Foundations of Astrophysics

3 credit hours · Undergraduate

The emphasis of this first course in astrophysics is on directly observable quantities such as the positions and motions of stars and the light they emit. Topics include a review of the celestial sphere, time in astronomy, astronomical catalogues, the two-body problem, dynamics of star clusters, stellar spectra including emission and absorption lines, and the operation of telescopes. Students are assigned observing projects and trained to use the Burke-Gaffney Observatory.