PHYSICS 30113 - Fall 2006

Physics 30113
"Intermediate" Astronomy
Fall 2006
Ad Astra

Class Announcements:

Please check here for information and updates >>>

Tuesday Nov 7

=> Topics: Stellar Populations in the Galaxy
            Galactic Kinematics & Dynamics
            Chapter 19 & 20

=> BE SURE TO VOTE

Monday Nov 6
 
 => Problems set 4 posted

Thursday Nov 2

=> Problem Set 3 due, note the lateness penalty
 => Topics:  The Nature of the Galaxy  
             Chapter 14

Tuesday Oct 31

=> Quiz 4 returned
 => Topics:  Black Holes (Chapter 17 & 18)
             Star Clusters

Thursday Oct 26

=> No class, Instructor observing run at McDonald Obs
 => Read Chapter 18
 => Work on Presentations.

Tuesday Oct 24

=> Quiz 4 (covers Chapter 16)
 => Presentation Outlines due
 => Topic: Neutron stars, black holes. 
 => Stellar Endpoints notes posted

Thursday Oct 19

=> Exams returned 
 => Problem set 3 assigned
 => Topic:  Endpoints of stellar evolution: 
            white dwarf, planetary nebulae,
            supernova, Chap 16 into 17

Tuesday Oct 17

=>  Topic: Evolution from the main sequence, 
            Red giants, fusion processes, 
            concept of degenerate gases, 
            Chap 16

Thursday Oct 12

=> Topic: Stellar structure and energy generation,
           Chap 16

Tuesday, Oct 10 >>
 
 => Exam 1

Thursday Oct 5

=> No class, fall break

Tuesday Oct 3

=> Prob set 2 due
 => Topic: Star Formation, Chap 15

Thursday Sept 28 >>

=>  QUIZ 3
 =>  Topic:  More ISM

Tuesday Sept 26 >>

=>  Prob Set 1 Back
 =>  Topic:  Interstellar Medium

Tuesday Sept 19 >>

=>  Quiz 1 solutions posted
 =>  Quiz 2 !!  covering material in chapter 11 
     as presented in class on Thursday
 =>  Problem set 2 assigned, due October 3
 =>  Presentation topics assigned

Thursday Sept 14 >>

=> Problem Set 1 due at beginning of class
 => Please rank your presentation topics and turn in

Thursday Sept 7 >>
 
 => Quiz 1 in class
 => Note set 4 posted

Tuesday Aug 22 >>
 
 => Welcome to the Universe
 => Class web page is alive

INSTRUCTOR:	Dr Mike Fanelli
EMAIL:	m.fanelli@tcu.edu
PHONE:	817 - 257 - 6387
LAB:	SWR 367, x6387
OFFICE:	Sid Richardson Building, Room 305
OFFICE HOURS:	Tues & Thur 2-4 PM
WEB Page:	personal.tcu.edu/~mfanelli
CLASS WEB PAGE:	personal.tcu.edu/~mfanelli/imastro/p30113_main.html

Course Materials

Class Syllabus

Course Calendar

Presentation Topics

General Guidelines for the presentations.

Course Notes

Electromagnetic Radiation Chapter 8

Spectral Line Formation Chapter 8

Telescopes & Detectors Chapter 9

Solar Structure Chapter 10

Stellar Distances & Luminosities Chapter 11 & 12

Stellar Properties Chapter 11-2 thru 11-4

The HR Diagram & Stellar Classifications Chapter 13

The Interstellar Medium Chapter 15-1, 15-2

Star Formation Chapter 15-3

Stellar Structure & Evolution Chapter 16-1, 16-2
Evolution from the Main Sequence Chapter 16-3

The Death of Stars Chapter 17, 18

Star Clusters Chapter 14-2 & 14-3, 16-4 & 16-5

The Nature of the Galaxy Chapter 14, 19 & 20

Problem Sets & Solutions

Problem Set Due Date Solutions

#1 Sept 14 Solutions

#2 Oct 3 Solutions

#3 Nov 2 Solutions

#4 Nov 21 Solutions

#5 Dec 8 Solutions

Quiz & Exam Solutions

Quiz 1 Quiz 2 Quiz 3 Quiz 4 Quiz 5

Exam 1 Exam 2

Computer Project Instructions

Astrophysics Resources

My links to astronomy and space science news sites.

Web Sites:

NASA's Skyview Facility, a multiwavelength digital sky atlas

" Heavens Above", satellite visibility predictions for Fort Worth

Sky & Telescope Sky Calendar

An excellent site, titled "Astronomy Tools", containing a variety of observing tools, and
some interactive almanac software. Calculate sunrise & sunsets, lunar phase, airmass,
object observability, etc.

An excellent compilation of planetarium software with web addresses, maintained
by Bill Arnett, who also runs the "Nine Planets" website, which is a very useful
source for solar system imagery.

A Web-based program, known as the Sky View Cafe. Very nice package.

Image Processing Resources for Teachers: An excellent web site listing amateur and
professional grade software for image acquisition, processing, and display.

A guide to IDL, the Interactive Data Language, for astronomers.
Developed by Bob O'Connell at the University of Virginia.

"CCD University", a web resource provided by Apogee Cameras, makers of CCD
imagers for the academic, amateur, and research markets.

Handbook of Space Astronomy & Astrophysics by Zombeck

NASA's Extragalactic Database (NED)

SIMBAD Astronomical Database

University of Texas - McDonald Observatory

Kitt Peak National Observatory

Dr Mike's "New Frontiers in Astrophysics" web guide, listing observatories, telescopes
and space-based facilities forexploring the panchromatic universe.

NASA's Solar System exploration page, with links to all past, present, and possible future
planetary exploration missions.

Electromagnetic Radiation	Chapter 8
Spectral Line Formation	Chapter 8
Telescopes & Detectors	Chapter 9
Solar Structure	Chapter 10
Stellar Distances & Luminosities	Chapter 11 & 12
Stellar Properties	Chapter 11-2 thru 11-4
The HR Diagram & Stellar Classifications	Chapter 13
The Interstellar Medium	Chapter 15-1, 15-2
Star Formation	Chapter 15-3
Stellar Structure & Evolution	Chapter 16-1, 16-2
Evolution from the Main Sequence	Chapter 16-3
The Death of Stars	Chapter 17, 18
Star Clusters	Chapter 14-2 & 14-3, 16-4 & 16-5
The Nature of the Galaxy	Chapter 14, 19 & 20

Problem Set	Due Date	Solutions
#1	Sept 14	Solutions
#2	Oct 3	Solutions
#3	Nov 2	Solutions
#4	Nov 21	Solutions
#5	Dec 8	Solutions

NASA's Skyview Facility, a multiwavelength digital sky atlas
" Heavens Above", satellite visibility predictions for Fort Worth
Sky & Telescope Sky Calendar
An excellent site, titled "Astronomy Tools", containing a variety of observing tools, and some interactive almanac software. Calculate sunrise & sunsets, lunar phase, airmass, object observability, etc.
An excellent compilation of planetarium software with web addresses, maintained by Bill Arnett, who also runs the "Nine Planets" website, which is a very useful source for solar system imagery.
A Web-based program, known as the Sky View Cafe. Very nice package.
Image Processing Resources for Teachers: An excellent web site listing amateur and professional grade software for image acquisition, processing, and display.
A guide to IDL, the Interactive Data Language, for astronomers. Developed by Bob O'Connell at the University of Virginia.
"CCD University", a web resource provided by Apogee Cameras, makers of CCD imagers for the academic, amateur, and research markets.
Handbook of Space Astronomy & Astrophysics by Zombeck
NASA's Extragalactic Database (NED)
SIMBAD Astronomical Database
University of Texas - McDonald Observatory
Kitt Peak National Observatory
Dr Mike's "New Frontiers in Astrophysics" web guide, listing observatories, telescopes and space-based facilities forexploring the panchromatic universe.
NASA's Solar System exploration page, with links to all past, present, and possible future planetary exploration missions.