Instructor: Michael
Brotherton
Office: 217
Physical Sciences
Phone: 399-9524
(cell)
E-mail: mbrother@uwyo.edu
(best way to contact me)
Websites: http://physics.uwyo.edu/~mbrother
(course materials here under ASTR 2310 link)
Office Hours: TR
1-2PM, Wed. 3-4pm, or drop by if I am in -- I want to meet and speak with you!
Lectures:
TR 11:00AM-12:15PM, PS 234
Lab/Discussion: Led by Shannon Hall (hallshannonw@gmail.com),
separate syllabus, starts week 2
Text: Foundations
of Astrophysics, by Barbara Ryden and Brad Peterson
This course is
intended as one of two parts, taught in alternate years with ASTR 2320, that
constitutes a broad introduction to astronomy at a level appropriate for
Freshman and Sophomore astronomy/physics majors. There will be calculus in the
course, but kept to a minimal level as necessary. Everyone should be at least
enrolled in Calculus 1 or have already had the course, and similarly for
Physics 1 or equivalent.
ASTR 2310
focuses on solar system and related topics, while ASTR 2320 focuses on stars
and galaxies. The universe is a really interesting place and we know a lot
about it. Hopefully you will all
also realize that there's a lot we don't know about it, and there yet exists
ample opportunity for original research.
I love
astronomy
I expect
regular attendance at lectures. Sometimes things come up, I know, but for
astronomy majors at least this course should be primary. We'll use a
combination of powerpoint, blackboard, videos, and discussion in class. These
lecture slides will be places on the course webpage (usually before class, but
not guaranteed).
These start in
the second week. There will be a
scheduled discussion section in PS 234 led by teaching assistant Shannon Hall.
This will primarily be an opportunity to discuss homework, work problems,
review for exams, and discuss any other topics you or Shannon feels will
enhance the course. She will also run labs, which will meet in PS 133. There
will be a separate syllabus for these topics, and these sections will begin
during the second week of classes. We
hope to get you outside a few times looking at the sky, naked eye and also with
telescopes.
There will be
regular problem sets due approximately every week, usually Thursday mornings in
class. Homework normally will
not be accepted late unless prior permission is given from me or Shannon, and
not at the very last second. One
homework will count as extra credit, so missing a single homework will not
count against you, and doing them all will result in a small bonus. If you miss more than one, sorry, so
get them in on time.
Everyone
should read the textbook as directed in class. There may also be preparation or
write ups for labs.
There will be
three exams (two during the semester plus the final). These will each cover
about 4 chapters of the textbook. They will be in class, closed book,
calculators ok, and scheduled 1-2 weeks in advance, likely on Tuesdays.
The grading scheme
will be:
A = 90+
B= 80-90
C = 70-80
D= 60-70
F= Below 60
I tend to
round up, and I may curve final grades. The exams will count equally, and total
45% of your grade. Homework will count for 30%, so do your homework well! Lab
will count for 25%.
I am an
observational astronomer specializing in the study of quasars and other types
of active galaxies thought to be powered by super-massive black holes. I
received my PhD from the University of Texas at Austin and have previously
worked at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Kitt Peak National
Observatory. I've really used the Very Large Array (the "VLA",
a radio telescope in New Mexico featured in the movie Contact), the Hubble Space Telescope, and the Chandra X-ray
Observatory, so I can provide you with first-hand details not found in
textbooks. I'm also a science fiction writer publishing with Tor Books. My first novel, Star Dragon, is about an expedition to a distant binary star
system. My second novel, Spider
Star, features a dark matter planet.
I love science
and astronomy. Please be very
encouraged to share my enthusiasm and engage in discussion, whether in class or
office hours.
Topics
The textbook
is pretty good, the right length, and we will cover the first 12 chapters. ASTR
2320 will cover the final 12 chapters in the Spring semester alternate years.
We will spend approximately one week per chapter (longer on chapter 5). Reading ahead is a good idea. We'll skim or skip over the
calculus-heavy portions of the text.
1. Early
Astronomy
2. Emergence
of Modern Astronomy
3. Orbital
Mechanics
4. The
Earth-Moon System
5. Interaction
of Radiation and Matter
6.
Astronomical Detection of Light
7. The Sun
8. Overview of
the Solar System
9. Earth and
Moon
10. The
Planets
11. Small
Bodies in the Solar System
12. The Solar
System in Perspective