Introduction to Astrophysics II: Planets, Galaxies, and the Universe

3 units

Second course of a two-semester calculus-based introduction to astronomy and astrophysics. Astrophysics is the study of the planets, the Sun and other stars, the Milky Way Galaxy and the other galaxies, the interstellar medium and intergalactic medium, and the Universe itself. This study is aided by our knowledge of the laws of Physics discovered by experiments carried out in laboratories, and astronomical observations have often revealed new fundamental laws of Physics. This course will begin by covering the motions of the Sun and the Moon as we see them across the sky, the structure of the Solar System, and the search for exoplanets orbiting other stars. Then we will jump discussing the Milky Way galaxy, active galaxies with growing supermassive black holes, quasars, and how galaxies assemble in clusters of galaxies that form the cosmic web. Finally, we will describe our current knowledge of the matter, radiation, and energy content of the Universe as well as its birth, evolution, and fate. In class, we will also discuss fascinating topics, like the telescopes that enable us to study the universe using radio waves, X-ray and gamma-ray photons, gravitational waves, and neutrinos. The purpose of the course is to kindle your interest in Astrophysics and Cosmology and to prepare you for their more detailed study in upper-level courses.