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ASTR 100: Perspectives in Astronomy, Fall 2008

Section 3: MWF 12-12:50pm, 100 Greg Hall
Instructor: Adam Myers

TA: Scott Kruger

Welcome to Astronomy!

Colliding Galaxies

Astronomy 100 is a one semester course in introductory astronomy. In this class we concentrate on the development of human understanding of the Universe and survey current understanding of: the Sun and Moon, planets, and moons; the origin of the Solar System; the nature and evolution of stars; stellar remnants, including white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes; galaxies and quasars; the past and future of the Universe; and life in the Universe. The full course website for participating students is hosted on the university's Compass system at https://compass.uiuc.edu/webct/logon/462228309061

Alongside a lecture course, students receive hands-on experience at observing astronomical phenomena using small telescopes at night and special equipment for daytime observing, as well as a visit to a planetarium. This encourages a better understanding of the place of our home planet, as it orbits the Sun, in the context of the Solar System and the larger Universe.

The science of astronomy is in a golden age. A torrent of data from telescopes and space probes is revolutionizing our understanding of our planet, the Solar System, our Milky Way Galaxy, and the entire Universe as a whole. This course offers an introduction to the exciting world of astronomy, from the night sky to the planets, stars, and beyond. There is no better time to get more involved in our Universe.

Course Aims

Mars, the Red Planet

Our goal is that a graduate of this course will understand our current scientific view of the Universe, future discoveries and how they fit into, enlarge, or challenge our current ideas. Our hope is that any graduate will have sufficient knowledge and experience regarding astronomy that they might understand the importance of basic science to society, and that they could engage in debate, and make informed opinions, about scientific policy. To this end, the course will focus on what the scientific method can tell us about:

The Big Picture - the basic organization of the cosmos from subatomic scales to the entire Universe. A sense of perspective: there is a lot of universe out there, and a lot going on all of the time. Big things are happening. We are a small but significant part of it.
Basic Physical Laws - the rules that nature follows, and how to apply them to understand astronomical observations and events
Key Discoveries - the answers to questions such as: How does the Sun shine? How do stars form? What are black holes and what evidence for them exists? Why do we believe in dark matter? What will be the future fate of the Universe, and how can we predict this?

Few topics have inspired humans throughout the ages as much as the mysteries of the heavens. This class offers you the opportunity to explore these mysteries in depth, learning both about our tremendous modern understanding of the Universe and about the mysteries that remain. If you work hard and learn the material well, this class may well be one of the most rewarding of your college career.