Astronomy 122: Stellar Atmospheres and Evolution

Photometry and Spectroscopy

Where the Elements Come From

Your Grades to Date Class Discussion Page Computer Etiquette Rules!

Administrative stuff:

• Course Overview
• The midterm will be on Tuesday Nov 04

We will also be making use of the Personal Response System in this class to assess student attitudes, misconceptions, and understanding of key concepts. When you see the big cardbox up front for a lecture, please retrieve a transmitter. Return it to the box after class ends.

Some Internet Resources for This Class

• Comprehensive Resource on this material
• A similar class at Ohio State

Homework and Exams:

• First Homework Assignment (Due Oct 20)
• First Assignment for OS 10 people
• Second Homework Assignment (Due Nov 7)
• Third Homework Assignment (Due Dec 1)
• Midterm Results
• Final is Scheduled for Wednesday at 1 pm

TOPICS

Lecture 01 Tu Sep 30 Course Introduction

• Use of PRS system
• Use of Collaborative Publishing and Analysis Software

Lecture 02 Th Oct 02 Telescopes and Detectors

• Digital Detectors

Lecture 03 Tu Oct 07 Stars: Apparent Brightness and Color

Lecture 04 Th Oct 09 Blackbody Radiation and Stellar Color/Temperature

Lecture 05 Tu Oct 14 The Chemical Fingerprint of Stars

Lecture 06 Th Oct 16 Atoms and Light

Lecture 07 Tu Oct 21 Ionization; Analyzing Stellar Spectra

Lecture 08 Th Oct 23 The Scientific Method, Calibration, and Application of Method to Sleuth Stellar Spectra

Lecture 09 Tu Oct 28 Content Review to Date; Measuring Stellar Distances

Lecture 10 Th Oct 30 Introduction to HR Diagram; Stellar Parallax Measurements

Lecture 11 Tu Nov 04 MIDTERM

Lecture 12 Th Nov 06 Review of Midterm; Constructing the HR Diagram

Lecture 13 Tu Nov 11 Making our own HR diagrams from the Parallax Sample

Lecture 14 Th Nov 13 Stellar Energy Generation and Evolution

Lecture 15 Tu Nov 18 Stellar Clusters; Neutron Capture in Supernova

Lecture 16 Th Nov 20 Black Holes; PRS quiz/review of stellar evolution

Lecture 17 Tu Nov 25 Detecting Planets Around Nearby Stars

Lecture 18 Th Nov 27 Thanksgiving Holiday

Lecture 19 Tu Dec 01 Astrobiology I: Intelligent Life in the Universe

Lecture 20 Th Nov 20 Astrobiology II: Where are they?