SIERRA COLLEGE
ASTRONOMY DEPARTMENT

Course Description: Topics at the forefront of astronomical research including an in-depth look beyond introductory astronomy. Emphasis on theoretical principles and supporting observational data. Includes relativity and warped spacetime, black holes, dark matter, dark energy, quasars, gravitational waves, grand unified and supersymmetry theories, and other recent developments in cosmology.   [Units: 3; Transfer: CSU/UC]

Course Prerequisites: Completion of either Astronomy 5, 10, or equivalent. 

Class Handouts/Resources

To be posted prior to class

• Syllabus ( PDF)
• General Schedule of Activities ( PDF)
• Class presentation ( PDF)
• Extra credit opportunities ( PDF)
• Sierra College Honesty Policy ( PDF)
• Class Emergency Procedures ( PDF)
• Useful equations: 1st half of semester [pdf] [doc]
• Useful equations: 2nd half of semester [pdf] [doc]
• Test Bank: 1st half of semester [pdf] [doc]
• Test Bank: 2nd half of semester [pdf] [doc]
• Student Presentation Schedule

Homework Assignments

To be posted prior to class

• Week 1b: (HW #01) [pdf]
• Week 2a: (HW #02) [pdf]
• Week 2b: (Reading) [pdf]
• Week 3b: (HW #03) [pdf]
• Week 4a: (HW #04) [pdf]
• Week 4b: (HW #05) [pdf]
• Week 5a: (HW #06) [pdf]
• Week 5b: (HW #07) [pdf]
• Week 6a: In class activity
• Week 6b: (Reading, HW#08 in-class only) [pdf]
• Week 7a: (HW #09) [pdf]
• Week 7b: ---
• Week 8a: ---
• Week 8b: ---
• Week 9a: (HW #10) [pdf]
• Week 9b: (HW #11) [pdf]
• Week 10a: (Reading) [pdf]
• Week 10b: (Reading) [pdf]
• Week 11a: (HW #12) [pdf]
• Week 11b: (HW #13) [pdf]
• Week 12a: (Reading) [pdf]
• Week 12b: (HW #14) [pdf]
• Week 13b: (Reading) [pdf]
• Week 14a: (HW #15) [pdf]
• Week 14b: (Reading) [pdf]
• Week 15a: (Reading) [pdf]
• Week 15b: (Reading) [pdf]
• Week 16a: (Reading): see lecture

Lecture Presentations

To be posted prior to class

• Week 1a: Course orientation
• Week 1b: Newtonian kinematics
• Week 2a: Holiday
• Week 2b: Newton in application--examples
• Week 3a: Light as a tool
• Week 3b: Particle-wave duality
• Week 4a: Planets and stars
• Week 4b: Galactic astronomy
• Week 5a: Active galactic nuclei
• Week 5b: The Distance Scale I
• Week 6a: The Distance Scale II: In-class activity
• Weeks 6b-8a: Two weeks of Special Relativity
• Week 8b: Midterm
• Week 9a: Particle physics and cosmic forces
• Week 9b: The Big Bang
• Week 10a: Inflation
• Week 10b-11a: Dark Matter
• Week 11b: General Relativity
• Week 12b: Cosmic acceleration
• Week 13a: Dark energy
• Week 13a: Holiday
• Week 13b-14a: Presentations 1-8; String Theory
• Week 14b: Presentations 9-12; Black holes
• Week 15a: Presentations 13-16; Warps in space and time
• Week 15b: Presentations 17-21; Time
• Week 16a: Presentations 22-25; Flatland
• Week 16b: Final