Mission:  This class will introduce you to a broad range of topics in modern astrophysics, with an emphasis on two major themes, how things work  and  how do we know   .   By the end of this class you will also have a much greater facility with "back of the envelope" calculations, the kind of rough estimates  (e.g., sometimes 1=2) that often provide the initial guidance and "smell test" for the work of scientists and engineers .

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Required Textbook:
   Kutner, M., Astronomy, A Physical Perspective

Requirements/Expectations:

    You are expected to be in class every day, participate actively in our in-class discussions and group work, and turn in all of the required work, on time,   You are responsible for all information, assignments, date changes, etc. announced in class, whether or not you are there.

The specifics are:

•      Weekly homeworks, posted by Friday noon on the web and turned in by 4pm the following Friday to the appropriate slot at Physics 256A  (40% of grade)
•      Examinations (2 midterms and a final,  10%, 10% and 20%)
  
•      Daily short group exercises (in-class, 10%)
  
•      Group project/presentation (tentatively designed to be video presentations to be viewed in lieu of formal class meetings last week of semester) 10%)
  

   
      Grades will be on an absolute scale:  A > 85%;   B > 75%;   C>65%;   D > 55%  (These are the bottoms of the - (minus) grades.)   A grade of S will be awarded for performance at the level of C- (65%) or above.   The assignment of an "I" grade will be made only under very special circumstances, and requires a written agreement between Doc R. and the student prior to the last day of class.  There is no "extra credit" work.  Grades can and should be checked on-line during the semester. 

     Special note about readings:  there will be regular "keep up with your readings" questions in the class, before we cover the relevant material.  If the class is doing well in these, then we will keep them informal.  If not, we will turn these into formal quizzes, and fold them into the grades.


Exams:
   Examinations will consist of short and long questions, most of the problem-solving variety, similar to homework problems.  Some will ask for a brief explanation of concepts, objects, etc.  Examples of exam questions will be given in class. You may bring in 1 page (1 side) of notes for the exam and a calculator (not a handheld computer).

Group Project:
   After the first midterm, your group will select a topic to be researched and presented to the class in the form of a video.  Each person is expected to make a substantial contribution to the group product, and be part of the class presentation.Material from these presentations will be on the final exam.  More details provided in class.

Cooperating:
   Cooperating and sharing ideas on homeworks (and group projects)  is great!  However, you must write up your own work and list the name(s) of collaborators.  Exams, you'll be flying solo.

Academic Standards:
   You are expected to be familiar with and  follow the Regents' Policy for Student Conduct (http://www1.umn.edu/regents/policies/academic/StudentConductCode.html). If you have any questions regarding the expectations for a specific assignment or exam, ask.

Special Needs:
   If you have any special accomodations that need to be made to ensure your success in this class, please contact Doc R. during the first week of class.

Approximate Schedule - subject to change
     (numbers are the chapters you should skim BEFORE we discuss them in class)

Week 1 (Sept 2,4):     Deriving information from light  [1,2, 3]

Week 2 (Sept 9,11):    Deriving information from light, telescopes [2,3,4]

Week 3 (Sept 16,18):    Orbital mechanics, binary stars [5]

Week 4 (Sept 23, 25):    Radiation transfer inside a star (sun) [parts of 6]

FIRST MIDTERM EXAM: SEPT 30

Week 5 (Oct 2):    Stellar structure - the main sequence [9] + [parts of 23, Earth atmosphere, tides]

Week 6 (Oct. 7,9 YK):    Stellar Structure - the main sequence [9]

Week 7 (Oct. 14, 16):    Stellar Evolution - low mass :    [10] + relavitivity overview [7,8]

Week 8 (Oct. 21, 23):    Stellar Evolution  - high mass:    [11]

Week 9 (Oct. 28, 30):   Star Formation/ISM (selected topics):   [14,15],  

SECOND MIDTERM EXAM: NOVEMBER 4

Week 10 (Nov.  6):   Milky Way :    [16]

Week 11(Nov. 11, 13):   Galaxies.  Clusters, Cosmology [18,20]

Week 12 (Nov. 18, 20):    Cosmology  [20, 21]

Week 13 (Nov 25):    Project presentations

Week 14 (Dec 2, 4):    Project presentations 

Week 15 (Dec 9 ) Loose ends and review for final

FINAL EXAM 1:30PM-3:30PM, WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 17