provide insights about the important processes that have shaped the evolution of solar system objects. General astronomical concepts relevant to the study of the solar system are also discussed. Critical focus is on developing an understanding of the Earth as a planetary body and discovering how studies of other planets and satellites influence models of the climatic, geologic, and biologic history of our home world. Other topics covered include energy production in stars, global warming, impact hazards, the search for life in the solar system and beyond, and future missions.

Catalog Distribution: (PHS-AS) (OPHLS-AG)

Full details for ASTRO 1102 - Our Solar System

General discussion of how the universe has evolved since the Big Bang era and how our understanding of it has changed from ancient to modern times. Several main themes are covered over the course of the semester: the evolution of our view of the sky from that of ancient cultures to that of space telescopes; the formation and nature of black holes; dark matter and dark energy; and the origin, evolution, and fate of the universe. Presents a nonmathematical introduction to these subjects and discusses uncertainties and unresolved issues in our understanding.

Catalog Distribution: (PHS-AS) (OPHLS-AG)

Full details for ASTRO 2201 - The History of the Universe

Introduction to the solar system with emphasis on the quantitative application of simple physical principles to the understanding of what we observe or can deduce. Topics include: planetary orbital and spin dynamics, tidal evolution, the interiors, surfaces, and atmospheres of the planets including the effects of greenhouse gases on climate, and smaller bodies such as satellites, asteroids and comets. Comparisons will be made between planetary systems discovered about other stars and our own solar system. Results from past and current spacecraft missions will be discussed. Final grades will depend on homework sets and on a final team project and in-class presentation, supported by a joint term paper. The course is more in-depth and quantitative than ASTRO 1102/ASTRO 1104. All course materials will be available online.

Catalog Distribution: (PHS-AS) (OPHLS-AG)

Full details for ASTRO 2212 - The Solar System: Planets, Small Bodies and New Worlds

Reviews basic techniques employed in the collection and processing of spacecraft images of solar system objects using MATLAB. Experience with MATLAB is not strictly necessary, but some general experience with computer programming is preferred.

Catalog Distribution: (PHS-AS, SDS-AS) (OPHLS-AG)

Full details for ASTRO 3310 - Planetary Image Processing with MATLAB

Astronomers learn about cosmic phenomena via radiation: electromagnetic (photons), non-photonic (neutrinos, cosmic rays), and, within the past decade, gravitational. So, it is essential to understand how radiation is produced, the interactions it experiences as it travels through the universe, and how these processes can be observed and interpreted. This course will provide a broad overview of primarily electromagnetic radiation, although we will briefly discuss other forms.

Catalog Distribution: (PHS-AS) (OPHLS-AG)

Full details for ASTRO 4432 - Astrophysical Processes

An upper-level undergraduate introduction to Planetary Science with an emphasis on the application of basic physical principles. Topics to be covered include: planetary dynamics, including satellite orbits, tidal interactions, orbital resonances; an introduction to the theory of planetary interiors, heat sources and rotational mechanics; reflected and thermal radiation; radiative transfer and equilibrium structures of planetary atmospheres.

Catalog Distribution: (PHS-AS) (OPHLS-AG)

Full details for ASTRO 4434 - Physics of the Planets

Individuals work on selected topics. A program of study is devised by the student and instructor.

Full details for ASTRO 4940 - Independent Study in Astronomy

A continuation of PHYS 6553 and ASTRO 6509 that covers a variety of advanced topics and applications of general relativity in astrophysics, cosmology, and high-energy physics.

Full details for ASTRO 6510 - General Relativity II

Compact objects (neutron stars, black holes and white dwarfs) are the endpoints of stellar evolution. They are responsible for some of the most exotic phenomena in the universe such as supernovae, magnetars, gamma-ray bursts, neutron star and black hole mergers.  Supermassive black holes also lie at the heart of the violent processes in active galactic nuclei. The study of compact objects allows one to probe physics under extreme conditions (high densities, strong magnetic fields, and gravity). This course surveys the astrophysics of compact stars and related subjects. Emphasis is on the application of diverse theoretical physics tools to various observations of compact stars. There are no astronomy or general relativity prerequisites. 

Full details for ASTRO 6511 - High Energy Astrophysics

Astronomers learn about cosmic phenomena via radiation: electromagnetic (photons), non-photonic (neutrinos, cosmic rays), and, within the past decade, gravitational. So, it is essential to understand how radiation is produced, the interactions it experiences as it travels through the universe, and how these processes can be observed and interpreted. This course will provide a broad overview of primarily electromagnetic radiation, although we will briefly discuss other forms.

Full details for ASTRO 6530 - Astrophysical Processes

A graduate-level introduction to Planetary Science with an emphasis on the application of basic physical principles. Topics to be covered include: planetary dynamics, including satellite orbits, tidal interactions, resonances and ring dynamics; an introduction to the theory of planetary interiors, gravitational fields, heat sources and rotational mechanics; reflected and thermal radiation; radiative transfer and equilibrium structure dynamics of planetary atmospheres.

Full details for ASTRO 6570 - Physics of the Planets

This course offers an overview of the fundamental physical processes shaping the large-scale structure of the universe, with an emphasis on galaxy morphology, dynamics, and evolution. Topics include galaxy formation, stellar feedback, the role of supermassive black holes, the influence of dark matter, and the impact of galactic mergers and gas accretion. Through a combination of observational evidence and theoretical frameworks, we will explore the development of galaxies across cosmic time, integrating key insights from both astrophysical and cosmological perspectives.

Full details for ASTRO 6590 - Galaxies and the Universe

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

Full details for ASTRO 6940 - Advanced Study and Research

This course is a reading seminar where graduate students will gain astronomy breadth, practice public speaking, and distill important results from seminal astronomy research papers.

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