University of Vermont                                                                                            Fall 2006 Term

Physics Department                                                               Astro/Physics 257 "Astrophysics"

Professor Joanna Rankin                            Office hours: MW 12:10-1 pm or by appointment

Preliminary Course Syllabus

                                        Course Introduction, Physical Background
                                                      Read: Carrol & Ostlie, Chapts. 1-5
                                                      Optional Chapt. 1-5 probs due by Sept. end

Aug. 28, 30, Sept. 1      Fundamental Observations of Stars
                                                      Read: Carrol & Ostlie, Chapts. 7 and 8
                                                      Chapts. 7, 8 probs due: Thurs., Sept. 6

Sept. (4), 6, 8                 Stellar Atmospheres
                                                      Read: Carrol & Ostlie, Chapt. 9Ñalso Chapt. 6
                                                      Chapt. 6, 9 probs due: Thurs., Sept. 13

Sept. 11, 13, 15             Stellar Interiors
                                                      Read: Carrol & Ostlie, Chapt. 10
                                                      Probs due: Thurs., Sept. 20

Sept. 18, 20, 22             The Sun
                                                      Read: Carrol & Ostlie, Chapt. 11
                                                      Probs due: Thurs., Sept. 27

Sept. 25, 27, 29             Star Formation and the Interstellar Medium
                                                      Read: Carrol & Ostlie, Chapt. 12
                                                      Probs due: Thurs., Oct. 4

Oct. 2, 4, 6                       Stellar Evolution
                                                      Read: Carrol & Ostlie, Chapts. 13 (14)
                                                      Probs due: Thurs., Oct. 11

Oct. 9, 11, 13                  Stellar Gerontology
                                                      Read: Carrol & Ostlie, Chapt. 15
                                                      Probs due: Thurs., Oct. 18

Oct. 16, 18, 20                Black Holes
                                                      Read: Carrol & Ostlie, Chapt. 16
                                                      Probs due: Thurs., Oct. 25

Oct. 23, 25, 27                Accretion and Close Binary Star Systems
                                                      Read: Carrol & Ostlie, Chapt. 17
                                                      Probs due: Thurs., Nov. 

Oct. 30, Nov. 1, 3           The Milky-Way Galaxy
                                                      Read: Carrol & Ostlie, Chapt. 22
                                                      Probs due: Thurs., Nov. 8

Nov. 6, 8, 10                   Galaxies and Galactic Evolution
                                                      Read: Carrol & Ostlie, Chapts. 23 and 24
                                                      Probs due: Thurs., Nov. 15

Nov. 13, 15, 17              Active Galaxies and Quasars/Observational Cosmology
                                                      Read: Carrol & Ostlie, Chapt. 25, 26
                                                      Probs due: Tues., Nov. 29

- - - - - - - - - - - -  THANKGIVING VACATION  - - - - - - - - - - - -

Nov. 27, 29, Dec. 1        Mathematical Cosmology
                                                      Read: Carrol & Ostlie, Chapt. 27
                                                      Probs due: Tues., Dec. 6

Dec. 4, 6                          The Early Universe
                                                      Read: Carrol and Ostlie, Chapt. 28
                                                      Probs due: Thurs., Dec. 8

Dec. 14, 3:30 pm           FINAL EXAM