Universe Semester Courses

Some of the following courses are offered every semester (Observational astronomy, research) while others alternate (galactic & extragalactic astrophysics alternates with astrobiology, order & disorder alternates with waves & optics) and some depend on student demand. Students should contact us if there are particular courses they need to take during their semester the this program.

 

Astrobiology: Desiderata for Life in the Universe suitable for nonmajors

BSPH 2020, 3 points lecture, syllabus

Recent developments in fields as diverse as deep-sea oceanography, developmental biology, remote sensing, interplanetary space vehicles, and high-resolution optical spectroscopy have allowed us to form these speculations into the subject of a scientific discipline. This course will systematically address the disciplines and sub-disciplines that make up the current study of astrobiology. These include the basics of primitive life on Earth, its evolution, and the conditions necessary for its existence. We will discuss other planets in the solar system where life similar to ours might survive. The new discoveries of extra-solar planets will be used as examples of how spectroscopy can be applied to our understanding of otherwise invisible planets.

Order and Disorder in Nature suitable for science majors	W3461, 3 points lecture, syllabus
Modern views of dynamics, catastrophe theory, chaos, strange attractors, solitons, cellular automata; with applications to astronomy and astrophysics, such as sunspot cycles, and to other branches of the natural sciences.

Earth, Moon, & Planets suitable for nonmajors	BSPH 1403, 3 points lecture, syllabus
The overall architecture of the solar system. Motions of the celestial sphere. Time and the calendar. Major planets, the Earth-Moon system, minor planets, comets. Life in the solar system and beyond. Similar to the survey course now offered at Columbia; emphasis tailored to exploit the night sky, and to link with EARTH SEMESTER topics (see below).

Beyond the Solar System suitable for nonmajors	BSPH 1404, 3 points lecture, syllabus
A survey course in stars, galaxies, and cosmology. Fundamental properties of nearby stars; nucleosynthesis and stellar evolution; novae and supernovae; galaxies; the structure of the universe and theories of its origin, evolution, and ultimate fate. Emphasis tailored to exploit the opportunity for night-sky observations.

Seminar on Puzzles in Our Universe all students	BSPH 1902, 1 point seminar, schedule
Current topics to be covered will include astrobiology, the discovery of extrasolar planets, and the SETI search. While the theme for the semester will be puzzles common to Earth and Universe semester, additional topics will be included as well.

Stellar Astrophysics suitable for majors	BSPH 2003, 3 points lecture, syllabus
A course in stellar astronomy for students with a previous year of physics or astronomy. Topics include: the physics of stellar interiors and atmospheres, energy generation and nucleosynthesis, novae and supernovae, stellar necrology, interacting binary stars.

Galactic and Extragalactic Astrophysics suitable for majors	BSPH 2004, 3 points lecture, syllabus
A course in galactic and extragalactic astronomy for students with a previous year of physics or astronomy. Topics include: the structure of our galaxy, the interstellar medium, star clusters, properties of external galaxies, clusters of galaxies, active galactic nuclei, and cosmology.

Waves, Optics and Modern Physics suitable for majors	BSPH 2603, 3 points lecture, syllabus
A course on selected physics topics for students with a previous year of physics or astronomy. Classical waves and the wave equation, geometrical optics, interference and diffraction, Fourier series and integrals, normal modes, wave-particle duality, the uncertainty principle, basic principles of quantum mechanics, energy levels, reflection and transmission coefficients, the harmonic oscillator.

Astrophysics of the Solar System suitable for majors	BSPH 3104, 3 points lecture, syllabus
Similar to the junior/senior-level course for science majors taught at Columbia, covering major topics in planetary dynamics, celestial mechanics, geophysics, atmospheres and interiors, and solar system minor bodies.

Observational Astronomy all students

BSPH 3648, 3 points laboratory, syllabus

Topics will include: techniques of optical and radio astronomy, asteroid searches, light curves of variable stars, identification of radio and X-ray source optical counterparts, studies of periodic and quasi-periodic signals in stars. Most observations will be conducted with the telescopes at Bio-2. Students will have access to the two larger research telescopes of MDM Observatory on Kitt Peak, those on Mount Lemmon, and data archives of radio and X-ray telescopes.

Research all students

BSPH 3999, 3-6 points independent, research

A variety of research projects conducted under the supervision of members of the faculty. Observational, theoretical, and experimental work in massive stars, binary stars, pulsating stars, galactic structure, fluid dynamics and education/outreach. The topic and scope of the work will be arranged with a faculty member in advance; a poster presentation describing the results of the project is given at the end of the semester.

A course from the Earth Semester curriculum suitable for majors

3 points lecture, options

Co-existence with the EARTH SEMESTER will give our students a chance to take one course from their menu, and vice versa. In particular, several pieces of the current EARTH SEMESTER curriculum derive from astronomy in general (e.g., the origin of the elements), and others are intimately tied to the planetary science courses we offer (e.g., Milankovich cycles, circulation and chemical evolution of planetary atmospheres, comparative planetary geology).